YBX v YBW

Case Significance

Magistrate Nathaniel Tan of the Family Court dismissed this personal protection order application on 23 April 2026, having heard the matter on 10 April 2026. The applicant, YBX, was the ex-husband who applied for a personal protection order (PPO) and stay away order (SAO) against his ex-wife's father, YBW, on behalf of the parties' son C1 (8 years old in 2026) and daughter C2 (6 years old in 2026). The single alleged incident of family violence had occurred in July 2024 — almost two years before the application — and was known to the applicant only through the account of his ex-wife (RW1), who was called as a witness by the respondent.

The court dismissed the application because the applicant could not prove on a balance of probabilities, as required under s 60A(1) of the Women's Charter 1961, either that family violence had been or was likely to be committed by YBW, or that a PPO was necessary for the protection of the children. The decision also engages the admissibility of hearsay evidence of a child under the Evidence Act. Patrick Fernandez of M/s Fernandez LLC appeared for the applicant; the respondent appeared to have been unrepresented based on the entities data.