fc_judgments: 105
Data source: lawnet.sg/lawnet/web/lawnet/free-resources
This data as json
| _id | _item_id | tags | date | court | case-number | title | citation | url | counsel | timestamp | coram | html | _commit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | f9c08fb927516a67dcf0bd8fbe6886d80632e148 | [
"Family law \u2013 Variation of Ancillary Matters Orders \u2013 Maintenance"
] |
2024-11-26 | Family Court | Divorce No 3897 of 2013 | XFU v XFV | [2024] SGFC 104 | https://www.lawnet.sg:443/lawnet/web/lawnet/free-resources?p_p_id=freeresources_WAR_lawnet3baseportlet&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&_freeresources_WAR_lawnet3baseportlet_action=openContentPage&_freeresources_WAR_lawnet3baseportlet_docId=%2FJudgment%2F32491-SSP.xml | [
"\u2014"
] |
2024-11-25T16:00:00Z[GMT] | District Judge Michelle Elias Solomon | <root><head><title>XFU v XFV</title></head><content><div class="contentsOfFile"> <h2 align="center" class="title"><span class="caseTitle"> XFU <em>v</em> XFV </span><br><span class="Citation offhyperlink"><a class="pagecontent" href="javascript:viewPageContent('/Judgment/32491-SSP.xml')">[2024] SGFC 104</a></span></h2><table id="info-table"><tbody><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Case Number</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">Divorce No 3897 of 2013</td></tr><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Decision Date</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">26 November 2024</td></tr><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Tribunal/Court</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">Family Court</td></tr><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Coram</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">District Judge Michelle Elias Solomon</td></tr><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Counsel Name(s)</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">—</td></tr><tr class="info-row"><td class="txt-label" style="padding: 4px 0px; white-space: nowrap" valign="top">Parties</td><td class="info-delim1" style="padding: 4px">:</td><td class="txt-body">XFU — XFV</td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="txt-body"><span style="font-style:italic">Family law</span> – <span style="font-style:italic">Variation of Ancillary Matters Orders</span> – <span style="font-style:italic">Maintenance</span></p> <p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="80%"><p class="Judg-Hearing-Date">26 November 2024</p></td><td><p class="Judg-Date-Reserved"></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p> [LawNet Admin Note: The following judgment is displayed as received from source]<p class="Judg-Author"> District Judge Michelle Elias Solomon:</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">Introduction</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_1"></a>1 This is an application to vary maintenance for children which was commenced by the plaintiff father (“the Father”). The defendant mother (“the Mother”) disagreed to the variation sought by the Father.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">Background</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_2"></a>2 The Father and Mother (“the Parties”) were married in December 2004 and have three children, S, a girl, who was born in 2007 (“S”), M, a boy, who was born in 2009 (“M”) and R, a boy, who was born in 2012 (“R”).</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_3"></a>3 In August 2013, the Father commenced divorce proceedings citing the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The Interim Judgment was granted, on an uncontested basis, in April 2014 with the ancillary matters adjourned to be heard in chambers. The court delivered its final orders in respect of the ancillary matters on 5 August 2015 (“the 2015 Order”).</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_4"></a>4 The orders in respect of maintenance for the S, M and R (“the children”), which was the central issue before me in the current application, read as follows:</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_4-p2_a"></a>a) The Father shall pay the Mother monthly maintenance of $6,000 for the maintenance of the Mother and three children, namely S, M and R, for 18 months beginning 31 August 2015 and thereafter on the last day of each month until the last day of January 2017;</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_4-p2_b"></a>b) Commencing 28 February 2017, the Father shall pay the Mother (i) monthly maintenance of $4,000 for the maintenance of their three children and (ii) nominal maintenance of $1 per month for the Mother’s maintenance;</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_5"></a>5 The 2015 Order essentially fixed maintenance at the initial sum of $6,000 per month, which decreased to $4,000 per month in 2017; this mechanism was in-built into the 2015 Order. The Final Judgment was issued on 14 August 2015. The Father remarried in 2016 and has two children<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_1" id="Ftn_1_1"><sup>[note: 1]</sup></a></span> from his current marriage.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">The current application for variation of maintenance</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_6"></a>6 The Father filed the current application to vary the children’s maintenance under the 2015 Order in the following terms:</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_6-p2_a"></a>a) Maintenance of $4,000 be temporarily varied to $0 and backdated from 1 Jan 2023 until such time the Father obtains new employment paying him at least S$15,000.00 each month<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_2" id="Ftn_2_1"><sup>[note: 2]</sup></a></span> ; and</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_6-p2_b"></a>b) Further and/or in the alternative in the event the Father obtains new employment paying him at least S$8,000.00 each month, the Father shall pay the Mother monthly maintenance of S$1,200.00 for the maintenance of their three children<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_3" id="Ftn_3_1"><sup>[note: 3]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_7"></a>7 The Parties subsequently attended mediation to amicably resolve the variation application; their efforts, however, were unsuccessful. The variation application thereafter came up before me for a hearing, at which both parties were represented by counsel. On 22 August 2024, I delivered my decision<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_4" id="Ftn_4_1"><sup>[note: 4]</sup></a></span> , allowing the Father’s application and varying the children’s maintenance downwards, but not to the extent sought by the Father. The Father appealed against the whole of my decision, and I now provide the grounds.