Respond to an international child abduction application

Receiving an international child abduction application

If you receive the following documents, it means that someone (applicant or plaintiff) has filed an application under the International Child Abduction Act against you (the respondent or the defendant):

• A sealed copy of the Originating Application (OA) for Orders under Sections 8/14 of the ICAA prepared according to Form 68, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 79 KB).
• A copy of the affidavit supporting the OA prepared according to Form 68, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 (DOCX, 79 KB). 
• A copy of the Notice of Proceedings (General) in Form 71A, Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024. (DOCX, 41 KB)
  • If filing commenced before 15 October 2024, you would have received Form 213 (PDF, 149 KB) and Form 215 (PDF, 269 KB) or Form 214 (PDF, 147 KB) and Form 216 (PDF, 268 KB) of the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015.

You should read the documents to find out:

• The details of the applicant.
• The lawyers representing the applicant (if any).
• The details about the application.
• The orders that the applicant is seeking.
  

How to respond

Refer to the following to find out the different ways of responding to the international child abduction application.

If you do not wish to contest the application

If you do not wish to contest the application, you should still attend the scheduled court session (the case conference) mentioned in the sealed OA and inform the judge. The judge can then make orders including ordering the return of the child.

If you wish to contest the application

If you intend to contest the application, you will have to file and serve an affidavit on the applicant or their lawyers (if any) within 14 days from the date on which the applicant served their documents on you or your lawyers (if any).

You will also have to attend the case conference on the time and date stated in the sealed OA.

What you will need

If you intend to contest the application, you will need to include the following information in your affidavit if the applicant did not disclose such information in their documents:

• Details about any court proceedings relating to the child.
  • This may include proceedings outside Singapore and concluded proceedings, whether in or outside Singapore, relating to the relevant child.
  • You will also have to provide the particulars of any such proceedings and any orders made in any such proceedings (including interim orders).

Estimated fees

You will need to pay $1 per page, subject to a minimum fee of $10 to file your affidavit.

In addition to these fees, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

How to file and serve

You may choose to file your affidavit personally or through a lawyer. If you are representing yourself, you must file the documents through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

You must follow Part 5 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 and the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024 to prepare your documents before heading down in person to do the filing.

Refer to the following steps to file and serve your affidavit.

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