SingaporeWhat is an interim maintenance order?
An interim maintenance order is a temporary court order requiring one spouse to pay financial support to the other during divorce proceedings, before the final judgment is made.
What the Law Says
The Women's Charter gives the court power to make temporary maintenance orders while divorce proceedings are ongoing.
An interim maintenance order is a provisional financial support order made by the Family Court in Singapore during divorce proceedings — before the divorce is finalized. It ensures that the financially weaker spouse (or a child) receives necessary support while the case is being resolved.
This order is not permanent: it ends automatically once the divorce is finalized, unless replaced by a final maintenance order. The court considers factors like income, needs, standard of living, and contributions to the marriage — but does not require full evidence at this early stage.
Only a spouse (not cohabitants or former partners outside marriage) may apply for interim maintenance under this provision.
Statutory TextThe court may, on the application of either party to a marriage, make an order for maintenance in favour of that party pending the determination of any proceedings for divorce, nullity or judicial separation.
— Women's Charter, s. 113 — Maintenance pending suit
What to Do
File an application for interim maintenance together with your divorce petition or separately using Form 4 (Application for Maintenance Pending Suit).
Serve the application and supporting documents (e.g., affidavit stating income, expenses, and financial needs) on your spouse.
Attend the hearing where the court will assess urgency and basic financial fairness — full financial disclosure may be ordered later.
Comply with the order immediately if granted; non-payment may lead to enforcement action such as garnishment or contempt proceedings.
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.