Mandatory Parenting Programme

In order to support child-centricity in divorce, new rules in the Women’s Charter have now implemented a Mandatory Parenting Programme (“MPP”) to better protect children affected by their parents' split. This new process will affect couples who cannot agree on the grounds for divorce and child-related issues.

Effective from 1st December 2016, it will now be mandatory for any party initiating divorce proceedings (or filing a counterclaim in the existing divorce proceedings), and who have at least a child aged below 14, to attend a mandatory 2-hour private consultation prior to filing for divorce. This consultation will be conducted by counsellors from the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Divorce Support Specialist Agencies (“DSSA”).

The consultation seeks to inform applicants about the housing and financial implications of a divorce, as well as the impact that the divorce will have upon the child(ren).

This new requirement should not significantly prolong the divorce proceedings. Whilst the MPP application is being processed, we will concurrently liaise with HDB in order to obtain the necessary supporting documents for your divorce application. As your lawyers, we will do our best to ensure minimal delay.

FAQs on the MPP process:

Mandatory Parenting Programme