XLK v XLJ

[2025] SGHC(A) 22 High Court (Appellate Division) 5 November 2025 • AD/OA 33/2025 • 21 min read
14 cases cited (13 SG, 1 foreign) Cited by 1 case

Catchwords

Family Law — Child — Custody Family Law — Guardianship — Welfare of child Civil Procedure — Appeals — Leave — Permission to appeal

Practice Areas

Family Law Civil Procedure

Judges (2)

Debbie Ong Siew Ling Delivered Hri Kumar Nair Coram

Counsel (2)

Fervent Chambers LLC Firm Clarence Lun Yaodong Counsel Applicant

Parties (2)

XLJ Respondent XLK Applicant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC(A) 22 is a High Court (Appellate Division) decision dated 5 November 2025 concerning Civil Procedure and Family Law, specifically addressing child, guardianship, and appeals. The judgment was delivered by Debbie Ong Siew Ling, with Hri Kumar Nair on the coram. The case was brought by XLK (applicant) against XLJ (respondent). Legal representation was provided by Fervent Chambers LLC. The judgment cites 14 cases (13 Singapore, 1 foreign) and references 1 statutory provision, namely the Guardianship of Infants Act. This decision has been cited by 1 subsequent judgment in the dataset.

Summary

A father sought permission to appeal a custody decision where existing Chinese court orders had granted custody to the mother, arguing the judge wrongly prioritised comity over the welfare of the child. The Appellate Division dismissed the application, holding that the judge had correctly applied the welfare principle as paramount and that comity does not override it in custody cases.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC(A) 22?

[2025] SGHC(A) 22 (XLK v XLJ) is a High Court (Appellate Division) decision from 5 November 2025 addressing Civil Procedure and Family Law, specifically child, guardianship, and appeals. The judgment was delivered by Debbie Ong Siew Ling.

Who were the parties in XLK v XLJ?

The applicant in [2025] SGHC(A) 22 was XLK, and the respondent was XLJ. Legal representation included Fervent Chambers LLC. The case was decided on 5 November 2025 in the High Court (Appellate Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC(A) 22?

[2025] SGHC(A) 22 was delivered by Debbie Ong Siew Ling in the High Court (Appellate Division) on 5 November 2025. Hri Kumar Nair also sat on the coram. The case concerned Civil Procedure and Family Law.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC(A) 22 cite?

[2025] SGHC(A) 22 cites 14 prior decisions, including 1 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Guardianship of Infants Act. The decision has itself been cited by 1 subsequent judgment.

Statutes Cited

Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap 122)
s 3

Cases Cited (14)

SG (3)
[2017] SGHCF 21 [2025] SGFC 42 [2025] SGHCF 50
SLR (10)
[2006] 1 SLR(R) 135 [2014] 2 SLR 725 [2015] 3 SLR 973 [2015] 4 SLR 982 [2017] 4 SLR 1360 [2017] 4 SLR 877 [2018] 2 SLR 833 [2024] 1 SLR 158 [2024] 1 SLR 419 [2025] 1 SLR 849
UK (1)
[2006] 1 AC 80

Cited By (1)

[2025] SGFC 131
XSG v XSF

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC(A) 22)