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">The evidence and orders</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_8"></a>8 A total of five affidavits were filed by the Parties for the variation application:</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_8-p2_a"></a>a) The Father’s affidavit filed on 26 June 2023 (“<b>F1</b>”);</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_8-p2_b"></a>b) The Father’s affidavit filed on 13 May 2024 (“<b>F2</b>”);</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_8-p2_c"></a>c) The Father’s affidavit filed on 6 Jun 2024 (“<b>F3</b>”);</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_8-p2_d"></a>d) The Mother’s affidavit filed on 30 Nov 2023 (“<b>M1</b>”);</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_8-p2_e"></a>e) The Mother’s affidavit filed on 14 Jun 2024 (“<b>M2</b>”);</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_9"></a>9 After considering the evidence and submissions, I made the following orders:</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_9-p2_a"></a>a) Maintenance for the children under the 2015 Order was varied in that the Father shall pay the Mother the monthly sum of $3,500 as maintenance for the children, S, M and R, with effect from 26 June 2023 and thereafter on the 26<sup>th</sup> day of each subsequent month.</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_9-p2_b"></a>b) No order as to costs.</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_9-p2_c"></a>c) Liberty to apply.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">Issues to be determined and the applicable law</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_10"></a>10 The starting point in determining variations to maintenance orders made under the Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed) (“the Charter”) is s.118 read together with s.72<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_5" id="Ftn_5_1"><sup>[note: 5]</sup></a></span> which read:</p> <p class="Judg-Quote-2"> <b>Rescission and variation of order</b> </p> <p class="Judg-Quote-2">72.—(1) On the application of any person receiving or ordered to pay a monthly allowance under this Part and on proof of a change in the circumstances of that person, or that person’s wife, incapacitated husband or child, or for other good cause being shown to the satisfaction of the court, the court by which the order was made may rescind the order or may vary it as it thinks fit..</p> <p class="Judg-Quote-1"></p> <p class="Judg-Quote-2"> <b>Power of court to vary orders for maintenance</b> </p> <p class="Judg-Quote-2">118.— The court may at any time vary or rescind any subsisting order for maintenance, whether secured or unsecured, on the application of the person in whose favour or of the person against whom the order was made, or, in respect of secured maintenance, of the legal personal representatives of the latter, where it is satisfied that the order was based on any misrepresentation or mistake of fact or where there has been any material change in the circumstance.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_11"></a>11 The sole question before me was whether there had been a material change in circumstances warranting a downward variation of the children’s maintenance. In answering this question, I considered it appropriate to consider the following:</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_11-p2_a"></a>a) The children’s expenses, including any change(s);</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_11-p2_b"></a>b) The parties’ income, including any change(s).</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_11-p2_c"></a>c) Any other factors evidencing a material change in circumstances that would justify a downward variation of the children’s maintenance.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_12"></a>12 In dealing with each issue in turn, I begin with the Parties’ cases.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">The Father’s case</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_13"></a>13 In support of his case to lower the children’s maintenance, the Father raised the following –</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_a"></a>a) From 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Jul 2023, the Father was unemployed<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_6" id="Ftn_6_1"><sup>[note: 6]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_b"></a>b) From Aug 2023 to May 2024, he worked as project manager earning S$12,000 per month<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_7" id="Ftn_7_1"><sup>[note: 7]</sup></a></span> but had been unemployed since May 2024 and his attempts to look for another job had been futile so far, as evidenced by his numerous applications to prospective employers<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_8" id="Ftn_8_1"><sup>[note: 8]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_c"></a>c) He had trouble maintaining a job paying him a good salary<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_9" id="Ftn_9_1"><sup>[note: 9]</sup></a></span> and struggled to make ends meet even when he was earning S$16,000<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_10" id="Ftn_10_1"><sup>[note: 10]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_d"></a>d) The Father incurred $20,332 monthly for his family’s financial needs<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_11" id="Ftn_11_1"><sup>[note: 11]</sup></a></span> . He had to take out multiple personal loans and lines of credit amounting to S$248,507.39.13<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_12" id="Ftn_12_1"><sup>[note: 12]</sup></a></span> to cover living expenses and financial commitments; he was very close to running into bankruptcy if he did not secure employment very soon<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_13" id="Ftn_13_1"><sup>[note: 13]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_e"></a>e) Although his last employment earned him S$12,000 per month, it only lasted 8 months and there was no guarantee that he might be able to earn the same amount given today’s loose labour market; he had to take a pay cut just to be able to secure a job<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_14" id="Ftn_14_1"><sup>[note: 14]</sup></a></span> . The Father was unable to make maintenance payments per the 2015 Order, but not one for his lack of effort; he had tried sending his resumes and would continue to do so<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_15" id="Ftn_15_1"><sup>[note: 15]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_f"></a>f) The Mother, who had been residing in Australia since November 2022<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_16" id="Ftn_16_1"><sup>[note: 16]</sup></a></span> , received welfare payments from the Australian government for the children and subsidies for the children’s health and medical needs<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_17" id="Ftn_17_1"><sup>[note: 17]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_g"></a>g) The Mother’s position that she was unable to work because she had to care for the children was just a façade<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_18" id="Ftn_18_1"><sup>[note: 18]</sup></a></span> . The Mother was a university graduate and able to find employment as a banker, which was her previous job prior to the marriage. She had chosen not to work and was hiding behind the children’s alleged medical needs just to assign him more financial responsibility vis-à-vis the children<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_19" id="Ftn_19_1"><sup>[note: 19]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_h"></a>h) The