SingaporeHow long does a divorce take in Singapore?
A divorce in Singapore typically takes 4 to 6 months for an uncontested case, but can take over a year if contested or complex. There is no fixed statutory timeline — the duration depends on court scheduling, cooperation between parties, and whether ancillary matters (e.g., custody, division of assets) are resolved.
What the Law Says
The Women’s Charter sets out the legal framework for divorce in Singapore but does not prescribe a maximum or minimum time for completing divorce proceedings. Instead, timelines depend on procedural steps, court availability, and whether the divorce is contested.
Under the Women’s Charter, a divorce can only be filed after the parties have been married for at least 3 years — unless exceptional hardship or exceptional depravity is proven. However, this does not set a timeline for how long the process itself must take.
There is no statutory deadline for concluding divorce proceedings. The court manages timelines based on case complexity, responsiveness of parties, and hearing availability.
After filing the Writ for Divorce and Statement of Claim, there is a mandatory 21-day cooling-off period before the Defendant must file a Memorandum of Appearance — but this is just one procedural step among many.
Statutory Text— Women's Charter, s. 99 — Cap. 353, 2009 Rev Ed
What to Do
File the Writ for Divorce and supporting documents at the Family Justice Courts.
Serve the documents on your spouse and wait for their response (within 21 days).
Attend mediation (if required) and resolve ancillary matters like custody, maintenance, and asset division.
Apply for the Interim Judgment (IJ) once the divorce is uncontested or settled.
Wait 3 months after the IJ to apply for the Final Judgment (FJ), unless waived by the court for good reason.
Sources
Not 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.