High Court Examines Threshold for Sole Custody Orders Involving Parental Absence

Does a parent’s absence from a child’s life warrant the making of a sole custody order? The case of WMR v WMQ examines the threshold for the making of sole custody orders, in particular, where parental absence is involved.

Here, the Father successfully appealed the Family Court’s decision to grant the Mother’s application to vary a joint custody order to sole custody to her, based in part on the Father’s six-year absence from the children’s lives. The High Court reinstated the Father’s right to custody over the children by way of a joint custody order.

Kevin Tan and Shawn Teo of Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP acted as instructed counsel for the Father (instructed by Imperial Law LLC) in this successful appeal.