Mother’s position that she spent S$4,000 for the children was the entirety of the current maintenance amount; the Mother was therefore absolved of any financial responsibility to provide maintenance to the children. It was unfair that the Father contributed solely to the children without any financial contribution by the Mother whatsoever<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_20" id="Ftn_20_1"><sup>[note: 20]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_i"></a>i) The Mother’s and children’s expenses were exaggerated and that their collective financial expenses did not exceed AUD $3,000 each month because otherwise, the Mother would not have been able to afford the alleged expenses<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_21" id="Ftn_21_1"><sup>[note: 21]</sup></a></span> . Applying a percentage to the children’s expenses of AUD $2,000, then he ought to provide AUD $1,200 (60%)<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_22" id="Ftn_22_1"><sup>[note: 22]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_13-p2_j"></a>j) Given his current unfortunate situation, any order for him to provide maintenance was akin to squeezing water from a stone and would only likely cause him to incur more debts. This was unjust and inequitable considering he had his own expenses and debts<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_23" id="Ftn_23_1"><sup>[note: 23]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_14"></a>14 For all these reasons, the Father contended that he was unable to continue his obligations under the 2015 Order and the children’s maintenance should be decreased<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_24" id="Ftn_24_1"><sup>[note: 24]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">The Mother’s case</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_15"></a>15 The Mother objected to the Father’s application to vary the 2015 Order, contending that there should no variation<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_25" id="Ftn_25_1"><sup>[note: 25]</sup></a></span> or backdating of outstanding maintenance<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_26" id="Ftn_26_1"><sup>[note: 26]</sup></a></span> . In support of her case, she raised the following –</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_a"></a>a) The children were not living a lavish lifestyle<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_27" id="Ftn_27_1"><sup>[note: 27]</sup></a></span> ; despite the Mother’s difficulties in caring for them, she had not sought an upward revision of maintenance<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_28" id="Ftn_28_1"><sup>[note: 28]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_b"></a>b) The Father had been in arrears of maintenance amounting to $74,000<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_29" id="Ftn_29_1"><sup>[note: 29]</sup></a></span> and done everything possible to deny the children the lifestyle they were enjoying prior to the end of the marriage<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_30" id="Ftn_30_1"><sup>[note: 30]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_c"></a>c) A major portion of the AUD4,000 received monthly from the Australian authorities was to support S’s medical rehabilitation needs<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_31" id="Ftn_31_1"><sup>[note: 31]</sup></a></span> . These family assistance payments did not amount to a material change of circumstances because if the Father had paid maintenance of $4,000 every month and settled all arrears, the Mother would not have relied on the social assistance payments from the Australian authorities<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_32" id="Ftn_32_1"><sup>[note: 32]</sup></a></span> . Once the Father paid the arrears and maintenance, the authorities would seek to recalculate and obtain payment from the Mother<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_33" id="Ftn_33_1"><sup>[note: 33]</sup></a></span> . The Mother also had to bear the balance of $2,077 for the household<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_34" id="Ftn_34_1"><sup>[note: 34]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_d"></a>d) The Father had the ability to pay the sum of $4,000 for the children; he had an earning capacity of $12,000, a wealth of experience and was still young<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_35" id="Ftn_35_1"><sup>[note: 35]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_e"></a>e) The current application was filed when he was still employed<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_36" id="Ftn_36_1"><sup>[note: 36]</sup></a></span> and the Father’s expenses were unsupported by documentary evidence<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_37" id="Ftn_37_1"><sup>[note: 37]</sup></a></span> . His children’s<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_38" id="Ftn_38_1"><sup>[note: 38]</sup></a></span> expenses of $3,181 were not accurate since they lived in the Philippines, where the cost of living was much lower<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_39" id="Ftn_39_1"><sup>[note: 39]</sup></a></span> . The court should disregard all the Father’s expenses including that of the children of his new family<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_40" id="Ftn_40_1"><sup>[note: 40]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_f"></a>f) The Father’s income increased tremendously in 2023 and his ability to pay had improved<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_41" id="Ftn_41_1"><sup>[note: 41]</sup></a></span> ; other than a spell of about six months, the Father was able to be gainfully employed<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_42" id="Ftn_42_1"><sup>[note: 42]</sup></a></span> . On the other hand, there had been no change in the Mother’s financial position and she relied on the Australian social assistance to support herself and the children, together with her savings<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_43" id="Ftn_43_1"><sup>[note: 43]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_g"></a>g) The Mother was not seeking a meal ticket for life and may have to seek employment to obtain some level of financial self-sufficiency<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_44" id="Ftn_44_1"><sup>[note: 44]</sup></a></span> . According to the Mother, she was in no position to be gainfully employed<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_45" id="Ftn_45_1"><sup>[note: 45]</sup></a></span> for several reasons –</p> <p class="Judg-3"><a id="p1_15-p2_g-p3_i"></a>(i) Since 2022, S had episodes of self-harm and was admitted for acute suicidal ideation<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_46" id="Ftn_46_1"><sup>[note: 46]</sup></a></span> . The Father had not attempted to be involved in S’s rehabilitation and the Mother needed to be involved in S’s care<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_47" id="Ftn_47_1"><sup>[note: 47]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-3"><a id="p1_15-p2_g-p3_ii"></a>(ii) M suffered from severe muscle weakness from his two COVID injections and hardly attended school; he needed care and attention<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_48" id="Ftn_48_1"><sup>[note: 48]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-3"><a id="p1_15-p2_g-p3_iii"></a>(iii) The welfare of the children were paramount and based on their emotional and physical trauma, the Mother could not be gainfully employed<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_49" id="Ftn_49_1"><sup>[note: 49]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_15-p2_h"></a>h) She currently received about $2,000<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_50" id="Ftn_50_1"><sup>[note: 50]</sup></a></span> per month as rental from the HDB flat she owned.