The integration of TJ into Singapore’s family justice system is marked by the birth of the Therapeutic Justice Model (the “TJ Model”) of the FJC. This development has been described by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon as the most significant and consequential reform of the family justice system[2].

TJ works to help families move away from their acrimonious past and towards a brighter future together, with the introduction of a list of therapeutic justice objectives and a multitude of therapeutic services, whilst maintaining the familiar even-handed processes and procedures of the law and judiciary.

Parties can expect the court to adopt a judge-led, multi-disciplinary approach to resolving disputes, that targets the root cause of conflict within a family. 

Divorce filed at the FJC will be allocated different tracks according to their individual needs and overall progress, which are as follows[3]:

• Full Simplified Track. This track is for parties who have amicably resolved all their issues, including ancillary issues. Parties may obtain final orders without having to attend court.
• Partial Simplified / Non-Simplified Track. This track is for all other cases that do not qualify for the Full Simplified Track.

For cases allocated to the Partial Simplified / Non-Simplified Track, parties will first undergo the triage stage, where they are required to fill out the Joint Triage Checklist before being directed to attend a TJ Cooperative Conference (TJCC) overseen by a mediation judge.

Following the TJCC, the case may be further placed on either the Standard Track or the Teams Track depending on the outcome of the Triage stage. Cases on the Standard Track are managed by Assistant Registrars while cases on the Teams Track are managed by a multi-disciplinary team usually consisting of a mediation judge, a hearing judge and a Court Family Specialist under a “One Family, One Team” approach[4].