Family Law: Can Ex-Husband Vary the Terms for Arrears of Maintenance?

Case Law

Plaintiff (husband) applied to vary the terms for arrears of maintenance.
The court scrutinised sections 86 and 98 of the LRA and commented that those sections are provisions that relate to applications for arrears of maintenance.
Section 83 of the LRA relates to the power of court to vary any subsisting orders for maintenance of a spouse.
Section 96 of the LRA on the other hand, relates to the power of court to vary orders for custody or maintenance of a child.
As such, the court held that there is no provision in the LRA that confers power on a court to vary the terms for arrears of maintenance.

EPF is a matrimonial asset

It has been established on case authority that EPF is a matrimonial asset (See: [1997] 3 MLJ 133; [1997] 1 MLJ 109).
It is settled law that orders for division of matrimonial assets made pursuant to section 76 of the LRA cannot be varied.

You need a court order or a written agreement to claim outstanding maintenance

Section 86(1) of the LRA expressly provides that in order for the petitioner to claim for maintenance in arrears, there must be an existing court order to compel the respondent to pay maintenance to the petitioner or alternatively there must be an agreement between the parties that the respondent to pay monthly maintenance to the petitioner.

Source: [2014] 1 LNS 621

Source: The Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Commentary and Cases), Sweet & Maxwell.

==============================

*如果您需要聘请律师处理法律事务，您可以联系我们。

*如果您需要法律咨询(付费)，您可以联系我们。

*我们的律师楼拥有超过15年的执业经验。我们处理民事纠纷 (打官司/法庭诉讼)、商业纠纷、追讨债务、遗产分配、立遗嘱、离婚、抚养权、赡养费、产业分配、领养小孩、拟商业合约、拟买卖合约、银行贷款、法律咨询、法律顾问、等法律事务。全马的案件，我们皆都处理。

*We have more than 15 years of experience in the legal profession. We handle matters such as commercial disputes, civil litigation, debt recovery, probate & letter of administration, will, divorce, children custody, maintenance/alimony, adoption, distribution of matrimonial assets, drafting commercial agreement, drafting sale and purchase agreement, process loan documentations, legal consultation, legal advisory, miscellaneous legal works.

*Wilson Kuek是“法律与你同行 Law & Justice”面子书群组的创办人。“法律与你同行”是马来西亚最大的法律平台。我们每天为无数的平民百姓免费解除各类的法律困扰。

*浏览我们律师楼的法律文章: www.kuekong.com

*浏览我们律师楼的法律文章: www.kuekongklg.com

*订阅我们的YouTube: http://bit.ly/lawnjustice

*加入我们的“法律与你同行”FB 群组: http://bit.ly/fblawnjustice

*Like 我们的“法律与你同行” FB Page: http://bit.ly/lawnjusticefbpage

*加入我们的网络论坛: www.queco.org

*Kuek, Ong & Associates. Advocates & Solicitors. No.86-1, Jalan Mahagoni 1, Bandar Botanic, 41200 Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Klang Lawyer. 巴生(吧生)律师楼。#Kuek, Ong & Associates #Kuek Ong & Associates #Kuek Ong Associates #郭汪律师事务所 #郭汪律师楼

#马来西亚华人律师 #Chinese Lawyer in Malaysia #Malaysia Lawyer #巴生律师 #吧生律师 #Klang Lawyer #KL律师 #吉隆坡律师 #KL Lawyer #懂华文的律师 #民事诉讼律师