XLV v XLW

[2025] SGHCF 35 High Court (Family Division) 2 June 2025 • HCF/RAS 23/2024 ( HCF/SUM 70/2025,HCF/SUM 58/2025 ) • 46 min read

23 cases cited (21 SG, 2 foreign) Cited by 2 cases

Catchwords

Conflict of Laws — Natural forum Family Law — Matrimonial proceedings — Jurisdiction

Practice Areas

Conflict of Laws Family Law

Judges (1)

Teh Hwee Hwee Delivered

Counsel (4)

Lau & Company Firm Teoh & Co LLC Firm Lau See-Jin Jeffrey Counsel Respondent Mundo Alyssa Galvan Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

XLV Appellant XLW Respondent

Case Significance

[2025] SGHCF 35 is a High Court (Family Division) decision dated 2 June 2025 concerning Conflict of Laws and Family Law, specifically addressing natural forum and matrimonial proceedings. The judgment was delivered by Teh Hwee Hwee. The case was brought by XLV (appellant) against XLW (respondent). Legal representation was provided by Teoh & Co LLC and Lau & Company. The judgment cites 23 cases (21 Singapore, 2 foreign) and references 2 statutory provisions, including the Family Justice Act and the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. This decision has been cited by 2 subsequent judgments in the dataset.

Summary

A wife applied to stay divorce proceedings commenced by the husband in Singapore on the ground of forum non conveniens, arguing China was a more appropriate forum. The court dismissed the stay application, finding Singapore was the more appropriate forum given the parties lived most of their married life in Singapore and the children had known Singapore as their home since birth.

What was decided in [2025] SGHCF 35?

[2025] SGHCF 35 (XLV v XLW) is a High Court (Family Division) decision from 2 June 2025 addressing Conflict of Laws and Family Law, specifically natural forum and matrimonial proceedings. The judgment was delivered by Teh Hwee Hwee.

Who were the parties in XLV v XLW?

The appellant in [2025] SGHCF 35 was XLV, and the respondent was XLW. Legal representation included Teoh & Co LLC and Lau & Company. The case was decided on 2 June 2025 in the High Court (Family Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHCF 35?

[2025] SGHCF 35 was delivered by Teh Hwee Hwee in the High Court (Family Division) on 2 June 2025. The case concerned Conflict of Laws and Family Law.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHCF 35 cite?

[2025] SGHCF 35 cites 23 prior decisions, including 2 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Family Justice Act, Supreme Court of Judicature Act. The decision has itself been cited by 2 subsequent judgments.

Statutes Cited

Family Justice Act

s 4(1)

Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322)

Cases Cited (23)

SG (3)

[2020] SGCA 27 [2021] SGCA 18 [2022] SGHC 213

SLR (18)

[1995] 2 SLR(R) 851 [1999] 2 SLR(R) 183 [1999] 2 SLR(R) 419 [2002] 1 SLR(R) 570 [2004] 2 SLR(R) 427 [2004] 4 SLR(R) 162 [2008] 2 SLR(R) 491 [2008] 4 SLR(R) 543 [2011] 2 SLR 1157 [2013] 1 SLR 607 [2013] 4 SLR 1097 [2015] 4 SLR 982 [2016] 4 SLR 145 [2018] 2 SLR 215 [2018] 2 SLR 833 [2019] 2 SLR 341 [2020] 1 SLR 327 [2020] 2 SLR 167

UK (2)

[1954] 1 WLR 1489 [1987] AC 460

Cited By (2)

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHCF 35)