Background
Do you know that co-parenting is one of the main issues that arises from marital splits?
In Singapore, there has been a growing demand for co-parenting support post-divorce. In 2023, approximately 6,000 individuals either divorced or in the process of divorcing sought help from 10 specialized family service centers and a divorce support agency, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Notably, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC) reported a 20% increase in co-parenting support cases from 2019 to 2023, and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) saw a 32.7% rise in clients seeking divorce support between April 2023 and March 2024.
FAM@FSCs, previously known as Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centers, includes a mandatory co-parenting program for couples with children under 21 years, aimed at helping them make informed decisions and practice cooperative co-parenting. Social workers have highlighted that many divorcing parents neglect their children’s emotional needs due to their focus on legal and personal issues. The support includes helping parents understand their children’s emotional struggles and improving communication between ex-spouses.
A significant issue is that parents often struggle with maintaining effective co-parenting due to personal grievances. There is an example of a case, James, a 40-year-old father, found it difficult to co-parent with his ex-wife after a painful divorce due to adultery, but eventually sought private counselling to improve the situation for his child’s sake.
The recent amendment to the Women’s Charter in July 2024, allowing mutual agreement as grounds for divorce, might help reduce the blame game in divorces, potentially leading to better co-parenting arrangements. However, this change alone might not entirely mitigate the conflicts that arise during a divorce as there are many reasons of why a couple divorce.
Key findings include:
- The mandatory co-parenting programme, required for couples with children under 21 before filing for divorce, aims to promote informed decisions and cooperative parenting.
- Children’s emotional needs are often neglected during divorce proceedings, causing stress and uncertainty.
- Divorced parents frequently face challenges in co-parenting due to unresolved personal grievances, impacting their ability to effectively support their children.
- Higher support-seeking rates might be contributed by increased of public awareness and court mandates.
- In July 2024, amendments to the Women’s Charter allow mutual agreement as grounds for divorce, may lead to more amicable separations and improve co-parenting dynamics, though it may not eliminate all conflicts.
Learning Points:
Recent changes in the divorce laws allows mutual agreement as grounds for divorce which may improve cooperative parenting outcomes but may not eliminate all conflicts. It is important for divorced couples to effectively seek co-parenting support to help manage their emotions and focus on their children’s well-being.
You are encouraged to seek legal or professional advice for any matters relating to divorce, which includes the division of matrimonial assets.
To read more about the case, visit https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Headlines/co-parenting-after-divorce-more-in-spore-seek-support-to-ensure-childrens-needs-not-neglected
Disclaimer:
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