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_16"></a>16 For all these reasons, the Mother disagreed that the maintenance ought to be decreased.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">Whether to decrease maintenance: the considerations</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_17"></a>17 In considering the Father’s application to vary the children’s maintenance downwards, I considered it necessary to assess the reasonableness of the children’s expenses, as set out by the Mother<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_51" id="Ftn_51_1"><sup>[note: 51]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a> <u>Household Expenses:</u> </p> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="Judg-2-tblr" frame="all" pgwide="1"><colgroup><col width="9.68255774263284%"><col width="19.3537376265787%"><col width="12.9024917510525%"><col width="58.061212879736%"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">S/No</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Expense</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">Court’s figure [$]</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Explanation</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">1</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Mortgage</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expense excluded; these were payments towards acquisition of an asset. In any event, the children were not currently receiving the benefit of living in the matrimonial home, which was being rented out.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Rental (Australian Rental home)</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">1,738</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I accepted the amount of $1,738 to be housing / roofing costs for four people, as listed by the Mother. In this regard, I noted that the Father had pegged is own monthly rental expense at $2,900<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_52" id="Ftn_52_1"><sup>[note: 52]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">3</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Telephone</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I found the Mother’s estimate of $200 for this item of expense to be excessive. Such items of expense were also subject to affordability and should correctly be budgeted under “Cable TV / internet”.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">4</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Utilities (SG + Australia) </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">350</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I was unable to agree with the Mother’s figure of $700 which included utilities for both the Singapore and Australian homes. There should only be one claim for utilities; the one <em>actually</em> incurred by the family. I therefore halved this expense.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">5</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Conservancy </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expense of $67.50 excluded. The Mother and children were currently not residing in the flat; they were therefore not <em>actually</em> benefitting from the Conservancy services. Moreover, this sum was covered by the monthly rental received from the flat, and the tenants were currently benefitting from its use.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">6</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Cable TV / internet</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">120</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Mother’s figure accepted; this was a reasonable sum.</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">7</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Food / groceries</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expense excluded. This was budgeted separately under children’s expenses (“Food/groceries”).</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">8</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Eating out </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expense excluded. This was budgeted separately under children’s expenses (“Tour and family outings”).</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">9</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Clothing</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="4" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">These items of expense were excluded from the household expenses as they were the Mother’s personal expenses.</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">10</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Personal insurance</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">11</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Medical </p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">12</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Public transport</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">13</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Domestic helper levy </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expenses excluded; there was no evidence of a domestic helper.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">14</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Entertainment</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">These items of expense were excluded from the household expenses as they were the Mother’s personal expenses.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">15</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Hobbies and sports</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">16</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Tour and family outings</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Expense excluded. This was budgeted separately under children’s expenses (“Tour and family outings”).</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Total (for 4 people)</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>2,208</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Total (each person)</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>552</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Total (for 3 children)</p> </td><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>1656</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="left"><br clear="left"> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_18"></a>18 This was how I arrived at the sum of $1,656 as the reasonable monthly household expenses for three children. I move on to the children’s personal expenses.