Application forms for protection and maintenance orders can now be prepared online

SINGAPORE — With a new IT system in place at the Family Justice Courts (FJC), court users seeking protection and maintenance orders can now prepare their application forms using templates available online, and submit them at the court or at authorised agencies.

Previously, applicants could only fill in the forms at the court. The integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS), first announced at the FJC’s work plan seminar in February, was rolled out on Monday (July 10).

Speaking at the official launch on Friday (July 14) at a legal forum, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said the IT system would streamline and simplify processes for family violence and maintenance applications. There were 2,811 applications for personal protection orders and 1,434 applications for maintenance orders last year, as compared to 2,885 and 1,504 respectively in the preceding year.

Among other things, iFAMS covers electronic case filing, workflow routing and the generation of electronic letters and court orders. Applicants seeking protection and maintenance orders can process their applications at six community touchpoints such as family violence specialist centres PAVE and TRANS SAFE Centre, as well as in court.

“More community touchpoints will be added in the coming year, so that applicants may apply in a familiar setting where they will also be able to receive other assistance relevant to their specific needs,” said CJ Menon. “We believe that enabling them to do so within their community would alleviate some of the anxiety associated with engaging in litigation.”

A duty judge would evaluate the applications at the point of submission, and decide whether or not to issue a summons on the spot.

Apart from filing applications, court users can also make changes to court dates and submit documents relevant to their cases online.

Improvements to iFAMS are underway, with the system slated for integration with the platforms of the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Prison Service and the Legal Aid Bureau by the end of the year to ensure relevant information is shared efficiently.

Early next year, the IT platform will be expanded to include “low-risk applications” pertaining to, for instance, the Mental Capacity Act. About nine in 10 (94 per cent) applications under the Act are uncontested.

The FJC’s Family Protection Centre was also launched on Friday. Having started operations in May, the centre is meant as a one-stop space for victims of family violence to file their protection order applications. Counters segregated by dividers and meeting rooms are available to provide privacy.

Before the centre was set up, prospective applicants had to make multiple stops around the court to file their applications, going from the registration counter to the counselling room, and finally to seeing a judge.

At the same forum, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said the courts would be bringing in maintenance record officers – who gather information on parties’ financial status if they repeatedly default on maintenance payments – at an earlier stage by the end of this year. For these officers to be more effective, they would have to identify those in need of help early on and render the necessary assistance, said Mr Tan.

He added: “These initiatives, which are targeted for implementation by the end of this year, signal our proactive stance with respect to tackling maintenance-related issues.”