How to file and serve a protection from harassment application

1. File the claim

When: within 2 years of the event which creates the cause of action

Log in to CJTS. Under the Online Applications tab, select PHC, and then select Claim. Follow the instructions to fill in the required information and pay the filing fees.

Your application will only be processed after you have paid. After you have paid, you will need to:

• Choose a case management conference (CMC) date and time.
• Save and print a copy of the claim and Notice of CMC to serve on the respondent.

For detailed instructions, refer to the CJTS user guide for protection from harassment claims  (PDF, 3366 KB).

2. Serve the claim

When: within 14 days after the date of filing the claim

After filing the claim, you must serve the claim and Notice of CMC on the respondent within 14 days. This informs the respondent of the claim and the court proceeding that they must attend.

You can serve in one or more of the following ways if you know the respondent's proper address:

• Leave with that person a copy of the document.
• Post a copy of the document on the front door of that person's proper address.
• Send a copy of that document by registered post to that person's proper address.

Note:

• If you wish to serve in other ways, you must file an application to the court.
• If you do not know the respondent's proper address, the court may direct you to serve in other ways, according to Rule 69 of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Protection from Harassment) Rules. Examples include sending an electronic communication of the document to the respondent's email address or social media account, where applicable.

3. File a Declaration of Service

When: within 8 days after the date you serve the documents on the respondent

After serving the claim, you must upload the Declaration of Service in CJTS within 8 days. This serves as proof that you have served the application on the respondent.

Log in to CJTS. Under Online Applications, select Declaration of Service and follow the instructions.

After you file

The respondent (or anyone else who has been served with your application) may file a reply within 14 days after the date of service of your documents.

The respondent may choose to initiate eNegotiation via CJTS.

Both you and the respondent will need to attend a CMC. Generally, this will be scheduled around 4 weeks after the date you filed your claim. Find out what you need to prepare before attending the CMC.

If you are applying for a final order and an interim order which includes:

• Expedited Protection Order (EPO).
• Interim stop publication order (ISPO).
• Interim disabling order (IDO).
• Interim notification order (INO).
• Targeted interim notification order (TINO).

Log in to CJTS. Under the Online Applications tab, select PHC, and then select Claim.

You will need to indicate in your claim form that you wish to apply for an interim order.

Follow the instructions to fill in the required information and pay the filing fees. Your application will only be processed after you have paid.

For detailed instructions, refer to the CJTS user guide for protection from harassment claims.

After you file

After you file, the court will contact you with the date and time of a hearing that you must attend.

You will then need to follow these steps:

1. Attend the hearing

During the hearing, a judge will decide whether to grant the interim or expedited order. Generally, this hearing will be within 2 working days from the date you filed your claim. 

• If the court approves your application, you will be granted the interim or expedited order. You will need to serve both the order and your application documents on the respondent. You must serve the interim order as it only takes effect after service.
• If the court does not approve your application, you will not be granted the interim order. However, you will still need to serve your application documents on the respondent.

Note: The outcome of your application for an interim or expedited order does not affect your application for a final order. The court will hear these applications during separate sessions.

2. Serve the documents on the respondent

The judge will give you specific directions on how to serve the relevant documents on the respondent. This informs the respondent of your claim and the court proceeding that they must attend.

The respondent (or anyone else who has been served with your application) may file a reply within 14 days after the date of service of your documents.

The respondent may choose to initiate eNegotiation via CJTS.

Both you and the respondent will need to attend a case management conference (CMC). Generally, this will be scheduled around 4 weeks after the date you filed your claim. Find out what you need to prepare before attending the CMC.

If you are not represented by a lawyer, follow these steps to file and serve your application.

1. File the application

File your prepared documents through eLitigation. Visit the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau to file in person.

2. Collect the endorsed documents

The Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your application.

If the court accepts your application, you will be asked to return to the Service Bureau to collect an endorsed version of the documents. This will include the date, time and venue of a pre-trial conference (PTC) (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or case conference (CC) (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022) that you and the other party must attend.

