XPX v XPW

Following a successful six-day trial in which the Mother obtained protective orders for her daughter against the Father (XPX v XPW [2026] SGFC 30), the Mother sought costs of $85,000 against the Father, who held a Legal Aid Bureau Grant of Aid under the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995. The issues were whether the Father's grant had been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, or whether he had acted improperly under s 14(3), so as to lose the costs immunity conferred by s 12(4)(c), and whether costs incurred before the Grant of Aid was filed remained recoverable. District Judge Kow Keng Siong found no fraud or improper conduct sufficient to displace s 12(4)(c) protection, but ordered the Father to pay $20,000 representing costs incurred before the Grant of Aid was filed, as that earlier period fell outside the statutory protection.