Appeals

If you are dissatisfied with the Court’s decision, you may consider filing an Appeal against the decision within the prescribed time. Depending on the nature of the appeal, you may be required to provide security for costs at the time when filing the Appeal. Please refer to the table below for the prescribed time period and general requirements for the filing of appeals.

*You may wish to further refer to rules 12-14 of the Family Justice Rules to understand how time is calculated.

The Notice of Appeal will be rejected if it is filed after the prescribed time. If you wish to appeal nonetheless, you will have to file an Originating Summons (OS) in the High Court (Family Division) to extend the time to file an Appeal. This will have to be supported by an affidavit setting out the reasons for the application. 

 Please refer to rule 821 of the Family Justice Rules for the list of court orders that Security for Costs is required.

If you wish to appeal against the Orders set out in the list above, you must provide security for costs when you file the appeal.

If you are represented in the appeal, you may consult your lawyers on the filing of an Undertaking for the Security for costs on your behalf. 

If you are not represented in the appeal, you must first deposit the prescribed sum with the Accountant-General's Department. 

• For appeal against e-litigation cases, you are to file Direction to Accountant-General for Payment In under the case you are appealing against. You are then required to email a copy of the accepted Direction to Accountant-General for Payment In to VITAL_FS_Receivable@vital.gov.sg. Upon successful receipt of documents, VITAL will advise on the submission of the $3000.00 security deposit and issue a receipt. Please expect a processing time of 1 clear working day for the security deposit submission. *E-payments are strongly encouraged. Notice of Appeal is then needed to be filed together with Certificate for Security for Costs at CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.
• For appeal against non e-litigation cases, you are required to proceed to Level 1, Family Registry to submit the Direction to Accountant-General for Payment In. You are then required to email a copy of the accepted Direction to Accountant-General for Payment In to VITAL_FS_Receivable@vital.gov.sg. Upon successful receipt of documents, VITAL will advise on the submission of the $3000.00 security deposit and issue a receipt. Please expect a processing time of 1 clear working day for the security deposit submission. *E-payments are strongly encouraged. Notice of Appeal is then needed to be filed together with Certificate for Security for Costs at CrimsonLogic Service Bureau. 

*Please note that the appeal timeline will continue to run during any processing time(s). If the processing time for your submission of the security deposit is taking longer than expected, you are encouraged to contact Vital directly.

For Appeals against Family Courts Orders

The Notice of Appeal will be accepted if the document is in order. If you have filed the Notice of Appeal at CrimsonLogic Service Bureau, you must retrieve the Notice of Appeal with the Court seal affixed once you received Notice of Acceptance. You must then serve the Notice of Appeal on the other party(ies) / the other party(ies)’ lawyers within the time prescribed. Please refer to the table under the header “How do you appeal against a Court order?” for the prescribed time.

After the Notice of Appeal has been accepted, a Notice from the Court will be sent informing you / your lawyer to collect the Notes of Proceedings. Depending on the nature of the Appeal, the parties can expect to receive the Court Notice in three months’ time.

The Court Notice will set out the steps to be taken by each party and the time for each step. This will include filing and serving of the Appellant’s Case / Submissions, Record of Appeal (in applicable cases) and Respondent’s Case / Submissions.

A Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) will be fixed after the time for completing the steps in the Court Notice has expired. PTC can be held by videoconferencing / teleconferencing or at the FJC premises, either at:

For Appeals against Youth Courts Orders

The Notice of Appeal will be accepted if the document is in order.

After the Notice of Appeal has been accepted, a Notice from the Court will be sent informing the parties to collect the Record of Proceedings and Grounds of Decision. Depending on the type of case and nature of the appeal, the parties can typically expect to receive the Court Notice between one to three months from the Notice of Appeal (or shorter in certain criminal cases if the youth is currently serving sentence)

The Appellant must file the Petition of Appeal within 14 days from the service of the Record of Proceedings and Grounds of Decision.

The hearing of the Appeal will be fixed via a Registrar’s Notice (RN). Further directions will also be given in the same RN.

For Appeals against Family Courts orders

If the appeal is ready for hearing, the hearing date for the appeal will be fixed.

If any party intends to file interlocutory applications, the Court will give directions accordingly. Common interlocutory applications would include applications to adduce fresh evidence and applications for extension of time to file the documents stated in the Court Notice.

The hearing of the Appeal may be conducted through a physical hearing at the Supreme Court located at 1 Supreme Court Lane, Singapore 178879 or by way of videoconferencing. You will be informed specifically either at the Pre-Trial Conference or by way of a Registrar's Notice of the mode of hearing. 

Either party may extract the Orders made by the Court.

If applicable, the security for costs will be refunded to the Appellant if no adverse costs Orders are made against the Appellant. To ensure that the security for costs can be refunded, the Appellant should seek an Order from the hearing judge for the release of the security for costs. The parties entitled to the release of the security for costs may file Direction to Accountant-General for Payment Out in the appeal case file. After filing the Payment Out and accepted by the Court, please email a copy of the documents to VITAL_FS_Receivable@vital.gov.sg. Upon successful receipt of documents, VITAL will advise on the refund of security deposit.