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a> <u>Children’s Expenses</u> </p> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="Judg-2-tblr" frame="all" pgwide="1"><colgroup><col width="9.68255774263284%"><col width="20.969393560132%"><col width="11.2868358174991%"><col width="58.061212879736%"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">S/No</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Expense</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">Court’s figure [$]</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Explanation</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">1</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Food/ groceries</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">990</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I found the sum of $330 per child to be reasonable for this expense; this worked out to $990 for three children.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Clothing</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"></p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">100</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="4" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Mother’s figure accepted; I found these to be reasonable.</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">3</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Medical </p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">100</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">4</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">School expenses</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">100</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">5</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">Transport</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">200</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">6</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Pocket money</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">450</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I found the Mother’s estimate of $1,000 for this item of expense to be excessive; $150 per child was a more reasonable sum, which worked out to $450 for three children.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">7</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Entertainment</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">-</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I found the Mother’s estimate of $350 for this item of expense to be excessive. Such items of expense were also subject to affordability and should correctly be budgeted out of “Pocket Money”, having regard to the ages of the children.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">8</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Hobbies and sports</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">240</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">I found the Mother’s estimate of $500 for each of these items of expense to be excessive. I found the sum of $80 per child to be reasonable for such expenses; this worked out to $240 for three children.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">9</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Tour and family outings</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">240</p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;">Total</p> </td><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>2,420</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="left"><br clear="left"> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_19"></a>19 This was how I arrived at the sum of $2,420 as the reasonable monthly personal expenses for three children. Based on my assessment above, the total reasonable expenses for the children, including their share of reasonable household expenses, was $4,076 per month [$1,656 + $2,420], or about $1,358 per child. I considered this sum reasonable, observing that the Father’s own monthly estimates for his children from his current marriage were higher, at about $1,590.50 per child<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_53" id="Ftn_53_1"><sup>[note: 53]</sup></a></span> . I now move on to the parties’ income.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-2">The Parties’ income, including any changes</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_20"></a>20 I considered it important to review the Father’s income since the 2015 Order, for that is when the assessment of material change in circumstances commenced. The table below shows his yearly income, as set out in his Notices of Assessment (NOA) since 2015.</p> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="Judg-2-tblr" frame="all" pgwide="1"><colgroup><col width="9.62552742616034%"><col width="18.420358649789%"><col width="71.9541139240506%"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>S/no.</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>Year of Assessment</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>Total income</b> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">1</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2016</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;border-bottom:none;">While I had directed the Father to produce this document, he explained that he was only able to locate his IRAS documents from 2017 to 2020 on his computer and hoped that I would consider it sufficient for the purposes of his income as he did not wish to pay for a copy of his 2016 NOA. I accepted this; I therefore had no information on the Father’s income earned in 2015 and assessed the changes from the year following the 2015 Order, which I considered reasonable due to the passage of time. In short, I took the view that I had sufficient data to assess the Father’s income since the 2015 Order was made.</p> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2017<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_54" id="Ftn_54_1"><sup>[note: 54]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">205,443</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">3</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2018<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_55" id="Ftn_55_1"><sup>[note: 55]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">214,191</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">4</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2019<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_56" id="Ftn_56_1"><sup>[note: 56]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">222,245</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">5</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2020<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_57" id="Ftn_57_1"><sup>[note: 57]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">243,216</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">6</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2021<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_58" id="Ftn_58_1"><sup>[note: 58]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">190,589</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">7</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2022<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_59" id="Ftn_59_1"><sup>[note: 