Registrar's Circular No. 4 2020

On 19 May 2020, the Ministry of Health announced in a press release titled “End of Circuit Breaker, Phased Approach to Resuming Activities Safely” that the Circuit Breaker period will end on 1 June 2020 and activities will resume in phases starting from 2 June 2020.

2 In line with this, unless otherwise directed by the Court, all Court hearings in the Family Justice Courts (“FJC”) scheduled from 2 June 2020 onwards will be conducted by way of remote hearing through video conferencing or telephone conferencing where appropriate. Mediation and counselling sessions will likewise proceed by remote means in appropriate cases. Where a hearing is conducted by way of remote hearing as aforesaid, all recordings made of the hearing which have been authorised by the Court using such remote communication technology will continue to constitute the official record of hearing for the purposes of Rule 611 of the Family Justice Rules until further notice.

3 Litigants-in-person who do not have access to an electronic device capable of supporting video conferencing should inform the FJC Registry at fjcourts_maintpos@fjcourts.gov.sg (for maintenance and personal protection matters) and fjcourts_family_registry@fjcourts.gov.sg (for all other matters). Video conferencing facilities will be made available at the FJC premises at either 3 Havelock Square or at 5 Maxwell Road #04-00 Tower Block MND Complex to assist such litigants. Parties who may have other concerns or difficulties with proceeding by way of a remote hearing should likewise inform the Court, which may at its discretion schedule a physical hearing instead.

4 All parties are to ensure that the preparation, presentation and conduct of their cases do not breach safe distancing measures in place at the relevant time. Masks are to be worn at all times in the FJC premises, including during the conduct of court hearings, unless the Court directs that masks are required to be removed.

5 Unless otherwise directed by the Court, any document that has been electronically filed should not be provided in hard copy.

6 The FJC will continue to monitor the situation. All court users and visitors are advised to refer to our website at https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg for the latest information and updates.

Dated this 27^th day of May 2020.