DMO explains the law

Law can be intimidating and confusing to those without legal training. To help make the subject more accessible, our lawyer, Desmond Ong, has written articles for the non-legally trained on selected areas of the law.

General

• What is a contract?

• What is a tort?

Legal Aid & Costs

• Opting for an offer to settle

Process

• What is the Pre-Trial Conference for?

• What court should I file my claim in?

Judgement and Enforcement

• How does the judge decide what you are owed?

• What happens after I obtain a judgement?

• Why should I hire a lawyer to send a Letter of Demand?

• What do I do if the adverse party decides not to reply to the Letter of Demand?

• Understanding the Examination of Judgment Debtor process

• What is a Writ of Seizure and Sale (Movable Property)?

• Should I use a Garnishee Order?

General

• What is a criminal offence?

• Is the criminal charge against you valid?

• When does a criminal charge involve a jail term?

• What value is there in hiring a criminal defence lawyer?

Community Orders

• What are Community Orders?

• What is a Mandatory Treatment Order?

Legal Aid & Costs

• What happens if I cannot afford a lawyer?

• Which offences are bailable?

Process

• Will I have a criminal record after conviction?

• What are written representations?

• Should I make monetary restitution for the offence committed?

General

• What are the grounds for divorce?

• What is an uncontested divorce?

• What happens if my spouse does not agree to the divorce?

• What is the earliest date I can get a divorce?

• How can adultery be proven?

• Why should I get a Deed of Separation?

Children, Access, Custody, Care & Control

• What is the difference between custody and care and control?

• What is access?

• What is child maintenance?

• Can I claim maintenance for my illegitimate child?

Spousal Maintenance

• Can my wife get spousal maintenance from me?

Void Marriage

• What is a voidable marriage?

• When is a marriage void?

Hiring a divorce lawyer

• Why should I hire a divorce lawyer?

• What value is there in hiring a lawyer for my uncontested divorce application?

• What should I look for in a divorce lawyer?

Probate & Administration

• What is probate & administration?

• How long does it take to extract the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration?

• What assets can be administered using the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration?

• What are the duties of executors and administrators?

• What happens when executors/administrators breach their duties?

• When are Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration matters contentious?

Schedule of Assets

• What needs to be included in the Schedule of Assets?

Wills

• What does a valid will need to contain?

• What happens if a will is defective?