A 44-year-old wife in Singapore was granted 33% of the couple's matrimonial assets, valued at $2.2 million, after the court recognized her homemaking and administrative support to her husband's business growth [1, 2, 3, 4].

The wife looked after their three children aged nine to 16, managed the household, and supervised the domestic helper. She also resigned from her job to take on administrative tasks at the husband's company, allowing him to focus on expanding the business. The husband’s company, whose name was not disclosed, was sold in 2020 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Financial contributions to the asset pool showed the wife directly contributed around $400,000, approximately 5.9%, while the husband contributed about $6.4 million. Indirect financial support mainly came from the husband, aged 45, who provided a supplementary credit card for household expenses and had greater financial capacity [1, 2, 3, 4].

High Court Justice Dedar Singh Gill noted, "It is also notable that the wife supported the husband’s career, having resigned from her job to commence work at the husband's company" [2].

Divorce proceedings began in 2023, during which the husband initially concealed financial transactions. He transferred large sums to his parents and held shares in trust for his father. The judge described the husband's delayed disclosures and vague expenditure explanations as "egregious". The husband was ordered to pay $5,000 in costs to the wife for prolonging the case [1, 2, 3, 4].

Justice Gill emphasized the importance of transparency in matrimonial asset cases, warning: "Parties must resist the temptation to deny the other spouse his or her rightful entitlement through, for example, concealment of assets, protracted disclosure of relevant documents or even the creation of documents in an attempt to legitimise transactions" [1]. He added the court has tools to "expose such reprehensible conduct" and punish offenders [3].

The High Court delivered its judgment on May 20, 2023, finalizing the wife's 33% share and awarding costs [1, 2, 3, 4].