Family Justice Bill

Bill No. 21/2014

Read the first time on 8th July 2014.

An Act relating to the constitution, jurisdiction and powers of the Family Justice Courts and the administration of justice therein, and to make consequential and related amendments to other written laws.

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Family Justice Act 2014 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“District Judge” means a District Judge appointed under section 9(1) of the State Courts Act (Cap. 321);

“Family Justice Rules” means the Family Justice Rules made under this Act and any other written law by the Family Justice Rules Committee constituted under section 46(1);

“family proceedings” means —

(a)	any civil proceedings under section 53 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3);
(b)	any civil proceedings under the Adoption of Children Act (Cap. 4);
(c)	any civil proceedings under the Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122);
(d)	any civil proceedings under the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act (Cap. 138);
(e)	any civil proceedings under the International Child Abduction Act (Cap. 143C);
(f)	any civil proceedings for the distribution of an intestate estate in accordance with the Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146);
(g)	any civil proceedings under the Legitimacy Act (Cap. 162);
(h)	any civil proceedings under section 10 of the Maintenance of Parents Act (Cap. 167B);
(i)	any civil proceedings under the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act (Cap. 168);
(j)	any civil proceedings under the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act (Cap. 169);
(k)	any civil proceedings under the Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A);
(l)	any civil proceedings under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (Cap. 178A);
(m)	any civil proceedings under the Status of Children (Assisted Reproduction Technology) Act 2013 (Act 16 of 2013);
(n)	any civil proceedings under section 17A(2) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322);
(o)	any civil proceedings under the Voluntary Sterilization Act (Cap. 347);
(p)	any civil or quasi-criminal proceedings under the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353); and
(q)	on or after the date specified under section 47(11), any civil proceedings under the Probate and Administration Act (Cap. 251);

“family support programme or activity” means any programme or activity carried out for the purpose of addressing or resolving any relationship issue or relationship problem between spouses or former spouses, between siblings or between parent and child;

“Judge” means the Chief Justice, a Judge of the High Court or a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court, and includes a Judge of Appeal sitting in the High Court;

“judicial officer” means a District Judge or Magistrate who is designated as a judge of the Family Court or a judge of the Youth Court, or a Registrar;

“Magistrate” means a Magistrate appointed under section 10(1) of the State Courts Act;

“officer”, in relation to the Family Justice Courts, means a person who is attached to the Family Justice Courts under section 17;

“registered medical practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174) who has in force a practising certificate granted under that Act;

“Registrar” means the registrar, the deputy registrar or any assistant registrar of the Family Justice Courts;

“Rules of Court” means the Rules of Court made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322) and any other written law by the Rules Committee constituted under section 80(3) of that Act;

“Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents” means the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents established under section 13 of the Maintenance of Parents Act.

(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to the general supervisory and revisionary jurisdiction of the High Court shall be construed as a reference to the general supervisory and revisionary jurisdiction of the High Court under section 27 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, and includes a reference to all powers exercisable by the High Court under sections 23 to 28 of that Act.

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