9 July 2018
Question
Mr Seah Kian Peng
MP for Marine Parade GRC
To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development in the last three years, what has been the number of divorce cases where custody of the children has been accorded to (i) mothers only (ii) fathers only and (iii) both parents respectively.
Answer
The breakdown of custody orders for divorces from 2014 to 2016 is as follows
Table 1 Orders Made for Custody for Divorces Granted/ Registered in 2014-2016
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
Total number of divorces with custody orders made | 3,878 (100.0%) | 3,945 (100.0%) | 3,957 (100.0%) |
| 2,736 (70.6%) | 2,834 (71.8%) | 2,940 (74.3%) |
| 843 (21.7%) | 827 (21.0%) | 764 (19.3%) |
| 241 (6.2%) | 221 (5.6%) | 191 (4.8%) |
| 44 (1.1%) | 43 (1.1%) | 28 (0.7%) |
| 14 (0.4%) | 20 (0.5%) | 34 (0.9%) |
* Figures are by the year of final judgment granted (under the Women's Charter) and year of divorce registered (under the Administration of Muslim Law Act).
^ Refers to cases where the custody of all children is awarded to parents only, but the orders differ for each child (e.g. joint custody for the first child, sole custody to the Mother for the second child).
# Refers to cases where custody of at least one child involves a relative, non-relative (e.g. guardian) or the State.