59]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">160,000</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">8</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2023<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_60" id="Ftn_60_1"><sup>[note: 60]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">231,329</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">9</p> </td><td align="left" class="r" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;">2024<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_61" id="Ftn_61_1"><sup>[note: 61]</sup></a></span> </p> </td><td align="left" class="" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">76,375</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="left"><br clear="left"> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_21"></a>21 I observed from the data that while there had been some variations with the Father’s income over the years, he generally earned a good income and was consistently able to command salaries in excess of $200,000 per year. In fact, for five out of the last eight years, the Father earned between $205,000 and $243,000 per year. I also noted Father’s evidence indicating that he had significant work experience<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_62" id="Ftn_62_1"><sup>[note: 62]</sup></a></span> . For all these reasons, I did not consider his income of $76,375, in the Year of Assessment 2024, reflective of his true income or earning capacity, and was confident that he would find suitable employment in short order. In this regard, I also noted that while he was unemployed from 1 January 2023 to 31 July 2023<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_63" id="Ftn_63_1"><sup>[note: 63]</sup></a></span> , he eventually found employment; there was nothing to suggest that the same would not happen now.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_22"></a>22 On the Mother’s income, I noted that she received monthly rental income from renting out rooms in her flat. To understand the nature and extent of this rental income, I had made the following directions at the conclusion of the hearing before me:</p> <p class="Judg-Quote-1">Mother to state on affidavit how much she receives from each tenant per month, including the total rent.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_23"></a>23 In her subsequent affidavit, she failed to address this content directly, instead making the following statements –</p> <p class="Judg-Quote-1">I have rented out rooms at $600 per month<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_64" id="Ftn_64_1"><sup>[note: 64]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-Quote-1">Rent transfer from a tenant: $1,500<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_65" id="Ftn_65_1"><sup>[note: 65]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_24"></a>24 Nevertheless, I understood from the Mother’s evidence that –</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_24-p2_a"></a>a) She had three separate tenants renting rooms in her flat. Copies of the identification cards of these tenants were provided<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_66" id="Ftn_66_1"><sup>[note: 66]</sup></a></span> and reflected in HDB’s printout of the Enquiry on Rental Records<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_67" id="Ftn_67_1"><sup>[note: 67]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_24-p2_b"></a>b) Each room was rented out for the sum of $600 per month; this was reflected in the copies of the three Lease Agreements<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_68" id="Ftn_68_1"><sup>[note: 68]</sup></a></span> provided by the Mother.</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_24-p2_c"></a>c) The rental arrangements commenced on 10 March 2023<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_69" id="Ftn_69_1"><sup>[note: 69]</sup></a></span> .</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_24-p2_d"></a>d) Based on (a) and (b), I was satisfied that the Mother received monthly rental income of $1,800 per month from the rent of the flat.</p> <p class="Judg-2"><a id="p1_24-p2_e"></a>e) Based on (c), this meant that she earned a total of $18,000 in rental income from March 2023 to Dec 2023 [$1,800 x 10 months].</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_25"></a>25 For the purposes of assessing parties’ income and earning capacity vis-à-vis each other in the current application, I relied on the parties respective NOAs/ income earned for the last three years. For the Mother, this would include her rental income earned in 2023. I considered this to be the fairest approach in the circumstances of this case.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_26"></a>26 I therefore reviewed the parties’ respective NOAs for the Years of Assessment (YA) 2022, 2023 and 2024 (that is, income earned in 2021, 2022 and 2023). The table below sets out the particulars:</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a> </p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a> </p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a> </p> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="Judg-2-tblr" frame="all" pgwide="1"><colgroup><col width="12.9196603527106%"><col width="18.5630306988896%"><col width="18.5238406270412%"><col width="20.365774003919%"><col width="29.6276943174396%"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;"> <b>YA 2022</b> </p> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>[$]</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;"> <b>YA 2023</b> </p> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>[$]</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;"> <b>YA 2024</b> </p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;"> <b>[$]</b> </p> <p align="text-align:center;"></p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;"> <b>3-year average</b> </p> <p align="text-align:center;"> <b>[$]</b> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> <b>Mother</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_70" id="Ftn_70_1"><sup>[note: 70]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">39,000</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_71" id="Ftn_71_1"><sup>[note: 71]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p align="text-align:center;">21,000</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total rental income for 2023:</p> <p align="text-align:center;">18,000</p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income:</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">78,000</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Average yearly:</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">26,000</p> <p align="text-align:center;"></p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;"> <b>Father</b> </p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_72" id="Ftn_72_1"><sup>[note: 72]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p align="text-align:center;">160,000</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_73" id="Ftn_73_1"><sup>[note: 73]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p align="text-align:center;">231,329</p> </td><td align="left" class="br" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_74" id="Ftn_74_1"><sup>[note: 74]</sup></a></span> :</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">76,375</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td><td align="left" class="b" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Total income:</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">467,704</p> <p align="text-align:center;"> </p> </td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="" rowspan="1" valign="top"> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">Average yearly:</p> <p align="text-align:center;border-bottom:none;">155,901</p> <p align="text-align:center;"></p> </td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="left"><br clear="left"> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_27"></a>27 Based on the above data, the average ratio of parties’ income was 14%:86% [26,000: 155,901].