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When Lisa (not her real name) separated from her husband, her biggest concern was keeping life stable for their four-year-old son. She didn\u2019t expect to suddenly shoulder the full burden of their household bills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Her ex-husband stopped paying his share \u2013 not only for their car loan, but their son\u2019s expenses and their Housing Development Board (HDB) flat mortgage, leaving her scrambling to meet payments.<\/span><\/p>\n During their five-year marriage, the tech executive and her husband split costs evenly, including their son\u2019s kindergarten fees, and swimming and Chinese lessons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t expect him to cut off our son like this,\u201d the 35-year-old told CNA Women. She had to seek legal help to ensure he fulfilled his duty of care.<\/span><\/p>\n Lisa\u2019s story isn\u2019t uncommon. Non-payment of maintenance remains a persistent problem among divorced couples, despite being enforceable by law, according to statistics from the Family Justice Courts. There was an average of 2,700 maintenance enforcements applications reported in 2023.\u00a0<\/strong>While some defaulters cite job loss or financial strain, others refuse payment out of resentment.<\/span><\/p>\n Both child and spousal maintenance are governed by the Women\u2019s Charter, Singapore\u2019s key family law statute, and determined based on the family\u2019s circumstances \u2013 chiefly, the child\u2019s needs and the parents\u2019 financial capacity.<\/span><\/p>\n FOR THE CHILDREN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Child maintenance covers everyday and developmental expenses, from food and schooling to healthcare or therapy, if needed. Both parents must submit supporting documents such as receipts, payslips and income statements when determining an appropriate monthly amount.<\/span><\/p>\n Family lawyer Rajan Chettiar and managing director of Rajan Chettiar LLC, explained: \u201cBoth parents should agree on a list of expenses per child. If they can\u2019t, the Family Justice Courts will step in to decide a reasonable amount, proportionate to each parent\u2019s income.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHOW CHILD AND SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE IS DECIDED<\/span><\/h2>\n