As for my own case, I'd consider myself lucky as I gotten representation via Legal Aid Bureau. Not that I don't have enough monies per se, but it's something to do with my then poor state of health, that other law firms hesitated to take my case up, so Mnistry of Law assisted me. Plus I have a basic understanding of law proceedings, it was also easy for Ministry of Law or Legal Aid Bureau to assist me.
My case was a divorce matter, and it was a contested one. Although thinking back now, I'd shouldn't have contested it and should just focus on the Ancillary Matters. And yes, divorce is made up of two stages: 1st Stage is to determine whether the marriage has broken down. The Plaintiff can either agree or contest it. If Defendant (usually the husband) contest it, both Plaintiff and Defendant will need to go through several rounds of mediation and court sessions to determine what to do. Contrary to popular belief, not many cases go to Trial. But mine did (Anyway....)
So alot of divorces were granted via mutual agreement, through facilitation by the Judge, counsellors and psychologists. It will involved a number of parties from the FJCs, especially if there's a kid involved. Because then, the Family Justice Courts will deem the child interests to be the number one priority, above the interests of the Plantiff and Defendant.
In terms of ancillary matters, a lot might think the ex wife (usually the Plaintiff) will get every single cent out of the ex-husband. Again, not exactly. In my case, I didn't need to pay any form of maintenance to ex-wife at all. And I proven my case, with the help of Legal Aid Bureau. The point is that, if you prove to the Judge that you have good reasons and strong justifications, the ex-wife don't get any monies at all. For my case, my former spouse was Singapore PR. In short, she filed for divorce less than 4 months after attaining SG citizenship, no Judge will take such details lightly. And I need to pay was for the child maintenance, which I have no qualms on it. Also, before the Ancillary Matters stage, I took several steps in advance: engaging the Community Justic Centre and a Divorce Support Specialist Agency - DSSA (one of designated Family Service Centres) to start planning for post divorce matters. The Judge will take all these into considerations.
So yes, I'm grateful that I'm largely unscarred from the divorce, gotten my fair share of monies from the disposal of matrimonial assets after divorce, no spousal maintenance to paid for, just need to pay child maintenance. As long as we are willing to work and plan things out, cooperate with the Family Justice Courts and the lawyers (if any), we bros will emerged safe and sound in a divorce, so it's not true that opposite parties will get every thing in divorce.