</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_28"></a>28 On the issue of the Mother’s employment, of relevance was the Mother’s <em>reasons</em> for not seeking employment. According to the Mother, she was unable to find employment due to the children’s needs. On the other hand, the Father contended that this was just a façade to apportion more financial responsibility to him<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_75" id="Ftn_75_1"><sup>[note: 75]</sup></a></span> . I noted the Mother’s concerns over the children’s health challenges; however, they were not reasons, <em>in and of themselves</em>, not to find employment <em>at all</em>. The Mother must make meaningful efforts which result in her employment. That being said, I could only rely on the parties’ recent income and expenses in making orders in the current application. In my view, it would be incorrect to <em>lower</em> the Father’s current contributions to the children’s maintenance by <em>guessing</em> the Mother’s future income; the children’s expenses remained the joint responsibility of both parents and they must both try harder for the sake of their children. The Father’s “squeezing water from stone<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_76" id="Ftn_76_1"><sup>[note: 76]</sup></a></span> ” argument, therefore, cut both ways.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_29"></a>29 Based on the children’s total current reasonable expenses of $4,076, the Father’s 86% contribution was therefore about $3,500<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_77" id="Ftn_77_1"><sup>[note: 77]</sup></a></span> . This was how I arrived at the sum of $3,500 as the children’s maintenance.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_30"></a>30 Finally, the Father also asked me to consider his remarriage and two children<span class="FootnoteRef"><a href="#Ftn_78" id="Ftn_78_1"><sup>[note: 78]</sup></a></span> from his current marriage as a factor. My view was this: it was incorrect for the Father to assert that he could not afford to pay reasonable maintenance for the children when he had <em>voluntarily</em> taken on additional financial obligations for his new family; the decision to take on any additional financial obligations must have regard to the existing ones - I therefore trust that the Father could afford to do both. I was accordingly unable to place much weight on this factor.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-2">Commencement date of the new maintenance </p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_31"></a>31 As the Father’s application to lower the children’s maintenance was filed on 26 June 2023, I considered it appropriate to order that the new maintenance amount take effect on this date.</p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1">Conclusion</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id="p1_32"></a>32 Based on the evidence and for the reasons stated above, I was satisfied that the Father had met the burden of proving that there had been a material change in circumstances since the 2015 Order warranting a downward variation of the children’s monthly maintenance, and I made orders accordingly. After hearing parties on costs, I made no order as to costs.</p> <p class="Judg-1"><a id=""></a></p> <p class="Judg-Heading-1"></p> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_1_1" id="Ftn_1">[note: 1]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.7. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_2_1" id="Ftn_2">[note: 2]</a></sup> FC/SUM 2022/2023, prayer 1. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_3_1" id="Ftn_3">[note: 3]</a></sup> FC/SUM 2022/2023, prayer 2. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_4_1" id="Ftn_4">[note: 4]</a></sup> Written decision rendered pursuant to Rule 670 of the Family Justice Rules via Registrar’s Notice dated 21 February 2023. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_5_1" id="Ftn_5">[note: 5]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 4. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_6_1" id="Ftn_6">[note: 6]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.6.4. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_7_1" id="Ftn_7">[note: 7]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.6.5. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_8_1" id="Ftn_8">[note: 8]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.6.6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_9_1" id="Ftn_9">[note: 9]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_10_1" id="Ftn_10">[note: 10]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 8. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_11_1" id="Ftn_11">[note: 11]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_12_1" id="Ftn_12">[note: 12]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 7. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_13_1" id="Ftn_13">[note: 13]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 7. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_14_1" id="Ftn_14">[note: 14]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 11. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_15_1" id="Ftn_15">[note: 15]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 23. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_16_1" id="Ftn_16">[note: 16]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.5. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_17_1" id="Ftn_17">[note: 17]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.8. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_18_1" id="Ftn_18">[note: 18]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 14. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_19_1" id="Ftn_19">[note: 19]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 18. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_20_1" id="Ftn_20">[note: 20]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 15. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_21_1" id="Ftn_21">[note: 21]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 16. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_22_1" id="Ftn_22">[note: 22]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 22.3. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_23_1" id="Ftn_23">[note: 23]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 24. