Family Law Guides
Understanding family law in Malaysia
Read about civil non-Muslim divorce, arrangements for children and related family questions. These articles provide general information, not legal advice.
Start here
Begin with our Divorce in Malaysia series, a roundup of the articles in order. Use the first divorce consultation checklist to organise questions before discussing your circumstances.
Latest articles
2 Aug 2026
Interim Spousal Maintenance in Long Marriages
This article discusses the High Court case of REV v JEV [2024] MLRHU 1243. It clarifies interim maintenance under ss 77–78 LRA 1976 for a 33-year marriage. It…
14 May 2026
Is There a Constitutional Right for LGBTQ+ to Marry?
This commentary examines the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of India in Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty & Anor v. Union of India [2024] 2 TCLR 1, a…
15 Apr 2026
Interim Maintenance: Silence Speaks Volumes
Note: This article is about the case of PS v SDS (Encl 10) [2020] MLRHU 565. (The citation has been reduced to only the initials of the parties…
14 Apr 2026
How Fear Compounds Family Problems
1) I met a couple today. The father is Malaysian. The mother is Indonesian. They have two children, one of whom is now 15 years old. Neither child…
31 Jul 2025
Can Letters Support A Will? Proving Testator Mental State.
The case of Teoh Ying Rin v. Savatery Jayaraman recently concluded in Malaysia’s High Court and appeals court, concerning a dispute over a will after the death of…
31 Jul 2025
The RM1 Will and the Widow’s Contest (Contested Will)
He left his wife RM1. Just one ringgit. Not out of poverty. Not out of ignorance. But by a deliberate act of pen, signed in solemnity, on a…
15 Jul 2025
Gifts, Property, and Squatters in the Family
A case study on Malaysian property and gift law, and family members who become squatters. In Butterworth, Penang, nestled along a shaded street, stood a modest house—ordinary in its…
15 Jul 2025
A Cautionary Tale of Secret Trusts and Testamentary Wills
“He wanted the best for all his children… but he did not want all of them to know.” Act I: The Dying Man’s Last Wish In the final…
22 Apr 2025
Abandoned Babies and Malaysian Citizenship
Research suggests abandoned babies in Malaysia are granted automatic citizenship under Section 19B, but challenges exist in documentation and legal processes. It seems likely that many face hurdles…
2 Jan 2025
Recognizing a Foreign Divorce in Malaysia
Recently, our firm had the privilege of assisting our clients, who were divorced in a foreign court. The ex-husband is a foreign national, while the ex-wife is a…
15 Oct 2024
When Beneficiaries Trim Their Shares After the Founder’s Passing
Recently, on 10 October 2024, the Malay Mail reported that the family of the late Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow announced, they would sell down their shareholding in…
4 Oct 2024
Irrevocable Power of Attorney vs Will
If you're thinking of estate planning and the managing of your assets after death, legal instruments like wills and powers of attorney (POAs) are important. However, what happens…
First divorce consultation checklist
Prepare discreetly for a conversation about civil non-Muslim divorce. Free to read, no sign-up.
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