Singapore University of Social Sciences

LAW325 Family Law and the Family Justice Courts 1 introduces students to how the law in Singapore regulates the formation of marriage, the spouses in their conduct towards one another, the termination of their marriage and the ancillary orders a court may make upon the termination of marriage. The companion course LAW327 Family Law and the Family Justice Courts 2 introduces students to how the law regulates parenting, how it protects children, the provision of maintenance by parents and selected non-parents, the legitimacy or otherwise of the parent-child relationship, the adoption of children and orders of guardianship and custody made between parents or for non-parents. LAW325 will introduce both substantive law regulating these areas and the Family Justice Courts providing relief to family members who have disputes with one another. Each topic is presented so the students gain a holistic view of how substantive law regulates while the courts buttress the law by providing relief in disputes. From studying both law and procedure in an integrated manner, students gain an appreciation of the ethics of caring that permeate the jurisprudence of substantive family law as well as therapeutic justice meted out by the Family Justice Courts. By this holistic treatment, students gain some familiarity with statutory provisions as well as court rules, court documents and processes.