Syariah Divorce

By Mohammad Rizuan, Joint Managing Director, Emerald Law LLC · Last updated: October 2026

Emerald Law LLC acts for Muslim wives and husbands in Syariah divorces at the Syariah Court in Singapore. We advise on which type of divorce applies, prepare and file your papers through the SYC Portal, attend mediation and pre-trial conferences with you, and represent you at the hearing. That includes the ancillary matters: children, nafkah iddah, mutaah and the matrimonial home.

Our Syariah practice is led by Mohammad Rizuan, Joint Managing Director, and our team includes Malay-speaking lawyers as well.

Which type of Syariah divorce applies to me?

It depends on who wants the divorce and whether the other spouse agrees. The Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) recognises:

• Talak: regardless of whether the husband or the wife applies to court, so long as the husband is agreeable to pronounce talak, the marriage can be dissolved via talak.
• Khuluk: the husband does not agree to pronounce talak, but both agree to a divorce by redemption. The Court can assess the amount the wife pays.
• Cerai taklik: the husband has breached a condition of the written taklik made at or after the marriage.
• Fasakh: the Court dissolves the marriage on grounds such as no maintenance for 3 months or cruelty.

If the husband refuses both divorce and khuluk, the Court can appoint hakam (marital conciliators). They try to reconcile the couple, and can pronounce a divorce if they jointly think the parties should be divorced.

What does a Syariah divorce involve?

There are four main stages:

1. Marriage Counselling Programme. It is compulsory before filing. If you have a child under 21, you also attend the Parenting Programme.
2. Originating Summons. You file it, with a Case Statement and any Parenting Plan or Matrimonial Property Plan, within 6 months of the Court’s “Pre-OS” email. Then you serve it on your spouse.
3. Mediation and pre-trial conference. If you agree, the divorce can be decided on the same day. If not, the Court gives directions for affidavits.
4. Hearing. The Court decides the divorce and the ancillary matters.

For each step in detail, including time limits and court fees, see our step-by-step guide to Syariah divorce in Singapore on Syariah Lawyer SG, our dedicated Syariah site. It is also available in Malay.

How we help

• Contested divorces. Where your spouse will not agree, we advise on khuluk, cerai taklik, fasakh or hakam, and prepare the evidence the Court needs.
• Absent spouses. Where your spouse cannot be found or will not respond, we apply for substituted service and keep the case moving.
• Children. We advise on custody, care and control and access, and on the Parenting Plan. See Syariah child custody.
• Money and property. We advise on nafkah iddah, mutaah, emas kahwin and hantaran belanja, and on dividing the matrimonial assets, including the HDB flat. See Syariah division of matrimonial assets.
• After the divorce. We handle applications to vary orders, enforcement in the Family Justice Courts, and appeals to the Appeal Board.

How much does a Syariah divorce lawyer cost?

It depends mainly on whether the divorce is agreed or contested, and on how much is disputed about the children and property. We explain the likely costs at the first meeting. Court fees are modest: the Syariah Court estimates S$87 to file the Originating Summons and papers, and S$100 to register the divorce.

Why Emerald Law LLC?

• Practising since 1987. Emerald Law LLC was formerly B Rao & K.S Rajah.
• A dedicated Syariah practice. It is led by Mohammad Rizuan, Joint Managing Director, and handles all kinds of family related cases, from divorces, to violence, to maintenance, amongst others.
• Wives and husbands. We act for both, so we know how the other side is likely to approach the case.
• Recognition. Emerald Law LLC was named one of The Straits Times’ Singapore’s Best Law Firms in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.