admin

A foster father’s lie leads to a fake birth certificate? A deep dive into the ‘heartbreaking lessons’ from cases of adopted kids’ nationality issues

In November 1996, the adoptive parents heard from an acquaintance at a night market in Johor that a newborn baby girl had been abandoned. They then paid RM500 at a house in Segamat to take the child, and in December of the same year, they lied to the GEMAS police station, claiming they were the baby’s biological parents, and obtained the first citizenship birth certificate. What happened next: In 2018, 22-year-old Ms. E went to renew her ID card, but her Malaysian card was withheld, her birth certificate was canceled, and her status became ‘undetermined’ (Belum Ditentukan), leaving her stateless. Verdict: In June 2026, the appeals court ruled against Ms. E, meaning she would not automatically gain Malaysian citizenship.

A foster father’s lie leads to a fake birth certificate? A deep dive into the ‘heartbreaking lessons’ from cases of adopted kids’ nationality issues Read More »

Birth certificate changed to ‘non-citizen’? the heartbreaking lessons from the case of adopting a child’s nationality

Malaysia’s 12-Year “Citizen” Illusion: How hiding the truth on the birth certificate at birth can plant a 12-year identity risk for a child? Sudden Turn: At 12, when going to UTC to get a MyKad, JPN officers got suspicious because of his looks and skin color and launched an investigation. Legal Shock: The adoptive father was fined, and the child’s status was changed to “non-citizen” — three shifts from the fake birth certificate to the adoption birth certificate.

Birth certificate changed to ‘non-citizen’? the heartbreaking lessons from the case of adopting a child’s nationality Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 36

Question 98
When deciding whether to award custody of the child to the father or mother, will the court consider the child’s wishes?
Yes. When listening to the child’s wishes, the court will also evaluate whether the child has reached an age capable of expressing an independent opinion, while treating the child’s welfare as the paramount consideration.

Question 99
If the parties have more than one child, are there any additional considerations for the court?
The court tends to lean towards awarding custody of multiple children to the same party so that the children can grow up together in the company of their siblings.

Question 100
Can I request the court to impose additional attached conditions when applying for child custody?
The court may attach conditions to a custody judgment, including:

The child’s residence, education, or even religion;

Allowing the child to visit the other party or the other party’s family members at specified times and frequency;

Granting access rights to the other party or the other party’s family members;

Restraining the party granted custody from taking the child out of Malaysia.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 36 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 35

Question 96
Will custody of my child under 7 years old definitely be awarded to the mother?
Under normal circumstances, the court leans towards awarding custody of children under 7 years old to the mother, but this is not absolute. The court must also consider other factors, with the best interests of the child being the paramount consideration. Other factors that may affect the court’s decision to award custody of a child under 7 to the mother include:

Whether the mother causes physical or psychological distress to the child;
The mother’s mental condition;
Whether she is a fit mother.
Question 97
When deciding whether to award custody of the child to the father or mother, can the court request a third party to provide an evaluation report?
The court can order the Welfare Department to intervene and interview the child. The Welfare Department will then prepare a report and submit it to the court for reference.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 35 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 34

Question 94
Under what circumstances can the court make adjustments or variations to previous arrangements (Variation Order) after the divorce application is completed?
Applications to vary arrangements are limited to specific circumstances, including misrepresentation, mistake, or a material change of circumstances.

Question 95
Can I apply to the court for child custody before filing for divorce?
Yes, you can. The court can make a decision regarding child custody at any time, and “at any time” means that a divorce proceeding does not need to be filed beforehand.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 34 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 33

Question 90
I am afraid that my husband might suddenly go back on his word after the divorce and refuse to transfer the house to the child. How can I prevent this situation?
🔸 You can express this concern to your lawyer and request them to apply in court for an order stating that if the other party refuses to sign the necessary documents to transfer the house to the child, the court has the authority to sign the documents on their behalf. Of course, you can also apply to the court for a caveat to lock the property, preventing him from transferring the house away.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 33 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 32

Question 89
What if I want to leave the house to a child under 18 years old after the divorce, is it possible?
It is possible. In this case, the court will require one party to hold the house on behalf of the child and transfer the house to the child after they reach 18 years old.

