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Request for a trial or hearing date of a divorce case (normal track)
Uncontested or contested divorce
Depending on how the respondent responds to the matrimonial application for divorce you have filed in the previous step, you will have to request for a trial or hearing date for your case on an uncontested or contested basis.
| Uncontested Divorce | You will proceed on an uncontested basis if one of the following applies:
|
| Contested Divorce | If the respondent does not agree to the divorce, you will have to proceed on a contested basis. The matrimonial application for divorce is a contested one if:
|
What you will need
If you are proceeding with the matrimonial application for divorce on an uncontested basis, you will need to prepare the following:
- Request for Trial or Hearing Date (Form 6, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 80 KB)).
- Draft Ancillary Reliefs Order (Form 8, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 92 KB)) (if the parties agree on any or all of the ancillary reliefs).
- Affidavit for Uncontested Dissolution Hearing (Form 7, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 43 KB)). This affidavit is to attest to the veracity of the contents found in the originating application or in the cross-application, as the case may be.
Requesting for a hearing date for your divorce case if the case is uncontested
If you are the party who filed the matrimonial application for divorce (the applicant in the originating application), you must request for a hearing date by one of the following time periods:
- Within 14 days after the expiry of the time for filing a notice to contest, if a notice to contest has not been filed within that time.
- Within 14 days after the expiry of the time for filing a reply, if a reply has not been filed within that time.
- Within any time period the court may direct.
If the parties agree that the matrimonial application for divorce is to proceed uncontested on both the originating application and the cross-application, only the applicant in the originating application is required to request for a hearing date.
This is to inform the court that your divorce case is ready to be heard.
Estimated fees
Refer to the following to find out the possible fees to file the documents. You may also refer to Division 4 of the Third Schedule of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 for the full list of court fees.
In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
| Item or service | Fees |
| File the Request for Trial or Hearing Date | $63 |
| File the Notice of Withdrawal/Discontinuance | $7 |
| File an Affidavit for Uncontested Dissolution Hearing | $0.70 per page, subject to a minimum of $7 |
How to file
You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer. If you are representing yourself, you must file the document through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
You must follow Part 2 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 and the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.
After you file
After you request a hearing date, the court may then schedule a date for an Uncontested Dissolution Hearing.
It is only after the Interim Judgment is granted at the Uncontested Dissolution Hearing that the court will schedule a date for a case conference to deal with the ancillary matters (if there was no agreement).
If a hearing date is not requested
If you have not requested a hearing date within 6 weeks of filing your matrimonial application for divorce, the court will send a Registrar's Notice to notify the respondent and you to attend a court session known as a case conference.
Only those directly involved in the matter can attend the case conference. Members of the public are not allowed to attend.
You do not have to attend the case conference yourself if you have a lawyer. Similarly, if the respondent has a lawyer, their lawyer will attend the case conference.
Note
Some court sessions may be conducted virtually. The court will inform you if you do not need to attend court in person. Find out more about virtual court sessions.
At the case conference, the court may:
- Check if all the necessary documents have been filed in court.
- Refer both parties for meditation and counselling at the Family Dispute Resolution Division (FDR Division) of the Family Justice Courts
Tip
You can make a request for mediation and counselling to the court during the case conference. Alternatively, you can make your request through your lawyer if you have one.
What you will need
If you are requesting a trial or hearing date on a contested basis, you will file and serve your Affidavit of Evidence-in-Chief (AEIC) and the AEIC for your witnesses (Form 20, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 50 KB).
After the filing and exchange of the AEICs, you will file the request for a trial date as directed by the court.
Estimated fees
You will need to pay $63 to file the Request for Trial or Hearing Date (Form 6, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 80 KB)). You may also refer to Division 4 of the Third Schedule of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 for the full list of court fees. In addition to this fee listed, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
How to file
You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer. If you are representing yourself, you must file the document through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
You must follow Part 2 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 and the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.
After you file
After you request a trial date, the court will send a Registrar's Notice to notify the respondent and you (or your lawyers, if any) of the date to attend a court session known as a case conference. The purpose of the case conference is to prepare both parties for the contested divorce hearing.
