- If you are in immediate danger, call the Police on 999 first.
- Since 2 January 2025, family violence includes physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse.
- A protection order, still commonly called a PPO, restrains a family member from committing family violence.
- In urgent cases the court can grant a temporary Expedited Order before the full hearing.
- A Domestic Exclusion Order can keep the respondent out of the shared home or part of it.
- Breaching an order is a criminal offence.
What counts as family violence
Amendments to the Women's Charter that took effect on 2 January 2025 widened the meaning of family violence. It now covers:
- Physical abuse, such as causing or threatening injury, or wrongfully confining or restraining a family member.
- Sexual abuse, meaning conduct that coerces or tries to coerce a family member into sexual activity.
- Emotional or psychological abuse, meaning conduct that torments, intimidates, harasses or distresses a person, or may reasonably be expected to cause mental harm.
It can be a single incident or a pattern, and it can count even where the conduct is not aimed at the family member, as long as they see, hear or otherwise perceive it. Controlling someone through money, for example threatening to stop an allowance to cut them off from friends, can fall within emotional or psychological abuse. Force lawfully used in self-defence is not included.
Courts treat emotional abuse seriously but do not grant orders for ordinary disagreements. They tend to look for conduct that is repeated, excessive or harmful, and evidence such as messages, recordings and reports from counsellors can matter a great deal.
Who can apply
A protection order is for violence by a family member. This includes a spouse or former spouse, a child (including an adopted or step-child), a parent, a parent-in-law, a sibling, and other relatives the court considers to be part of the family. An adult can apply for themselves, and an application can be made on behalf of a child or a person who cannot apply themselves.
Harassment by someone outside the family, such as a neighbour or colleague, is handled under separate harassment laws.
How to apply
You make your application at the Family Justice Courts, or with the help of a Protection Specialist Centre. You can start it online and will set out what happened, with any supporting evidence such as medical reports, photographs, messages and the names of witnesses. You do not need a lawyer to apply.
If the court is satisfied, a summons is issued to the person you are complaining about. If they agree to the order, it can be made by consent. If not, the parties may first be directed to counselling, and if the matter is still disputed the court gives directions and then holds a hearing where both sides give evidence.
The court can make a protection order if it is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that family violence has been committed or is likely to be committed, and that the order is necessary for the protection of the family member.
Urgent cases: Expedited Orders
Because a full hearing takes time, the court can grant an Expedited Order quickly, before the other person has been heard, where there is a risk of family violence while the application is pending. It is temporary and is confirmed, changed or ended when the main application is decided.
Domestic Exclusion Orders and other orders
Alongside a protection order, the court can make a Domestic Exclusion Order, which excludes the respondent from the shared home or a specified part of it. It can also make a counselling order requiring the parties to attend counselling.
If an order is breached
Breaching a protection order, Expedited Order or Domestic Exclusion Order is a criminal offence. A person who breaches one can be arrested and, if convicted, may be fined, imprisoned or both, with heavier penalties for repeat breaches. Report any breach to the Police and keep a record of it.
Where there are divorce or custody proceedings, the court may take a history of family violence or an existing protection order into account when deciding arrangements for the children.
Getting advice
Your safety comes first. Once you are safe, a family lawyer can help you prepare your evidence, ask for urgent protection where needed, or respond if an application has been made against you.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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