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Our People

Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents

Provides a legal channel as the last resort for aged parents to seek financial maintenance from their children when they are unable to support themselves adequately.

What We Do

The Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents offers a legal option for aged parents who are not able to support themselves to seek maintenance from their children, who are capable of supporting them but are not willing to do so. 

The Tribunal allows these parents to file for a Maintenance Order against their children, requiring them to support their parents financially.

Before filing an application for maintenance to the Tribunal, parents are required to contact the Office of the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents for assistance in conciliation.

The Commissioner’s Office will try to help parents and children achieve an agreement on the amount of maintenance to be contributed each month, without having to file at the Tribunal for a Maintenance Order.

To file an application,
  • you must be 60 years old and above and unable to support yourself
  • if you are below the age of 60, you must be able to prove that you have valid reasons (such as health problems)
  • you must meet legal requirements as stated in the Maintenance Of Parents Act
How to file for a Maintenance Order

  1. Apply in person at the TMP Registry.
    • If you are unable to do so due to health or other reasons, an application can be made on your behalf by:
    • any member of your family
    • any person who is caring for you
    • any other person whom you have authorised to make the application.
  2. You need to bring with you:
    • Your NRIC or NRIC of the person who is filing the application on your behalf
    • Letter of authorisation, if you have authorised another person to file the application on your behalf
    • The names, last known addresses and/or NRICs of the children you are filing for a Maintenance Order against
    • Your bank account passbook or bank statement
    • Information on your living expenses
    • Information on your assets and savings
    • Your medical reports, if any.
  3. You and your children named in the application will receive a Notice of Application after you file for the application.
  4. Your children will have to file a response within 14 days. Your children may also submit other relevant information to support their response.
Background

The Tribunal was set up in 1996 under the Maintenance of Parents Act (Chapter 167B) (MPA). It comes under Family Services Division of MCYS.

For more information

For legal requirements and other information, you can refer to Maintenance Of Parents Act.

To find out more about the Tribunal, you can refer to Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents brochure.

Contact 

Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents 
Secretary, Registry 
Family Link@Lengkok Bahru 
8 Lengkok Bahru, #02-01 
Singapore 159052 

Tel: 1800-2585128 

It is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. 

For directions, you can refer to the Map.

f you are driving, you can park at the HDB car parks opposite the building. 

If you are taking public transport, the nearest MRT station is Redhill and the nearest bus stops are at Lengkok Bahru (Bus 139) and Jalan Bukit Merah (Buses 14, 123, 139, 147, 153, 196, 197, 198, 855, 961, 961C).

Who We Touch

  • parents
  • children
  • families

Our Team

Secretary
Ms Penny Tham

Assistant Secretary
Ang Cheng Soon

contact details & team members
DATE PUBLISHED: Friday, May 21, 2010
LAST REVIEWED: Monday, February 13, 2012
Copyright 2011 Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. All rights reserved.