What you know about laws are things you need to understand fully. Everyone who participates in communities will be affected by them. While some view laws as restrictive rules and regulations that limit people’s freedoms, their purpose is not to restrict you and the people around you. Most of them exist to enumerate and safeguard the rights of people, corporate entities, and society as a whole. For example, they are there to protect the family bonds and exercise individuals’ rights within the family system. That is why we have civil and criminal law firms in Singapore.
When individuals (or groups and organisations) have any issues with the law, they have to face a complicated legal process that may be too intimidating to navigate. The average individual or organisation head might not know how to manoeuvre the process themselves. If they want to build a solid defence, they need to hire a criminal, civil, or family lawyer.
For now, let us take a look at family law and how divorce is considered a legal proceeding.
Differentiating Family Law from the Other Types of Law
When you get a divorce lawyer in Singapore, you need someone well-versed in family law. Not all laws are created for the same purpose. Laws are divided roughly into three categories: criminal, civil, and last but not least, family.
Criminal law deals with cases of people who have harmed or threatened to harm the peace and safety of others. Criminal law defendants have to prove that they have not dealt with the violation of people’s rights. Civil law is supposed to protect the public as a whole and specifically targeted individuals. A person charged with criminal law issues is accused of disruptive and criminal behaviours such as drug offences, murder, sexual misconduct, and more.
Civil law discusses disputes between individuals, entities, and individuals to entities. All individuals and registered organisations have rights the court has to ensure are met. The court shall seek to resolve the dispute by finding the most justifiable solution according to the law. Their actions may involve asking for compensation for the victim. Some issues that fall under civil law include property disputes or lessor/lessee disputes. Corporate topics such as employment claims or commercial disputes also fall under civil law.
Family law, on the other hand, has a special significance to human beings. The family is the earliest societal unit that we will ever experience. However, not everyone will grow up or be gifted with a stable relationship with parents, siblings, grandparents, and so on. Disputes and serious issues between family members are an oft-messy affair because they involve personal matters that families should not be fighting over. Since family relations such as marriages are legally binding, special care is needed when family members start to argue about rights.
The state needs to intervene in such cases as divorce or child custody. The best course of action for these things is to hire the best divorce lawyer in Singapore who knows how to tackle personal problems within the family. With family lawyers, you can jumpstart divorce mediations.
Questions to Ask Before Getting a Divorce in Singapore
A divorce might be the hardest decision you’ll ever have to make. In the eyes of the law, you will not be able to break off your marriage as easily as you might think. You need to go through the divorce process before separating from your spouse. You cannot file for divorce simply because you want to.
There’s a lengthy process up ahead for you. The process is complicated because paperwork, property distribution, and your children’s rights need addressing. There are many steps to take before getting a divorce. Are you asking the right questions that may help you understand more about your divorce circumstances? Here are a few things you might want to ask yourself and any family lawyer in Singapore.
1) Who owns the property?
The worst nightmare for any person is to lose what’s rightfully theirs in a divorce. But there are too many stories of spouses losing their hard-earned property because of the legalities of marriage. Protect what is rightfully yours by hiring a divorce lawyer who can help you research your rights to your property and how you can fight for ownership in court. A divorce lawyer can also ensure you have the due information necessary to help you fight for your rights in a divorce proceeding.
2) What kind of person is your spouse?
That question is the only one you can ask yourself. There is such a thing as contested and uncontested divorces, which makes it easier to distinguish whether you will have an easier time in court or a battle on your hands. You may benefit from cooperating with your spouse and reaching an agreement— you do not have to suffer battles in court. Though you may not need a criminal lawyer in Singapore, knowing how your spouse will react can help you discover the best paths.
3) What are the costs of divorce?
This is one big question you need to ask in the months that it might take for you to finalise a divorce. Lawyers’ fees are expensive, and you need to budget your money wisely. You might have a hard time paying off your debt to your lawyer, and in some cases, spouses may become vindictive enough to cut you off from most funds while the divorce proceedings are happening. Be careful and wary of this. Save up before you initiate the divorce process. You may benefit from waiting a little longer.
With Quahe Woo & Palmer, you can get a reasonable outcome for your divorce. Learn more about wife maintenance in Singapore and other things you can do to make the process before, during, and after divorce more bearable.
