Financial relief after foreign divorces and competing public policies

Abstract

Both Singapore and the United Kingdom have enacted similar legislation (viz, Chapter 4A of the Women's Charter 1961 and Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, respectively) which provides the courts with the power to grant financial relief following foreign divorces. In its recent decision in VEW v VEV, the Singapore Court of Appeal considered whether an anti-suit injunction should be granted against an application for financial relief in the United Kingdom following a divorce in Singapore where an order for financial relief had already been made by the Singapore court. This note compares the approaches adopted by both jurisdictions and argues that the Singapore Court of Appeal's balancing exercise between competing public policies in VEW v VEV should be welcomed.