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_24_1" id="Ftn_24">[note: 24]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 25. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_25_1" id="Ftn_25">[note: 25]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para L (at page 11). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_26_1" id="Ftn_26">[note: 26]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1 (at page 7). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_27_1" id="Ftn_27">[note: 27]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para H (at page 9). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_28_1" id="Ftn_28">[note: 28]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para H (at page 9). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_29_1" id="Ftn_29">[note: 29]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para I (at page 9). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_30_1" id="Ftn_30">[note: 30]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para I(b) (at page 9). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_31_1" id="Ftn_31">[note: 31]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para J (at page 10). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_32_1" id="Ftn_32">[note: 32]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para J (at page 10). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_33_1" id="Ftn_33">[note: 33]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para O(a) (at page 15). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_34_1" id="Ftn_34">[note: 34]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para L (at page 11). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_35_1" id="Ftn_35">[note: 35]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para M (at page 12). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_36_1" id="Ftn_36">[note: 36]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para M (at page 12). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_37_1" id="Ftn_37">[note: 37]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para N (at page 13). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_38_1" id="Ftn_38">[note: 38]</a></sup> From his current marriage. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_39_1" id="Ftn_39">[note: 39]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para P(e) (at page 16). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_40_1" id="Ftn_40">[note: 40]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para N(c) (at page 13). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_41_1" id="Ftn_41">[note: 41]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para N(d)(iii) (at page 14). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_42_1" id="Ftn_42">[note: 42]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para N(d)(iii) (at page 14). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_43_1" id="Ftn_43">[note: 43]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para O (at page 15). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_44_1" id="Ftn_44">[note: 44]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para P(d) (at page 16). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_45_1" id="Ftn_45">[note: 45]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1(a)(i) (at page 7). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_46_1" id="Ftn_46">[note: 46]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1(a)(i) (at page 7). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_47_1" id="Ftn_47">[note: 47]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1(a)(i) (at page 7). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_48_1" id="Ftn_48">[note: 48]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1(b) (at page 8). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_49_1" id="Ftn_49">[note: 49]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para 1(b) (at page 8). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_50_1" id="Ftn_50">[note: 50]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, para P(f) (at page 16). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_51_1" id="Ftn_51">[note: 51]</a></sup> M1, page 30. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_52_1" id="Ftn_52">[note: 52]</a></sup> F1, page 59. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_53_1" id="Ftn_53">[note: 53]</a></sup> $3,181 for two children; F1, page 57. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_54_1" id="Ftn_54">[note: 54]</a></sup> F3, page 13. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_55_1" id="Ftn_55">[note: 55]</a></sup> F3, page 12. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_56_1" id="Ftn_56">[note: 56]</a></sup> F3, page 11. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_57_1" id="Ftn_57">[note: 57]</a></sup> F3, page 10. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_58_1" id="Ftn_58">[note: 58]</a></sup> F3, page 9. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_59_1" id="Ftn_59">[note: 59]</a></sup> F3, page 8. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_60_1" id="Ftn_60">[note: 60]</a></sup> F3, page 7. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_61_1" id="Ftn_61">[note: 61]</a></sup> F3, page 6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_62_1" id="Ftn_62">[note: 62]</a></sup> F3, page 46. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_63_1" id="Ftn_63">[note: 63]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.6.4. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_64_1" id="Ftn_64">[note: 64]</a></sup> M2, para 2(F). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_65_1" id="Ftn_65">[note: 65]</a></sup> M2, para 2(F). </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_66_1" id="Ftn_66">[note: 66]</a></sup> M2, page 31 to 36. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_67_1" id="Ftn_67">[note: 67]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, page 120. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_68_1" id="Ftn_68">[note: 68]</a></sup> M2, page 31 to 36. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_69_1" id="Ftn_69">[note: 69]</a></sup> Mother’s written submissions, page 120. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_70_1" id="Ftn_70">[note: 70]</a></sup> M2, page 28. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_71_1" id="Ftn_71">[note: 71]</a></sup> M2, page 29. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_72_1" id="Ftn_72">[note: 72]</a></sup> F3, page 8. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_73_1" id="Ftn_73">[note: 73]</a></sup> F3, page 7. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_74_1" id="Ftn_74">[note: 74]</a></sup> F3, page 6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_75_1" id="Ftn_75">[note: 75]</a></sup> F2, para 6.6. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_76_1" id="Ftn_76">[note: 76]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 24. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_77_1" id="Ftn_77">[note: 77]</a></sup> Rounded off from $3,503.50. </p><p class="Footnote"><sup><a href="#Ftn_78_1" id="Ftn_78">[note: 78]</a></sup> Father’s written submissions, para 5.7. </p></div></content></root> | 1845 |
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