3. Serve the application

When: within 14 days after the date of filing the application

You will need to serve a copy of the endorsed documents on the respondent. This informs the respondent of the application and the court proceeding that they must attend.

You can serve in one or more of the following ways if you know the respondent's proper address:

• Leave with that person a copy of the document.
• Post a copy of the document on the front door of that person's proper address.
• Send a copy of that document by registered post to that person's proper address.

Note:

• If you wish to serve in other ways, you must file an application to the court.
• If you do not know the respondent's proper address, the court may direct you to serve in other ways, according to Rule 69 of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Protection from Harassment) Rules. Examples include sending an electronic communication of the document to the respondent's email address or social media account, where applicable.

4. File a Memorandum of Service

When: within 8 days from the date you serve the documents on the respondent

Within 8 days from the date you serve the documents on the respondent, you must file a Memorandum of Service (Form 21, Supreme Court of Judicature (Protection from Harassment) Rules) through eLitigation. This serves as proof that you have served the application on the respondent.

After you file

The respondent (or anyone else who has been served with your application) may file a reply within 14 days after the date of service of your documents.

Both you and the respondent will need to attend a PTC (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or CC (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022). Generally, this will be around 4 weeks after the date you filed your application. Find out  what you need to prepare before attending the PTC (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or the CC (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022).

• Expedited Protection Order (EPO).
• Interim stop publication order (ISPO).
• Interim disabling order (IDO).
• Interim notification order (INO).
• Targeted interim notification order (TINO).

If you wish to apply for an interim order, you will need to file your prepared documents - the OS (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or the OA (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022), supporting affidavit and supporting documents - through eLitigation. You may choose to file personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the application will be filed by your lawyer.

If you are not represented by a lawyer, visit the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau to file in person.

After you file

The Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your application. If the court accepts your application, you will be asked to return to the Service Bureau to collect an endorsed version of the documents. This will include the date and time of a hearing that you must attend.

You will then need to follow these steps:

1. Attend a hearing

At the hearing, a judge will decide whether to grant the interim or expedited order. Generally, this hearing will be within 2 working days from the date you filed your application.

• If the court approves your application, you will be granted the interim or expedited order. You will need to serve both the order and your application documents on the respondent. You must serve the interim order as it only takes effect after service.
• If the court does not approve your application, you will not be granted the interim order. However, you will still need to serve your application documents on the respondent.

Note: The outcome of your application for an interim or expedited order does not affect your application for a final order. The court will hear these applications during separate sessions.

2. Serve the documents on the respondent

The judge will give you specific directions on how to serve the relevant documents on the respondent. This informs the respondent of your application and the court proceeding that they must attend.

The respondent (or anyone else who has been served with your application) may file a reply within 14 days after the date of service of your documents.

Both you and the respondent will need to attend a PTC (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or CC (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022). Generally, this will be scheduled around 4 weeks after the date you filed your claim. Find out what you need to prepare before attending the PTC (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022) or the CC (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022).

• Family Justice (Protection from Harassment) Rules 2024.
• Family Justice (General) Rules 2024.
• Division 1 of the Third Schedule of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 (regarding fees).
• Protection from Harassment Act.
• Supreme Court of Judicature (Protection from Harassment) Rules.
• Appendix B of the Rules of Court (for matters commenced before 1 April 2022).
• Fourth Schedule of the Rules of Court 2021 (for matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022).

For matters commenced before 1 April 2022, the proper address of a person is defined in Order 62, Rule 6(2) of the Rules of Court as:

For matters commenced on or after 1 April 2022, the proper address of a person is defined in Rule 2(1) of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Protection from Harassment) Rules as:

• The respondent is not in Singapore.
• The circumstances of the case justify the service of the application out of Singapore.

You may seek legal advice if you are unsure if this applies to your case.