Clients often arrive with screenshots, voice recordings and photographs they have gathered themselves, expecting to hand them straight to a lawyer. The reality is more demanding. Evidence intended for a Singapore Family Court matter must satisfy specific standards before it can be relied upon.
What the court is looking for
- Authenticity, can the source and integrity of the evidence be demonstrated?
- Chain of custody, has it been handled and stored in a way that preserves it?
- Lawful collection, was it obtained without breaching privacy or other laws?
- Relevance, does it speak to the specific question before the court?
Where self-collected evidence usually fails
Screenshots without metadata, recordings made by parties who were not present, and photographs without verifiable timestamps are common failure points. Even when accepted, their weight in the proceedings can be limited.
"An affidavit is only as strong as the evidence it can stand on. Build the evidence first, draft the affidavit second."
Court EvidenceFamily CourtAffidavit
