Child Maintenance in Singapore: Application and Contribution 新加坡的儿童抚养费：申请和贡献
In Singapore, the Women’s Charter entitles a child to obtain financial support from their biological parents until the age of 21. However, maintenance orders may be extended for children above the age of 21 under certain circumstances- such as if they are pursuing their tertiary education or undergoing national service. This is regardless on whether the biological parents of the child is married or not.
Courts generally arrive at a final maintenance order after taking into account a child’s education, financial and other living expenses, and both parents’ incomes.
Once made, maintenance orders may be varied under limited circumstances- for instance, if there is a substantial change in the circumstances such as health of earning capacity of the parent contributing to the maintenance or the expenses of the child increased unexpectedly.
Who is liable to contribute to child maintenance?
Under the law, it is the duty of a parent to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of his or her children, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate.
If it is proven that a parent has refused to provide reasonable maintenance for a child who is unable to maintain himself, a court may order that the parent pay a monthly payment or one-time lump sum for the maintenance of the child. Back-dated maintenance in some circumstances may be ordered as well.
The law also allows for a non-parent to also become responsible for the maintenance of a dependent child if he accepts the child as a member of his family. This will depend the facts of each case. However, the duty by the non-parent shall cease if the child is taken away by his birth father or mother. Any money spent on the expenses of the child by the non-parent may then be recoverable as a debt from the birth parent.
Who can apply for child maintenance?
Applications for maintenance of a child may be made by any of the following people:
The guardian of the child;
Anyone who has actual custody of the child;
A child who has attained the age of 21; or
If a child is below the age of 21, any of his siblings who are older than 21 may also apply on his behalf.
Who can benefit from child maintenance?
Generally, children under the age of 21 will be eligible for maintenance from their parents. A maintenance order made before a child turn 21 ceases to be of any effect on the day the child turns 21 unless the maintenance order expressly states otherwise.
Exceptionally, a dependent child above the age of 21 may also be eligible for maintenance under any of the following circumstances:
The child suffers from a mental or physical disability;
The child is or will be serving full-time national service;
The child is or will be studying or undergoing vocational training; or
Any other special circumstances.
Our lawyers have much experience with applying for child maintenance as well as varying existing child maintenance. Come talk to us at 8780-2499 for more details.
在新加坡，《妇女宪章》规定孩子在 21 岁之前有权从其亲生父母那里获得经济支持。但是，在某些情况下，21 岁以上的孩子的赡养令可能会延长——比如他们正在接受高等教育或正在服兵役。这与孩子的亲生父母是否结婚无关。
法院通常会在考虑孩子的教育、财务和其他生活费用以及父母双方的收入后，做出最终的抚养令。
一旦作出，抚养令可能会在有限的情况下发生变化——例如，如果情况发生重大变化，例如支付抚养费的父母的收入能力的健康状况或孩子的开支意外增加。
谁有责任支付儿童抚养费？
根据法律，父母有责任抚养或协助抚养其子女，无论他们是婚生子女还是非婚生子女。 如果证明父母一方拒绝为无法自理的孩子提供合理的抚养费，法院可以命令父母支付每月或一次性的抚养费作为孩子的抚养费。在某些情况下，也可能会订购回溯维护。
法律还允许非父母一方在接受受抚养子女为家庭成员的情况下也有责任抚养受抚养子女。这将取决于每个案例的事实。但是，如果孩子被亲生父亲或母亲带走，则非父母的责任即告终止。非父母一方花在孩子身上的任何钱都可以作为债务从亲生父母那里
收回。
谁可以申请子女抚养费？
下列任何人均可提出子女抚养申请：
孩子的监护人；
对孩子有实际监护权的任何人；
年满21岁的子女；或者
如果孩子未满 21 岁，则其年满 21 岁的兄弟姐妹也可以代为申请。
谁可以从儿童抚养中受益？
一般来说，21 岁以下的子女有资格从父母那里获得抚养费。在孩子年满 21 岁之前作出的赡养令在孩子年满 21 岁之日起不再有效，除非赡养令另有明确规定。
在特殊情况下，21 岁以上的受抚养子女在以下任何情况下也可能有资格获得抚养费：
孩子患有精神或身体残疾；
孩子正在或将要服全职国民服务；
孩子正在或将要学习或接受职业培训；
或者 任何其他特殊情况。
我们的律师在申请子女抚养费以及改变现有子女抚养费方面拥有丰富的经验。
请致电 8780-2499 与我们联系以了解更多详情。