My ex-spouse isn't paying child maintenance. What can I do?

What the Law Says

The Women’s Charter gives the court strong powers to enforce child maintenance orders when payments are missed.

If your ex-spouse fails to pay court-ordered child maintenance, you may apply to the Family Justice Courts for enforcement under section 71 of the Women’s Charter. The court can order various remedies, including deducting money directly from the payer’s wages, seizing bank accounts or property, or even sentencing them to jail for contempt.

Importantly, enforcement applications must generally be made within 3 years from the date each unpaid instalment was due — otherwise, the court may refuse to act unless you show good reason for the delay.

The law treats wilful failure to pay as a serious offence: on conviction, the defaulting parent may be fined up to S$10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.

Statutory Text

The court may, on the application of the person to whom maintenance is payable, make an order for the enforcement of the maintenance order in such manner as the court thinks fit.

— Women's Charter, s. 71 — Enforcement of maintenance orders

What to Do

Sources