Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

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Family Division of the High Court & the Family Courts

The Family Division of the High Court and the Family Courts are generally empowered to exercise the part of the civil jurisdiction of the High Court consisting of:

(a) jurisdiction under any written law relating to divorce and matrimonial causes;

(b) jurisdiction to appoint and control guardians of infants and generally over the persons and property of infants;

(c) jurisdiction to appoint and control guardians and keepers of the persons and estates of idiots, mentally disordered persons and persons of unsound mind;

(d) jurisdiction to grant probates of wills and testaments, letters of administration of the estates of deceased persons and to alter or revoke such grants; and

(e) such other jurisdiction relating to family proceedings as is vested in or conferred by any written law.

The Family Division of the High Court also hears appeals from the Family Courts in civil and criminal matters, appeals and special cases from the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, and appeals in criminal matters from the Youth Courts.

The Youth Courts

The Youth Courts generally hear offences committed by persons below the age of 16.

 

 

Sources:
Family Justice Act (Act No 27 of 2014)

www.supremecourt.gov.sg

Constitution

Constitution

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The Family Justice Courts are established pursuant to the Family Justice Act (Act No 27 of 2014), which was passed by Parliament on 4 August 2014.

Under Section 3 of the Family Justice Act, the Family Justice Court consists of

(a) the Family Division of the High Court;

(b) the Family Courts; and

(c) the Youth Courts.

Mission, Vision and Values

Mission, Vision and Values

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Mission

Making justice accessible to families and youth through effective counselling, mediation and adjudication.


Vision

Justice that protects, empowers, restores

Values

Every case with fairness

Every outcome, a way forward

Every individual, with respect



Source:
www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg

Family Justice Courts

Family Justice Courts

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Section Site Map

Mission, Vision and Values

Constitution

Jurisdiction

Hierarchical Structure

History of Family Justice Courts Building
English

Location and Facilities

Location and Facilities

Location and Facilities

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The State Courts are located at 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724.

Spanning 30,600 square meters, the State Courts building houses courtrooms and hearing chambers.

History of State Courts Building

History of State Courts Building

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Prior to the establishment of the current State Courts building at 1 Havelock Square in 1975, the State Courts (then known as the Subordinate Courts) operated out of several different locations. The Criminal District and Magistrates’ Courts were located on South Bridge Road, the Traffic Courts were housed in the former Sepoy Lines Police Station in Outram, while the Civil District Courts operated out of the old Parliament Building and the Old Supreme Court Building.

Construction of the current octagonal State Courts building began in January 1973. The State Courts began their operations at the building, when construction was completed in September 1975. While the building originally housed 26 courtrooms, more courtrooms were added over the years to cope with an increasing caseload. The State Courts building achieved conservation status on 10 July 2013.

Construction of a new building, the State Courts Towers, has been underway since 2014. The new State Courts Towers sits adjacent to the current State Courts building, and is slated to be operational in 2020.

 

Source:
www.statecourts.gov.sg

Hierarchical Structure

Hierarchical Structure

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The State Courts are headed by the Presiding Judge of the State Courts, who is a Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court with overall responsibility for the leadership and management of the State Courts.

The Presiding Judge of the State Courts is assisted by the Deputy Presiding Judge who concurrently holds the position of Registrar of the State Courts.

The Presiding Judge and Deputy Presiding Judge are supported by the Leadership Team comprising the Principal District Judges, senior judicial officers and senior court administrators. There are four Justice Divisions: Criminal Justice Division, Civil Justice Division, Community Justice and Tribunals Division and State Courts Centre for Dispute Resolution. These Divisions are supported by the Corporate Services Division, and Strategic Planning and Technology Division.

 

Source:
www.statecourts.gov.sg

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

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The State Courts of Singapore comprise the District Courts, the Magistrates’ Courts, and Tribunals.

 

For civil matters:

(a) A District Court has jurisdiction to hear and try an action for the recovery of a sum or sums not exceeding S$250,000 or, in the case of road traffic accident claims or claims for personal injuries arising out of industrial accidents, a sum or sums not exceeding $500,000.

(b) A Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction to hear and try an action for the recovery of a sum or sums not exceeding $60,000.

(c) The Small Claims Tribunals have jurisdiction to hear claims not exceeding $10,000. This jurisdictional limit can be raised to $20,000 if the Claimant and Respondent consent in writing.

(d) The Employment Claims Tribunals have jurisdiction to hear salary-related claims not exceeding S$20,000. For employees who go through the Tripartite Mediation Framework or mediation assisted by their unions recognised under the Industrial Relations Act, the claim limit is S$30,000.

(e) The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals hear community dispute-related claims where the Tribunal can make orders for damages (up to $20,000), injunction, specific instruction, an apology, or any other order to give effect to the above.

 

For criminal matters:

(a) A District Court generally has jurisdiction to try offences where the maximum imprisonment term does not exceed ten years, or which are punishable with a fine only. A District Court may pass any of the following sentences:

  1. Imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years;

  2. Fines not exceeding $30,000;

  3. Up to 12 strokes of the cane;

  4. Any lawful sentence combining any of the sentences which it is authorised by law to pass.

(b) A Magistrate’s Court generally has jurisdiction to try offences where the maximum imprisonment term does not exceed five years, or which are punishable with a fine only. A Magistrate’s Court may pass any of the following sentences:

  1. Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years;

  2. Fines not exceeding $10,000;

  3. Up to six strokes of the cane.

However, where the law expressly provides for it, the District Courts and Magistrates’ Courts have jurisdiction to try offences and impose sentences which exceed the above limits.

 

Source:
www.statecourts.gov.sg

Constitution

Constitution

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The State Courts Act (Cap 321) sets out the constitution, jurisdiction and powers of the State Courts.

Mission, Vision and Values

Mission, Vision and Values

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Mission:

Serving society with quality judgments, timely dispute resolution and excellent court services


Shared Vision:

Inspiring public trust and confidence through an effective and accessible justice system


Core Values:

Fairness,

Accessibility,

Independence, Integrity, Impartiality

Responsiveness.



Source:
www.statecourts.gov.sg