Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: Are They Necessary? Many couples wonder whether they should set out, in writing, what will happen to their property, finances, and family arrangements if their marriage ever breaks down. Some sign such an agreement before the wedding; others do so after they are already married. A natural question follows: are these…

1. Where ‘domicile’ grants jurisdiction for parties to file for divorce, ‘reside’ grants jurisdiction for parties to file for judicial separation. It forms the basis of the petition being filed in the family court, and the source of the courts’ power to grant orders.2. The understanding of these phrases becomes particularly important given how borderless…

The Malaysian Courts have recently been confronted with a novel and complex issue at the intersection of law, ethics, and reproductive technology. What happens when science outpaces the law—and a marriage ends while parenthood remains frozen in time? In RAH v. RAL [2025] 4 CLJ 132, the High Court of Malaya was asked to decide…

Divorce is never easy, especially when only one party wants it. In a single-sided divorce, also called contested divorce, the issues of financial support often become complicated. If you’re going through this, understanding your rights is crucial. Maintenance Claims: What You’re Entitled To As part of the divorce, one spouse may be required to pay…

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/11/11/ministry-to-help-women-seeking-divorce-under-native-courts-says-sarawak-min/2020049 Divorce can be a daunting experience, especially when there are complexities of the legal system. For those residing in Sarawak, it is important to know that there are options available for seeking divorce under Native Courts. Let’s consider a scenario for someone seeking divorce in Native Court; A couple, both of whom belong to…

A. Introduction The Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (LRA 1976) governs civil marriages and divorces for non-Muslims in Malaysia. Central to its jurisdictional framework are sections 48 and 49, which determine when Malaysian courts can hear petitions for divorce and judicial separation. These provisions ensure that only cases with a sufficient connection to…

What is a Single Status Certificate? A Single Status Certificate, or a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, is an official document issued by relevant authorities to confirm that an individual is not currently married or legally prohibited from marrying. The certificate is commonly required when individuals intend to marry someone from another country and…

BACKGROUND FACTS 1. On 18 April 2024, several major news portals reported on a recent divorce case decided by High Court Judge Evrol Mariette Peters. Among others, FMT reported the case with a headline of ‘Agreement for husband to have mistress during marriage valid, court rules’. 2. This is the High Court case of HLC…

Majlis pernikahan yang dilakukan di dalam dan luar negara tanpa kebenaran Mahkamah Syariah sudah menjadi amalan dan budaya masyarakat Malaysia tanpa mengetahui impak serta kesan yang akan berlaku sekiranya pernikahan tersebut tidak didaftarkan di Malaysia. 1. Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan “bernikah tanpa kebenaran”? Bernikah tanpa kebenaran merupakan pernikahan yang dilakukan tanpa memenuhi garis panduan yang…

In the context of Malaysian society, where family values are deeply entrenched and the legal system intertwines with cultural norms, the concept of prenuptial agreements may seem foreign to some. However, as financial landscapes become more complex and marriages more diverse, understanding the intricacies of prenuptial agreements under Malaysian law has never been more crucial….

Dalam menuntut perceraian di Mahkamah Syariah, ramai pihak bimbang sekiranya suami/isteri beliau tidak mahu memberikan kerjasama dan tidak bersetuju dalam tuntutan perceraian yang telah difailkan. Oleh itu, wujudnya HAKAM sebagai alternatif bagi memudahkan tuntutan perceraian. 1. Apakah itu Hakam ? Hakam adalah seseorang yang dilantik oleh suami, isteri atau mahkamah sebagai penimbangtara dengan tujuan menyelesaikan…

Section 50 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act) sets out that no marriage shall be capable of being dissolved unless such a marriage has surpassed the period of two years upon it being registered. Nevertheless, the Act also provides for the exception of the prohibition which can be found under Section…

View English Version 如果您是马来西亚公民，并计划与外籍配偶结婚，您需要获得“单身证明”（Single Status Certificate）。单身证明是一份文件，证明您是单身人士，未婚或已离婚，可以合法结婚。 以下是关于申请马来西亚单身证明的指南，包括 • 申请程序 • 所需文件 • 等待时间 • 费用 • 律师楼代办的程序等相关信息。 如何您可以通过以下方式申请单身证明： 律师楼将会协助您收集和准备所需文件，并向国家登记处提交申请，然后通知您审核和处理的结果。 申请需要的文件: 以下是您需要准备的文件： • 马来西亚身份证（MyKad）和有效护照副本； • 出生证明副本（如果您的出生证明未在国家登记处注册）； • 其他可能需要的文件，如离婚证书或丧偶证明（如果适用）。 请注意，如果您的文凭或学历证书不是由马来西亚政府颁发的，您还需要进行文件认证。文件认证的过程需要向马来西亚外交部（Ministry of Foreign Affairs）提交申请，并缴纳认证费用。认证完成后，您将获得一份文件认证证明，以证明您的文凭或学历证书是真实有效的。 等待时间和费用 以下是一般的流程： 选择一家信誉良好的律师楼，并与他们联系以了解程序、等待时间和费用。 律师楼代表你提交申请：一旦律师楼收到你的文件，他们将为你提交单身证明申请。 领取单身证明：如果你的申请获得批准，律师楼将通知你前往政府部门领取单身证明。 申请人不在马来西亚或境外的程序 如果您不在马来西亚，您可以通过电子邮件或信函向国家登记局（National Registration Department）提出申请。相关资料可游览 https://www.jpn.gov.my/en 。 或者 向当地的马来西亚驻外使领馆咨询单身证明申请。 请注意，不同的马来西亚驻外使领馆对于单身证明的申请要求可能会略有不同，因此建议您在申请前向具体的使领馆咨询相关申请程序和所需文件，包括是否提供翻译服务。 更轻松的选择可以由律师楼代办单身证明申请  是的，您可以通过马来西亚的律师楼寻求帮助。马来西亚的律师可以在境内和境外提供法律咨询和协助服务。如果您需要在海外进行相关法律事务，可以考虑寻找有经验的律师来帮助您处理。 总体来说，自己申请和律师楼代办单身证明申请程序的流程和所需文件大致相同，但律师楼可以为您处理所有申请过程中可能出现的问题，帮助您更快地获得单身证明。 若有任何疑问或需要法律咨询，请联系我们的律师。

This article aims to discuss the procedures to enforce the divorce order granted by other jurisdictions (other country). For a civil marriage solemnized abroad and dissolved under the laws of a foreign country, one party or both parties to the marriage who is a citizen of Malaysia needs to obtain a declaration order from the…

Besides children’s guardianship and custody, division of matrimonial assets has become a trending topic in recent years, in view that the contribution made and the role played by women in family have become more substantial and recognised by the society. We have prepared some frequently-asked-questions and scenarios based on real-life cases, to provide our readers…

This article aims to discuss the procedures to divorce when the whereabouts of the spouse is unknown. The only way to dissolve a marriage when the whereabouts of the spouse is unknown is to file for a single divorce proceeding. Section 106 of the Malaysia Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (hereinafter referred to…

Single Status Certificate/ Marital Status Statement: What, Why and How? View Chinese Version What is a Single Status Certificate/ Marital Status Statement? This is a document issued by Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) (Malaysia’s National Registration Department”) as a certificate of confirmation of the single (marital) status of an individual. This certificate applies to non-Muslim Malaysian…