The Subordinate Courts comprise the District Courts, the Magistrates' Courts, the Coroners' Court, the Juvenile Court and the Small Claims Tribunals. Certain District Courts and Magistrates' Courts are designed as specialised courts such as the Family Court, the Commercial Civil and Criminal Courts, the Traffic Court, the Filter Court, the Criminal Mentions Courts, the Centralised Sentencing Court and the Night Courts. The e@dr Centre, and the Multi Door Courthouse (MDC) are also part of the Subordinate Courts.

The District Courts and Magistrate Courts hear both civil and criminal cases.

In criminal cases, a District Court can try offences where the maximum jail term does not exceed 10 years or are punishable with a fine only. It can sentence a person to imprisonment for not more than 7 years, a fine not exceeding $ 10,000 and up to 12 strokes of the cane.

However where the law expressly provides for it, the District Court also has the jurisdiction to try the offences and imposes sentences which exceeds the above limits, such as in the Misuse of Drugs Act.

In criminal cases, a Magistrate Court can try offences where the maximum jail term does not exceed 3 yrs or are punishable with a fine only. It can sentence a person to imprisonment for not more than 2 years, a fine not exceeding $ 2,000 and up to 6 strokes of the cane.

However where the law expressly provides for it, the District Court also has the jurisdiction to try the offences and imposes sentences which exceeds the above limits, such as in the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order & Nuisance) Act.

The Family Court deals with maintenance summonses. For example, if a husband neglects to maintain his wife, she can apply to the Family Court for an order that her husband makes monthly contributions to maintain her.

The wife can also apply to the Family Court for a Protection Order for herself and/or her children if violence or threats of violence have been used against her and/or her children. In certain circumstances, the Family Court can grant a Domestic Exclusion Order to prevent the abusive husband from entering the matrimonial home.

The Coroner's Court holds inquiries to ascertain the cause of a person's death and whether any person is responsible criminally for the cause of death. Such inquiries are held if the cause of death is unnatural, i.e. not caused by illnesses or failings of the body's functions.

The Juvenile Court deals with offences committed by persons below 16 years of age. For more information on the Juvenile Court, please log onto:

http://www.subcourts.gov.sg/Juvenile/index.htm

If you have a claim arising from a sale or purchase of goods or from the provision of services (e.g. repairs renovation works), and your claim does not exceed $10,000, you can file a claim in the Small Claims Tribunal. However, you can also file a claim more than $10,000 but not exceeding $20,000 if both parties consent to it. The procedure is informal, easy and inexpensive. You will conduct and explain your case to the Referee who will decide on your claim.

You may appeal against decisions in the Small Claims Tribunal to the High Court on points of law.

The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

The High Court exercises original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. It hears cases in the first instance as well as cases on appeal from the Subordinate Courts.

In civil cases, the High Court has the power to try all claims above $250,000. In criminal cases, the High Court has the power to try all cases.

The High Court can also hear points of law in special cases submitted by a District Court or Magistrate Court. The High Court also has general supervisory and revisionary powers over the Subordinate Courts in civil and criminal matters.

The Court of Appeal hears appeals of civil and criminal cases from the High Court. The Court of Appeal is usually made up of three Judges.
For more information on the Subordinate Courts, please log onto:

http://www.subcourts.gov.sg/aboutus_01intro.htm

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