Divorce by Mutual Agreement in Singapore

A no-fault route to divorce

For most of Singapore’s history, a couple who both wanted to divorce still had to fit their situation into a fault-based fact, such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour, or wait out a period of separation. Divorce by Mutual Agreement (DMA) changed that. Since 1 July 2024, a couple can divorce simply by agreeing, in a structured way, that their marriage has irretrievably broken down.

DMA was introduced by the Women’s Charter (Amendment) Act 2022 (Act 3 of 2022) and took effect on 1 July 2024. It is one of the most significant changes to Singapore divorce law in a generation, because it lets couples end a marriage without either side having to make allegations against the other.

This is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate and solicitor about your situation. Information last verified on 23 July 2026.

Where DMA sits in the law

It helps to be precise about what changed. The sole legal ground for divorce is still that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, under section 95(2) of the Women’s Charter. DMA did not add a new ground. What it added was a sixth fact for proving that ground: section 95A(1)(f), under which the spouses agree that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

In other words, section 95A(1) now holds all six facts, (a) to (f), and DMA is the last of them. It is not a standalone section; it is a paragraph within the same list that contains adultery, unreasonable behaviour and the separation facts. The five older facts remain fully available, and a couple who prefer to rely on one of those still can.

What the written agreement must contain

DMA is not a matter of ticking a box. Section 95A(6)(a) requires the couple to file a written agreement that states three things:

• the reasons that led them to conclude the marriage has irretrievably broken down;

• the efforts they have made to reconcile; and

• the consideration they have given to the arrangements to be made for their financial affairs and for any child of the marriage.

The requirement to address the children and finances up front is deliberate. It pushes the couple to think through the practical consequences of divorce, not just the decision to divorce, before the agreement is even filed.

The court still has a gatekeeping role

DMA is a route, not a rubber stamp. Section 95A(6)(c) directs that the court must not accept the agreement if it considers, on the stated reasons and efforts, that there remains a reasonable possibility the couple might reconcile. Section 95A(6)(b) also ties the agreement into the court’s powers to encourage the amicable settlement of disputes, so the court can still direct the couple to counselling or mediation.

This matters for expectations. A DMA filing removes the need to blame anyone, but it does not remove the court’s discretion. Where reconciliation still looks live, the court can decline to proceed on the agreement.

The other rules still apply

DMA changes the fact relied on, not the surrounding framework. The three-year rule in section 94(1) still means a couple generally cannot file until three years have passed since the marriage. The jurisdiction rule in section 93, requiring domicile or three years’ habitual residence in Singapore, still applies. And the divorce still moves through the same two stages, with the children, maintenance and assets decided as ancillary matters. For how those play out, see the divorce process, step by step and the custody and maintenance guide.

How DMA compares to the other facts

If the couple agree on the divorce and its terms, DMA is often the least adversarial route because it avoids allegations entirely. Where they do not agree, one of the other five facts in section 95A(1) may be the only option. The full list is set out in divorce in Singapore: grounds and the six facts, and the wider system is mapped in the family law section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Divorce by Mutual Agreement in Singapore?

Divorce by Mutual Agreement (DMA) is a no-fault route to divorce in which both spouses jointly agree that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. It is the sixth fact for divorce, section 95A(1)(f) of the Women’s Charter, and came into force on 1 July 2024.

When did Divorce by Mutual Agreement start in Singapore?

DMA took effect on 1 July 2024, introduced by the Women’s Charter (Amendment) Act 2022 (Act 3 of 2022). Before that date, couples had to rely on a fault-based fact or a period of separation.

What must the DMA agreement include?

Under section 95A(6)(a), the written agreement must state the reasons the couple concluded the marriage has irretrievably broken down, the efforts they made to reconcile, and the consideration they have given to arrangements for their finances and any child of the marriage.

Is a DMA divorce automatic if both spouses agree?

No. Under section 95A(6)(c) the court must refuse the agreement if it considers there is a reasonable possibility the couple might reconcile, and it can direct counselling or mediation. DMA removes the need to allege fault but not the court’s discretion.

Does the three-year rule apply to DMA?

Yes. The three-year minimum-marriage rule in section 94(1) and the jurisdiction rule in section 93 apply to a DMA divorce in the same way as to any other divorce.