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Wife gets to keep family home to raise disabled son
Man fails in bid to sell $3.6m unit as judge seeks continuity for boy, 7
IN A move to avoid disruption to a disabled child's life, the High Court has ordered that the $3.6 million matrimonial home of a divorcing couple be wholly given to the wife.
The husband, in exchange, will get to keep his other assets worth more than $6 million.
The couple, he an expatriate banker and she a Singaporean publicist, were married in 2000, both aged 28. They cannot be named under the law.
They cared for three children, including a 15-year-old girl who is the daughter of the wife's sister and for which the judge lauded them, in particular the husband. The couple have two children of their own. Their seven-year-old son suffers from severe disabilities.
But some nine years later, the marriage fell apart after the man began a tryst with a Singaporean colleague. He moved out to live with the woman, with whom he has a child. They are planning to marry.
While child custody and maintenance matters were settled without much ado, the issues relating to the division of the couple's assets were the most contentious, noted Justice Tay Yong Kwang.
The husband, who represented himself, argued that the couple's penthouse in Lower Delta Road should be sold, with 11 per cent of the sales proceeds going to the wife, and 89 per cent to him. He suggested that the same ratio apply to his other assets, which included properties in Boat Quay, Kim Yam Road and Club Street.
The wife, through lawyer Alain Johns, sought the matrimonial home, where she lived with the children and her parents, and 30 per cent of her husband's assets.
In judgment grounds released yesterday, Justice Tay said a "holistic view" had to be taken in dividing the assets. "I would not wish to approach such issues as though the parties were shareholders in some commercial enterprise and calculate their entitlements with cold mathematical formulas."
He noted the husband was "financially savvy" and had provided well for the family.
The judge preferred that the home not be sold so the disabled son could live in a place he had known his whole life.
There is currently a $1.3 million outstanding mortgage on the house and the husband was ordered to continue to pay the instalments till the year's end after which the wife will take over the payments.
This would give her time to consider her options about restarting a full-time career and finding childcare.
The husband, who will get to keep his other assets in total, is appealing against the judgment.
Man fails in bid to sell $3.6m unit as judge seeks continuity for boy, 7
IN A move to avoid disruption to a disabled child's life, the High Court has ordered that the $3.6 million matrimonial home of a divorcing couple be wholly given to the wife.
The husband, in exchange, will get to keep his other assets worth more than $6 million.
The couple, he an expatriate banker and she a Singaporean publicist, were married in 2000, both aged 28. They cannot be named under the law.
They cared for three children, including a 15-year-old girl who is the daughter of the wife's sister and for which the judge lauded them, in particular the husband. The couple have two children of their own. Their seven-year-old son suffers from severe disabilities.
But some nine years later, the marriage fell apart after the man began a tryst with a Singaporean colleague. He moved out to live with the woman, with whom he has a child. They are planning to marry.
While child custody and maintenance matters were settled without much ado, the issues relating to the division of the couple's assets were the most contentious, noted Justice Tay Yong Kwang.
The husband, who represented himself, argued that the couple's penthouse in Lower Delta Road should be sold, with 11 per cent of the sales proceeds going to the wife, and 89 per cent to him. He suggested that the same ratio apply to his other assets, which included properties in Boat Quay, Kim Yam Road and Club Street.
The wife, through lawyer Alain Johns, sought the matrimonial home, where she lived with the children and her parents, and 30 per cent of her husband's assets.
In judgment grounds released yesterday, Justice Tay said a "holistic view" had to be taken in dividing the assets. "I would not wish to approach such issues as though the parties were shareholders in some commercial enterprise and calculate their entitlements with cold mathematical formulas."
He noted the husband was "financially savvy" and had provided well for the family.
The judge preferred that the home not be sold so the disabled son could live in a place he had known his whole life.
There is currently a $1.3 million outstanding mortgage on the house and the husband was ordered to continue to pay the instalments till the year's end after which the wife will take over the payments.
This would give her time to consider her options about restarting a full-time career and finding childcare.
The husband, who will get to keep his other assets in total, is appealing against the judgment.
