As this book was going to press the government announced its proposal to amend some provisions in the Women's Charter. If these changes become law, there are several amendments or additional points I would like to make to some of my answers in this book. For the moment it is not known if they will become law or what final form the changes will assume. For reference, I suggest here how I would alter parts of seven of my answers if the changes became law.

What are the formalities of marriage in Singapore?

It is proposed to maintain the requirement of 15-day residence in Singapore before the issuance of a marriage licence only where “any party to the intended marriage is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore”.

It is also proposed that specific groups of persons be identified by subsidiary legislation (possibly persons under a particular age or persons who have previously become divorced) who will be required to attend marriage preparation courses before the marriage licence they seek is issued to them.

It is also proposed that, where one of the parties seeking a marriage licence was previously divorced, he or she should declare, as one item of the statutory declaration, whether he or she has any maintenance arrears owing towards a child or children from the previous marriage or towards a former wife.

How does the law of marriage apply to foreigners who wish to marry in Singapore?

It is proposed that the requirement of 15-day residence in Singapore applies only where both parties are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents.

What community assistance — legal and non-legal — is available to a couple going through a divorce?

It is proposed that, where the divorce proceedings involves a child who is below 21 years old or children below this age, the couple must attend compulsory counselling and mediation on areas of disagreement relating to the child or children.

It is also proposed to empower the Family Court to make further orders as deemed appropriate where the parties fail to attend counselling as directed by the Court. These may take the form of an order to hold the divorce proceedings in abeyance or that the uncooperative party should pay the costs of the proceedings.