As a result, the spouses jointly determined a maintenance arrangement that met their needs and the best interests of their children. By opting for mediation, “Ms M” avoided a lengthy and costly court battle and achieved a satisfactory resolution.
Whether you are going through the divorce proceedings for spousal or child maintenance, wish to vary a maintenance order, or seek to enforce spousal support obligations, you will benefit from expert legal guidance. IRB Law divorce maintenance lawyers in Singapore can help you qualify for spousal maintenance and child support you deserve.
Understanding Divorce Maintenance in Singapore
In Singapore, the court may order a husband to provide reasonable maintenance to his wife, paying either a monthly sum or a lump sum. If the husband becomes incapacitated, the court may oblige the wife to provide reasonable maintenance for her husband. Both parents have the duty to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of their children, unless there is another arrangement under an agreement or a court order.
What Is Spousal Maintenance
Spousal maintenance, which is sometimes referred to as alimony or spousal support, is the financial support paid by one spouse during the divorce process or after the marriage is dissolved. Most disputes over alimony relate to the amount of what is considered “reasonable maintenance.”
What Is Child Maintenance
Child maintenance is the financial support provided by either parent, which can include providing the child with accommodation, clothing, food, and education or paying for those costs. The parents provide for child support regardless of the reason for divorce and irrespective of whether the children were born in marriage, or whether they are in his or her custody, or the custody of another person.
How Reasonable Spousal or Child Maintenance Is Determined
In deciding upon the amount of divorce maintenance for a wife, an incapacitated husband, or child support, the court typically takes into account the following considerations:
- the financial needs of the wife, the incapacitated husband, or the child,
- the income and earning capacity of each spouse, their property, and other financial resources, as well as those of the child
- any physical disabilities of the wife, incapacitated husband, as the case may be, or the child
- the age of the wife, husband, and the child, as well as the duration of the marriage
- the contributions made by each spouse to the marriage, including contributions made by looking after the home or caring for the family
- the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage
- the conduct of each spouse
How to Apply for Child or Spousal Support Maintenance in Singapore?
You can apply for spousal maintenance or child support on your own or through a lawyer. When you involve a law firm, a divorce maintenance lawyer will help you evaluate your eligibility, prepare the required documents, avoid omissions, and apply for reasonable maintenance within the meaning of the Women’s Charter.
An application for divorce maintenance can be filed with:
- the Family Justice Courts
- an authorised agency, such as the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations
- the Family Application Management System (iFAMS), followed by a visit to the Family Justice Courts
Rating
Hasnah Abdullah
16th January 2026
At that time when we were feeling extremely helpless, Mr Mohamed Baiross was willing to help and has given his views on our issue. I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Mohamed Baiross and his team at IRB Law Firm, particularly Ms. Sharifah Nabilah, for their outstanding representation in our case. Her efficiency, dedication, and professionalism were evident throughout the process. Ms. Sharifah's confidence and assurance in court during cross-examination were impressive, and her ownership of the case led to a successful outcome. I highly recommend IRB Law Firm and Ms. Sharifah Nabilah for their exceptional legal services.
Kevin Chan
5th December 2025
Mr Baiross, Crystal, and the team are very professional and friendly. Mr Baiross gives excellent advise and is prompt in his replies. Crystal is helpful and attentive when it came to executing the agreement. Overall the team is patient and will help clarify any questions and concerns you have.
Service areas
- Spousal Maintenance
- Child Maintenance
- Child Custody / Care & Control
- Uncontested / Contested Divorce
- Asset division (incl. HDB /
Property/ CPF and more)
How IRB Law Can Help You Get the Divorce Maintenance You Deserve
Guidance on Child and Spousal Maintenance
Our lawyers can help you navigate family law in Singapore, evaluate your eligibility, and determine the amount of maintenance that you or your child deserves.
Legal Representation During Divorce
At IRB Law, our family lawyers can represent you at any stage of your divorce process, helping to protect your and your child’s rights to divorce maintenance.
