Want to remarry? Declare your debts first

Marriage preparation programmes

Minor couples who wish to marry under the Women’s Charter will be required to attend marriage preparation programmes before they can be issued with a marriage licence. This is in addition to the current condition for them to obtain parental consent. The new requirement applies where one or both of the marrying parties are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents; and
1. Where at least one party is aged below 18 years; or
2. Where both parties are aged 18 years and above but below 21 years.
The requirement is to help young couples better prepare for marriage and mitigate the risk of divorce. Marriage preparation programmes typically impart skills such as communication, financial management and parenting.

Currently, where one party is below 18 years old, couples must undergo social assessment by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to assess their suitability for marriage before they are issued with a Special Marriage Licence. These couples are required to attend marriage preparation programmes as part of the social assessment process. With effect from 1 September, this administrative requirement will become mandatory.

For marriages where both parties are aged 18 years and above but below 21 years, couples may choose to attend marriage preparation programmes of their choice conducted by either MCYS-supported service providers (see Annex) or by religious or commercial organisations. For MCYS-supported programmes, the couple will be subsidised at up to $350. Couples must complete the marriage preparation programme before they apply for a marriage licence.

Providers of the marriage preparation programmes (whether secular or religious-based) will endorse a standard certificate of attendance for couples who have completed the programme with them. This certificate can be downloaded from the Registry of Marriages (ROM) website from 1 September 2011.

Minor couples marrying under the Administration of Muslim Law Act are not affected by this new requirement as they are already required to attend marriage preparation programmes.

Couples who are unable to fulfil the requirement due to valid reasons, such as health considerations, should seek exemption from the Registrar of Marriages.

Declaration of maintenance orders and arrears

Starting 1 September 2011, persons who remarry will be required to make a statutory declaration on whether they have maintenance orders and any arrears. The existence of maintenance orders or debts will not affect the rights of a person to remarry. The purpose of the declaration is to remind a remarrying party of his/her maintenance obligations and for the potential spouse to be aware of the existing financial obligations.

Persons remarrying under the Women’s Charter or the Administration of Muslim Law Act will be required to make this declaration. It is an offence under Section 14 of the Oaths and Declarations Act to make a false declaration.