- A PPO is a court order restraining a family member from using family violence against you.
- Since 2 January 2025, family violence covers physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse.
- In urgent cases, the court can grant a short-term Expedited Order while the PPO application is pending.
- Related orders can exclude the abuser from the home, require them to stay away from certain places, or stop them contacting you.
- Breaching a PPO is a criminal offence; call the police if it happens.
If you are in danger now
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call the police on 999. A court order is a legal safeguard, but it is not a substitute for emergency help.
What counts as family violence
Amendments to the Women’s Charter that took effect on 2 January 2025 widened the definition of family violence. It now expressly covers physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological abuse. Emotional or psychological abuse includes conduct that torments, intimidates, harasses or distresses a person, or that causes or may reasonably be expected to cause them mental harm.
The threshold is still a serious one. Courts have accepted that repeated shouting, threats and degrading language can be emotional abuse, but ordinary family disagreements or isolated unpleasant moments will not usually be enough. Judges tend to look for patterns of conduct that are persistent, excessive or controlling.
Who can apply and what the court must find
A PPO can be sought against a family member, which includes a spouse or former spouse, a child (including an adopted or step-child), a parent or parent-in-law, a sibling or another relative. A family member can also apply on behalf of a child or an incapacitated person.
The court can grant a PPO if it is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that family violence has been committed or is likely to be committed against the family member, and that the order is necessary for their protection.
The orders the court can make
- Personal Protection Order: restrains the respondent from using family violence against you and any other named family members.
- Expedited Order: a temporary order for urgent cases, made while the PPO application is pending. Law firm guides describe it as typically lasting about 28 days.
- Domestic Exclusion Order: excludes the respondent from the shared home, or from parts of it.
- Stay Away Order and No Contact Order: introduced by the 2025 reforms, these can stop the respondent going to places you often visit, such as your workplace or your child’s school, or communicating with you.
- Counselling and treatment orders: the court can require the parties to attend counselling or other programmes, and in some cases can order the respondent to undergo treatment.
How the application works
Applications are made to the Family Justice Courts, either online or in person. You give a sworn account of the incidents of family violence. Supporting evidence, such as police reports, medical reports, messages or recordings, can help, especially where the abuse is emotional and leaves no visible marks.
The court then issues a summons for the respondent to attend. If the respondent agrees to the order, it can be made at an early stage. If not, the matter may be referred for mediation with a court family specialist and, if that does not resolve it, it proceeds to a hearing where a judge considers the evidence from both sides. If the respondent fails to turn up, the court may issue a warrant for their arrest.
Where the danger is urgent, you can ask for an Expedited Order so that you are protected before the full hearing.
Breaches and other 2025 changes
The reforms also created Protectors, officers appointed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, who can issue on-the-spot Emergency Orders in high-risk cases. These last 14 days, to give the survivor time to apply for a PPO. Survivors aged 18 to 21 can now apply on their own without a guardian, and the penalties for breaching family violence orders have been increased.
A PPO and its related orders are legally binding. If the respondent breaches the order, contact the police. Breach is a criminal offence and can lead to arrest, a fine or imprisonment. Keep a record of each breach, including dates, times and what happened.
When to speak with a lawyer
A lawyer can help you decide which orders to seek, prepare your sworn statement and evidence, and represent you at the hearing. A lawyer can also advise if a PPO application has been made against you, or if family violence affects related issues such as divorce, care and control of children or access.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with a lawyer.
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