Understand the outcomes of a personal protection order application

A PPO is an order restraining the respondent from committing family violence against the applicant or other family members.

When is a PPO issued

A PPO is issued at the end of a hearing when the court is satisfied that:

• The respondent has committed or is likely to commit family violence against the applicant or other family members.
• It is necessary for the applicant's or other family members' protection or safety.

A PPO may also include a provision that the respondent is not to incite or assist any other person to commit family violence against the applicant or other family members.

An EO is a temporary PPO restraining the respondent from committing family violence against the applicant or other family members.

An EO will take effect on the date on which the notice of the order is served on the respondent, or on a later date if the court specifies as such.

It will cease on whichever of the following dates occurs first:

• After 28 days from the date of the order was made.
• The date the PPO application hearing commences unless extended by the court.

When is an EO issued

The applicant can ask for an EO to be issued. However, the court will only do so if it is satisfied that there is imminent danger of family violence being committed against the applicant.

A DEO is an order excluding or restricting the respondent from entering all or part of the applicant's or the protected family member's residence.

When is a DEO issued

The applicant can apply for a DEO together with a PPO. It may be issued together with a PPO at the end of a hearing.

A CGO (also known as mandatory counselling) is an order referring the applicant (or the person the orders are meant to protect) or the respondent or both parties to counselling conducted at an agency assigned by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

The agency will contact the parties directly to arrange for counselling.

After a CGO is made

After a CGO is made, the court will arrange for a court review about 6 to 9 months later. At the court review, the court will assess the progress the parties have made based on the report provided by the counselling agency before deciding whether the parties should continue to attend counselling.

If the court finds that the parties no longer require mandatory counselling, the court will discharge the parties from the obligation.

If the court finds that mandatory counselling should continue, parties must attend all future counselling sessions that are scheduled so long as the court has not discharged them from doing so.

If you are unable to attend the court review

If you are unable to attend the court review on the stated date, you can make an application to change it via the Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS) accompanied by supporting documents. This must be done at least 5 working days in advance.

For urgent cases, contact the Family Justice Courts (FJC) Registry at fjc_maintpos@judiciary.gov.sg or 6587 8423 (6-JUSTICE)/1800 587 8423 (1800-JUSTICE). 

If the court grants your request, a new date for the court review will be arranged. Otherwise, you are required to attend the court review as scheduled.

When is a CGO issued

The court usually issues a CGO together with a PPO and the CGO may also involve the parties' children (if any).

A breach of a PPO, EO or DEO is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 or by imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both.

A second or subsequent offence is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or by imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

• Personal Protection Order Under the Women's Charter: The Essentials:
  • English (PDF, 588 KB).
  • Chinese (PDF, 2205 KB).
  • Malay (PDF, 448 KB).
  • Tamil (PDF, 1776 KB).

• Specimen Government Medical Certificate (DOCX, 18 KB) for absence from court attendance. 

• Part 7 of the Women's Charter.
• For filings commenced on or after 15 October 2024, refer to:
  • Part 3, Division 1 and 2 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024.
• For filings commenced before 15 October 2024, refer to:
  • Part 5, Division 3 of the Family Justice Rules 2014.