YHN v YHO
Key facts
| Court | Family Court |
|---|---|
| Decided | |
| Judge | Kow Keng Siong |
| Charges / claim | Family Law |
| Counsel | Anitha & Asoka LLC, N K Anitha |
Source: [2026] SGFC 115, Family Court, decided — eLitigation. Updated .
Catchwords
Practice Areas
Judges (1)
Parties (2)
Case Significance
YHN v YHO [2026] SGFC 115 was decided by District Judge Kow Keng Siong in the Family Court on 20 August 2026, in OAG 108 of 2026. The applicant, the maternal grandaunt of a two-year-old boy, had cared for him since he was about one month old and sought guardianship, sole custody, care and control. The respondent, the child's biological mother, consented, and the biological father could not be identified or located. The issues were whether the child needed the court's protection, whether the applicant was suitable, and whether sole custody and care and control were necessary. The court allowed Prayers 1 and 3 and appointed the applicant guardian of the person of the child.
Summary
The Family Court heard an application by a maternal grandaunt (YHN) to be appointed guardian of a two-year-old boy, with sole custody, care and control. The child's biological mother (YHO) did not wish to undertake parental responsibility and consented, and the biological father could not be identified or located. The court found the child needed protection and that the applicant was suitable. It appointed her guardian of the person of the child and granted her sole custody, care and control.
Can a grandaunt be appointed guardian of a child in [2026] SGFC 115?
Yes. The Family Court found the wardship threshold met because neither biological parent was exercising parental responsibility, found the applicant maternal grandaunt suitable, and appointed her guardian of the person of the child.
Why was sole custody ordered in YHN v YHO [2026] SGFC 115?
The court found that no custody order or joint custody would depend on the respondent's participation, and limited authority would not address the problem. Sole custody allows major decisions to be made by the person implementing them.
Statutes Cited
Cases Cited (3)
Related cases
Other Singapore judgments on the same subject, most closely matched first.
Judgment
Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.
Read on eLitigationSource: eLitigation ([2026] SGFC 115)