Negotiations & Mediation
Our lawyers can help you facilitate discussions with your spouse and assist you in reaching an agreement on maintenance-related matters through negotiations and mediation.
Applying for Maintenance
When you work with IRB Law for divorce maintenance, our lawyers will help you prepare the necessary documents, avoid omissions, and streamline the application process.
Varying a Maintenance Order
If you need to vary, suspend, or rescind a maintenance order, we can help you determine your eligibility and file a variation application.
Enforcing a Maintenance Order
If your spouse fails to fulfil their obligations regarding spousal and child support, our family lawyers can help you enforce the maintenance order through the court.
Our Representative Legal Cases
Case 1: Resolving Maintenance Disputes Through Mediation
“Ms M” sought our assistance in determining the appropriate amount of monthly maintenance. Through mediation, we facilitated open and respectful communication between “Ms M” and her former spouse.
Case 2: Ensuring Fair Maintenance for Dependent Spouse
“Mr L” approached our firm seeking assistance in determining a fair amount of monthly maintenance for his wife, who had been financially dependent throughout the marriage. Our expert maintenance lawyers meticulously assessed the financial needs of the dependent spouse, taking into account her living expenses and ongoing commitments.
With a focus on fairness and ensuring a stable post-divorce life for the dependent spouse, we successfully negotiated a maintenance agreement that addressed her financial needs and provided her with a sense of security.
Case 3: Securing Adequate Support for the Children
In a case involving “Ms S,” the primary concern was securing adequate maintenance for the children. Our team worked closely with “Ms S” to assess the children’s financial needs, including educational expenses, healthcare costs, and extracurricular activities.
Recognising the importance of maintaining the children’s standard of living, we pursued a fair and reasonable maintenance arrangement that provided for their well-being. Through negotiation and the court’s intervention, we secured a maintenance order that ensured the children’s continued financial stability.
Why Us
Why Choose IRB Law for Child and Spousal Maintenance Service
Recognised Singapore Family Lawyers
IRB Law is a well-known law firm in Singapore, recognised by The Straits Times and Statista over multiple years for our excellent family law service.
Personalised Legal Support
We understand the emotional toll and financial strain of divorce on spouses and their children and use a compassionate and constructive approach to resolve maintenance-related disputes.
Transparent & Affordable Legal Fees
At IRB Law, we provide affordable legal services and are always clear about our legal fees.
Our Lawyers
Meet Our Key Family Lawyers in Singapore
Founding & Managing Partner, IRB Law LLP
Mohamed Baiross
Mohamed Baiross is the managing partner of IRB Law and one of the nation's leading lawyers in multiple practice areas, including civil, corporate, and commercial law. With over three decades of experience as a business lawyer, Mohamed Baiross has built a renowned corporate law firm in Singapore, providing expert legal services to global corporations and local businesses.
Partner
Kulvinder Kaur
Kulvinder Kaur is a prominent commercial and corporate lawyer and an expert in litigation matters. Kaur is well-known in all courts of Singapore for strong legal representation in the most complex cases across multiple practice areas.
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Maintenance
FAQs
What is maintenance in a divorce context in Singapore?
Maintenance refers to the ongoing financial support a spouse and/or children may receive from the other spouse during or after a divorce, as provided under the Women’s Charter.
Who can claim spousal maintenance in Singapore?
A spouse can claim maintenance if they are unable to work due to disability, have been a homemaker for a long time, or have care of young children, reducing their earning capacity.
Who can claim child maintenance?
Either parent may claim child maintenance. The court will consider the child’s needs, each parent’s income and earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage.
What factors does the court consider when awarding maintenance?
The court considers the financial needs of the parties, earning capacity, age, health, standard of living during marriage, and contributions made to the family.
Can a maintenance order be varied later on?
Yes, a maintenance order can be varied if there is a significant change in circumstances, such as loss of employment or change in financial needs.
What happens if the paying spouse doesn’t pay the maintenance?
Failure to pay court-ordered maintenance may result in enforcement action, such as fines, imprisonment, or attachment of earnings.