Question 91
The court ordered both parties to jointly pay the housing loan, but my husband refuses to pay. Do I still need to pay? How can I resolve this?
You can take legal action against him for contempt of court. In serious cases, he may face imprisonment.

Question 92
The house is jointly owned by my husband and me. If we want to sell it, must both parties sign?
You can express this concern to your lawyer and request them to apply in court for an order stating that if the other party refuses to sign the necessary documents to sell the house, the court has the authority to sign the documents on their behalf.

Question 93
The court ordered both parties to jointly pay the housing loan until it is fully settled and then transfer the house to me. However, I am afraid he might renege and refuse to sign the transfer documents at that time. How can I avoid this situation?
If you are worried, both parties can put up a sum of money first to pay off the house loan.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 32 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 31

Question 87
The house is jointly owned by my husband and me, but he has always been the only one paying the mortgage. If the house is sold, how much can I get?
This depends on the court. The court will comprehensively consider the direct and indirect contributions of both parties and determine the division ratio based on the principle of fairness.

Question 88
If I want to leave the house to my child after the divorce, is it possible?
Yes, but the child must be 18 years old or above to hold property. However, this requirement must be clearly stated in the court order. This way, if the other party fails to comply with the court order in the future, we can take action to enforce it.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 31 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 30

Question 84
The house is under my husband’s name, and I have never paid the mortgage, but we have lived in that house since we got married and our child was born there. Is it possible for me to get that house after the divorce?
Yes, it is possible. You might be able to get the house or a part of it. As for how big a share, it will depend on the court and the contributions made by you and the other party to the house.

Question 85
The house is under my husband’s name, and the loan is also under his name. I have never paid the mortgage, but I paid the down payment for the house and also paid for the renovations. Is it possible for me to claim that house?
Yes, it is possible. However, this depends on the court. The court will consider various factors, such as your contribution to the house, and make a fair and reasonable judgment.

Question 86
The house was purchased before marriage and is under my husband’s name. However, I have always been the one paying the mortgage and I also bought the furniture. Is it possible for me to claim that house?
Yes, it is possible. The court will consider various factors, such as your contribution to the house, and make a fair and reasonable judgment.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART 30 Read More »

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART29

Question 79
When claiming child maintenance from the child’s father, must I present receipts for the expenses?
Generally, unless the court orders a fixed amount, receipts must be presented to claim child maintenance. Ultimately, this depends on the court order issued.

Question 80
What can I do if the child’s father refuses to pay when I claim child maintenance from him?
You can take legal action against him for contempt of court. In serious cases, he may face imprisonment.

Question 81
What can I do if I find out that my husband is secretly selling or transferring properties when I apply for a divorce in court?
You can apply for an injunction from the court to restrain him from transferring or selling the properties.

Question 82
What are the criteria used by the court when making arrangements for the division of assets?
The court first needs to determine whether the assets constitute matrimonial assets, as well as the contributions made by both parties to the properties, among other factors.

Question 83
Is the division of assets always an equal split?
Not necessarily. It depends on many factors, including:

The contributions made by both parties to the properties;

Any debts incurred by either party for the joint benefit of both parties;

The needs of the children of the marriage.

TOP 100 Divorce FAQ-PART29 Read More »

error: Content is protected !!
Welcome to Edward Ng & Partners! Click to consult with our lawyer! 欢迎来到爱德华·黄律师事务所,点击联系我们的律师
//
Lawyer Edward Ng 黄志威律师 황지위 변호사
Divorce, Child Adoption, Will, Probate & LA, CIPAA, Civil & Corporate Litigation, Debt Recovery, Defamation, Tax Law.
Consult Lawyer 咨询律师 상담문의