If you filed your application before 15 October 2024:
You will have to set down the case on an uncontested basis if one of the following applies:
- The defendant agrees to the divorce but not on the ancillary matters.
- The defendant does not file their Memorandum of Appearance (MOA) within 8 days (if the defendant is located in Singapore) or within 21 days (if the defendant is located outside of Singapore) after being served the divorce papers.
- The defendant does not file their defence (or a defence and counterclaim) within 14 days of filing the MOA indicating their intention to contest the divorce action.
What you will need
If you are setting down on an uncontested basis, you will need to prepare the following:
- The Request for Setting Down Action for Trial (Form 28, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015).
- The Request for Dispensation of Parties’ Attendance at the Uncontested Divorce Hearing Form (Form 203, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015).
- Your Affidavit of Evidence-in-Chief (AEIC) (Form 201, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015).
Estimated fees
Refer to the following to find out the possible fees to file the documents. You may also refer to Part 6 of the Fifth Schedule of the Family Justice Rules 2014 for the full list of court fees. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
| Item or service | Fees |
| File the Request for Setting Down Action for Trial | $63 |
| File the Request for Dispensation of Parties' Attendance at the Uncontested Divorce Hearing | $7 |
| File an AEIC | $0.70 per page, subject to a minimum of $7. |
How to file
You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.
If you are representing yourself, you must file the document through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
You must follow Part 5 of Division 2 of the Family Justice Rules 2014 and the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.
After you file
After you set down the case, the court may then schedule a date for an uncontested divorce hearing.
It is only after the Interim Judgment is granted at the uncontested divorce hearing will the court schedule a date for an ancillary matters case conference.
If the defendant does not agree to the divorce and all ancillary matters, you will have to set down the case on a contested basis.
What you will need
If you are setting down on a contested basis, you will need to prepare the Request for Setting Down Action for Trial (Form 28, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015).
Estimated fees
You will need to pay $63 to file the Request for Setting Down Action for Trial.
You may also refer to Part 6 of the Fifth Schedule of the Family Justice Rules 2014 for the full list of court fees. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
How to file
You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.
If you are representing yourself, you must file the document through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
You must follow Part 5 of Division 2 of the Family Justice Rules 2014 and the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.
After you file
After you set down the case, the court will send a Registrar's Notice to notify the defendant and you (or your lawyers, if any) of the date to attend a court session known as a case conference. The purpose of the case conference is to prepare both parties for the contested divorce hearing.
If a hearing date is not requested
If you have not requested for a hearing date (or that you have not set down the case) within 6 weeks of filing your divorce papers, the court will send a Registrar's Notice to notify the respondent and you to attend a court session known as a case conference.
Only those directly involved in the matter can attend the case conference. Members of the public are not allowed to attend.
You do not have to attend the case conference yourself if you have a lawyer. Similarly, if the respondent has a lawyer, their lawyer will attend the case conference.
Note
Some court sessions may be conducted virtually. The court will inform you if you do not need to attend court in person. Find out more about virtual court sessions.
At the case conference, the court may:
- Check if all the necessary documents have been filed in court.
- Refer both parties for meditation and counselling at the Family Dispute Resolution Division (FDR Division) of the Family Justice Courts
Tip
You can make a request for mediation and counselling to the court during the case conference.
Alternatively, you can make your request through your lawyer if you have one.
Need help?
The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.
Find out moreResources
Refer to:
- Divorce in Singapore: the essentials (PDF, 519 KB)
- Divorce in Singapore: processes in a glance (PDF, 442 KB)
- Specimen Government Medical Certificate (DOCX, 18 KB) for absence from court attendance.
Legislation associated with this topic includes:
- Part 10 of the Women's Charter.
- Family Justice Act.
- For filings commenced on or after 15 October 2024: Part 2 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024.
- For filings commenced before 15 October 2024: Part 5 of Division 2 of the Family Justice Rules 2014.
For filings commenced on or after 15 October 2024: Refer to Paragraph 16 of the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 for case conferences.
For filings commenced before 15 October 2024: Refer to Paragraph 17 of the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015 for status conferences.
Go to Step-by-step guide
Step-by-step guide
2024/11/01
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