If a PPO or police report lands, you need the full picture fast
If you’ve just been served with a Personal Protection Order application, or the police have called you in because of something said at home, you’re probably hearing two or three different stories from different people. You need one clear picture.
I’m Hasif. I’m an Associate Director at A.W. Law LLC, and I represent people on both tracks that open when the state says there’s violence at home: the Family Justice Courts side (PPOs) and the State Courts side (criminal charges). Many of the people I meet are in the middle of a divorce or custody fight, and the accusation lands at the worst possible moment.
This page explains what each track is, what a realistic sentence or outcome looks like, and what we do in the first 10 minutes. It’s free, and nothing commits you.
What a domestic violence accusation in Singapore actually is
“Domestic violence” isn’t one thing in Singapore law. It’s two parallel tracks, and sometimes both run at once.
Track 1: Personal Protection Orders. Under Part VII of the Women’s Charter, your spouse, child, parent, sibling, or in-law can apply at the Family Justice Courts for a Personal Protection Order. They have to show the court that family violence has happened or is likely to happen. Family violence covers:
- Hitting, kicking, or any physical hurt against a family member.
- Wrongfully confining a family member against their will.
- Continual harassment causing distress.
- Threats that cause a family member to be fearful.
If the court is satisfied, a PPO is issued. A breach of the PPO is itself a criminal offence. A PPO can also come with a Domestic Exclusion Order (you have to leave the shared home) or a Counselling Order.
Track 2: Criminal charges. Independent of the PPO, the police can investigate and the prosecution can charge you under the Penal Code 1871 for hurt offences, criminal intimidation, or wrongful restraint. These go to the State Courts. Penalties look the same as any other assault charge, but courts often treat the family context as an aggravating factor.
If you want to apply for a PPO yourself rather than defend against one, see our Personal Protection Orders page.
When you really need a lawyer in the room
Three moments that matter:
- You’ve been served with a PPO Complaint. The court will set a first mention date, usually within weeks. A lawyer can file a proper reply, line up witnesses, and if necessary cross-examine the applicant. An uncontested PPO often gets granted by default; a well-defended one often doesn’t.
- The police have called you in for a statement. Whatever you say in that first interview becomes evidence. Get briefed on your rights and on what a caution (the formal warning the officer reads before questioning) really means. Our blog on what to do if you get arrested in Singapore walks through the stages.
- You’ve been bailed out or charged. Don’t sign bail conditions without reading them. Don’t miss the first court date. Don’t contact the complainant unless your lawyer has checked the terms.
What to expect, honestly
How long it takes.
A PPO application runs 3 to 6 months on the family track, sometimes longer if contested through a full hearing. A criminal charge follows the normal criminal timeline: 6 to 18 months from charge to sentencing, with trial matters running longer. If both are open at once, we coordinate so the evidence on one doesn’t accidentally damage the other.
How much it costs.
A contested PPO at the Family Justice Courts usually runs S$3,500 to S$8,000 depending on hearing days. A criminal plead-guilty representation starts from S$5,000, and claim-trial matters run S$15,000 to S$50,000 or more depending on complexity. We quote a cap in writing before paid work starts. The 10-minute Domestic Violence Defence Discovery Session is free. If your income qualifies, the Legal Aid Bureau may help with the criminal side.
What’s the hard part.
Two things, consistently.
One, the family picture. If there are kids, a divorce running, or a custody dispute in the background, everything said in one court travels to the other. We handle both tracks so nothing is said twice the wrong way.
Two, the emotional weight. You’ll be accused of things you didn’t do, or things that happened but not the way they’re being described. Stay off the complainant’s WhatsApp. Don’t post on Facebook. Let us reply for you.
How we handle domestic violence matters at A.W. Law
- One lawyer, both tracks. Hasif handles the PPO and the criminal case, so the story stays straight.
- Letters in simple terms. Every affidavit and document you sign will be walked through line by line.
- Evenings on WhatsApp. Family matters tend to flare after office hours. We reply until 10pm on weekdays.
- Multilingual. English, Malay, or Tamil.
- Honest read. If pleading guilty with a mitigation plea is the right move, we say so. If the accusation is exaggerated or false, we run it properly in court.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point. Two minutes from Chinatown MRT, Exit E.
What happens next
If a PPO application has landed, or the police have called, or a charge has been filed, the next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Domestic Violence Defence Discovery Session using the form on this page, or WhatsApp us. You’ll leave with a clear view of the likely timeline, the cost, and what to say and not say next. Nothing commits you.
