Division of Assets after a Divorce: Cutting Up a Pie Too Small

Abstract

When a family unit enjoying the economies of scale breaks up, a reorganisation of the family's financial resources is inevitable. As more than 80% of Singapore's population live in HDB flats, the HDB flat commonly constitutes the single most substantial asset for division after a divorce. This paper discusses how HDB policies have affected the way parties reorganise their resources after their marriage is terminated; it identifies the problems, points out how families continue to cope under difficult circumstances and offers some suggestions.