What is the difference between interim maintenance and final maintenance?
Interim maintenance is temporary support provided during divorce proceedings, while final maintenance is determined after the divorce is finalized.
How can a law firm help with maintenance cases?
A family lawyer can help assess eligibility, draft legal documents, represent clients in court, and assist with enforcement or variation of maintenance orders.
Can a husband apply for maintenance?
Yes. Under the Women’s Charter, a husband can apply for maintenance if he is incapacitated, unable to earn a living, and dependent on his wife.
How long does maintenance last?
Maintenance generally lasts until the recipient remarries, becomes self-sufficient, or as specified in the court order. For children, it typically continues until they reach 21 years old.
Google Reviews
Testimonials
Bethan Loh
26th April 2026
Andrew Wong and the IRB team were great in supporting my case, answering my questions and advocating for the best options for me. Quick responses with initiative, and helpful! Led to a win for me and would consult them again.
Steven Tan
30th March 2026
4 of us, my sister and husband, my wife and I had our wills and LPAs done at IRB Law LLP. Mr Andrew Wong of IRB helped us in drafting our Wills and LPAs. He explained to us clearly about the wills and LPAs and patiently guided us through the process of drafting our wills. He answered her queries clearly and we had a much better understanding of wills and LPAs. We would like to say a thank you. I would also like to give a thumbs up to Andrew and Amelia during the initial queries and arrangements to fix the appointment today. They answered my queries quickly and promptly which helped me decide to use IRB Law.
Jason Tan
25th March 2026
We would like to thanks Mr Andrew Wong and Ms Precelia for their strong support and professionalism in giving us sound advice in this entire journey.
Siang Chee Keong
12th March 2026
We hired lawyer, Mr Andrew to settle my dad documents of asset. Process was fast and helpful with him. Thank you very much.
Hasnah Abdullah
16th January 2026
At that time when we were feeling extremely helpless, Mr Mohamed Baiross was willing to help and has given his views on our issue. I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Mohamed Baiross and his team at IRB Law Firm, particularly Ms. Sharifah Nabilah, for their outstanding representation in our case. Her efficiency, dedication, and professionalism were evident throughout the process. Ms. Sharifah's confidence and assurance in court during cross-examination were impressive, and her ownership of the case led to a successful outcome. I highly recommend IRB Law Firm and Ms. Sharifah Nabilah for their exceptional legal services.
jenny chew
6th January 2026
I am truly grateful to this legal team for their professionalism, dedication, and genuine care throughout my case. Going through legal matters after a divorce is never easy—emotionally or mentally—but this team made the entire process much more manageable and reassuring. Mr. Hashim was the first person who came into contact with me. He patiently guided me through the initial process, explained the steps clearly, and provided reassurance when I felt lost and overwhelmed. His guidance gave me clarity and confidence during a very difficult period. Mr. Andrew assisted me extensively throughout the case. He was extremely patient and took the time to explain every detail clearly and thoroughly. Most importantly, he fought all the way for my best interests and benefits, and the outcome was great for me. I am truly grateful to have had him and the team standing by me throughout this journey. I would also like to sincerely thank Ms. Nabilah and Ms. Waheedah, who were always friendly, helpful, and responsive. Their support and warm attitude made the entire process much less stressful and helped me feel supported every step of the way. The outcome was great for me, and I am deeply grateful to have had this team with me during such a challenging time. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking reliable, compassionate, and professional legal support.
Yen Goh
19th December 2025
IRB law team lawyers professional and helpful, good job, thanks Andrew for help so professional.👍👍👍
Kevin Chan
5th December 2025
Mr Baiross, Crystal, and the team are very professional and friendly. Mr Baiross gives excellent advise and is prompt in his replies. Crystal is helpful and attentive when it came to executing the agreement. Overall the team is patient and will help clarify any questions and concerns you have.
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If you are looking to apply for, enforce, vary, or suspend a maintenance order in Singapore, you may benefit from the support of experienced family lawyers. Contact IRB Law divorce maintenance lawyers for a free initial consultation.