Third Phase of the Maintenance Enforcement Process to Commence on 1 July 2026
Source: MinLaw
Article Date: 22 Jun 2026
On 1 July 2026, Phase 3 of the Maintenance Enforcement Process (MEP) will commence. Phase 3 makes the MEP applicable to all applications to enforce maintenance orders made under the Women’s Charter 1961, the Guardianship of Infants Act 1934, the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966, and the Maintenance of Parents Act 1995.
On 1 July 2026, Phase 3 of the Maintenance Enforcement Process (MEP) will commence. Phase 3 makes the MEP applicable to all applications to enforce maintenance orders made under the Women’s Charter 1961, the Guardianship of Infants Act 1934, the Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966, and the Maintenance of Parents Act 1995. Previously, only repeat applications, or first-time applications involving arrears of at least $10,000, were eligible.
Following the passing of the Family Justice Reform Act 2023 in Parliament on 8 May 2023, the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) introduced the MEP in January 2025 with a view to:
a) Deter non-payment of maintenance;
b) Make enforcement easier when there is non-payment of maintenance;
c) Facilitate sustainable maintenance outcomes; and
d) Increase access to justice for applicants, especially those who are self-represented.
The MEP is being implemented in phases. In Phase 1, the MEP was made available to eligible repeat maintenance enforcement applications. In Phase 2, the MEP was made available to eligible first-time applications involving maintenance arrears of at least $10,000.
The MEP will be expanded to cover the remaining forms of maintenance enforcement applications in the next and final phase of implementation.
Click here for more information, or visit the Maintenance Enforcement Division’s website at https://go.gov.sg/meo.
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