SingaporeWhat are the grounds for divorce in Singapore?
In Singapore, divorce can be granted only if the marriage has broken down irretrievably, proven by one of five statutory facts: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion for at least two years, separation for at least three years (with consent), or separation for at least four years (without consent).
What the Law Says
The sole legal ground for divorce in Singapore is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This must be proven by establishing at least one of five specific facts set out in the Women’s Charter.
Under Singapore law, you cannot get a divorce simply because you no longer wish to be married. The court must be satisfied that the marriage has broken down beyond repair — and this must be shown using one or more of five legally defined facts.
These facts are strictly defined and must be supported by evidence. They include your spouse’s adultery, their unreasonable behaviour making it intolerable to live together, their desertion for a continuous period of at least two years, or living apart for either three years (with both parties’ consent to divorce) or four years (without consent).
Statutory TextThe sole ground for a judgment of divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
— Women's Charter, s. 95 — Grounds for divorce
Statutory TextThe court shall not hold that a marriage has broken down irretrievably unless the petitioner satisfies the court of one or more of the following facts: (a) that the respondent has committed adultery and the petitioner finds it intolerable to live with the respondent; (b) that the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent; (c) that the respondent has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of at least 2 years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition; (d) that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least 3 years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition and the respondent consents to a judgment being granted; (e) that the parties to the marriage have lived apart for a continuous period of at least 4 years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition.
— Women's Charter, s. 95 — Grounds for divorce
What to Do
Confirm you meet the jurisdictional requirement: at least one party must be domiciled in Singapore or have lived here for at least three years before filing.
Choose and gather evidence for at least one of the five grounds under section 95 (e.g., proof of separation, witness statements, communications showing unreasonable behaviour).
File a Writ for Divorce and Statement of Claim in the Family Justice Courts.
Serve the documents on your spouse and proceed through mediation or trial if contested.
Attend the hearing and obtain the Interim Judgment (IJ); apply for Final Judgment (FJ) after 3 months if no appeal.
Sources
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IndiaNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.