Plain answers to common legal questions
General information on Singapore law, written in everyday language. Read up before you decide anything, then speak with a lawyer about your own situation.
Debts & business disputes guides
Getting paid, and what happens when a dispute goes to court.
Getting paid
4 articles
What is a letter of demand, and do I need one before suing?
A letter of demand is usually the first formal step in recovering money or enforcing an agreement. It puts the other side on notice, gives them a last chance to settle, and becomes evidence if the matter goes to court.
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A customer won't pay. How do I recover a business debt in Singapore?
There is a well-worn path for recovering unpaid invoices: a demand, then a claim, then enforcement. Which steps you need depends on the size of the debt, whether it is disputed, and whether the debtor can pay.
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What is a statutory demand, and when can it lead to winding up or bankruptcy?
A statutory demand is a formal notice under Singapore's insolvency law. It is a powerful tool for clear debts, and a risky one for disputed debts.
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How long do I have to bring a claim in Singapore?
The Limitation Act sets deadlines for starting legal action. Miss them and the right to sue is generally lost, however strong the claim.
Read the guideGoing to court
4 articles
Which court will hear my claim in Singapore?
Singapore's civil courts are divided mainly by the value of the claim. Starting in the right place keeps costs in proportion to what is at stake.
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Default judgment and summary judgment: getting judgment without a full trial
Not every claim needs a trial. If a defendant does not respond in time, or responds without a real defence, the Rules of Court 2021 let the claimant ask for judgment early.
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I won, but haven't been paid. How do I enforce a judgment?
A judgment tells the debtor to pay; it doesn't move the money by itself. If the debtor still won't pay, the court has several ways to make them.
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Do I have to try mediation, and who pays the legal costs?
The Rules of Court 2021 put a duty on the parties themselves to consider settling. How each side behaves can affect who pays the costs at the end.
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