Fcuk up laws!

[Vega.]

Average of 3,400 defaults on maintenance orders a year between 2007 & 2009
Posted: 27 April 2010 1614 hrs
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SINGAPORE: There was an average of 3,400 defaults on maintenance orders a year between 2007 and 2009. Most defaulters cited financial difficulties due to unemployment, cuts in salary or additional responsibilities as reasons for not paying their maintenance debts.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said this in Parliament on Tuesday in response to questions from MP for Aljunied GRC, Cynthia Phua.

She asked how many husbands had stopped paying maintenance to their ex-wives and children because they declared themselves bankrupt. She also wanted to know if the government will consider separating matrimonial debts from business and related debts to better protect the ex-spouses and children.

Dr Balakrishnan explained that a discharged bankrupt is no longer obliged to pay up his previous unpaid debts except for debts like maintenance arrears. "In any case, being made a bankrupt cannot be used as an excuse to avoid paying maintenance to the ex-wife and children," he said.

At the start of a bankruptcy, a man must declare and continue to make monthly maintenance payments. "Currently, our law does not give priority to maintenance arrears owed to ex-spouses over other debts in bankruptcy. We will consider this very carefully should there be a need to do so in future," said Dr Balakrishnan. - CNA/vm