Married Women Act · 2014 Revised Edition · Part II · Rights and Duties of Husband and Wife
18A. Interpretation of this Part
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —
“court” means a Court of a Magistrate;
“domestic violence” means the commission of any of the following acts —
wilfully or knowingly causing, or attempting to cause, a family member in fear of hurt;
causing hurt to a family member by such act which is known or ought to have been known would result in hurt;
compelling the family member by force or threat to engage in any conduct or act from which he has a right to abstain;
wrongfully confining or restraining a family member against his will;
continual harassment with intent to cause distress, annoyance or humiliation, or knowing that it is likely to cause distress, annoyance or humiliation, to a family member; or
causing destruction, damage or loss to property of a family member or causing financial loss to a family member;
“enforcement officer” means a police officer or any person appointed in writing by the Director of Community
Development;
“expedited order” means an order made under section 18C(1);
“family member”, in relation to a person, means —
a spouse or former spouse of that person;
a child of that person and their descendants, including an adopted child and a step-child;
the father or mother of that person;
a father-in-law or mother-in-law of that person;
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a brother or sister of that person;
a grandfather or grandmother of that person or any of their ascendants whether on the side of the father or mother of that person; or
any relative or other person who in the opinion of the court should, in the circumstances, be regarded as a member of the family of that person;
“incapacitated adult” means an adult who is wholly or partially incapacitated or infirm, by reason of physical or mental disability, ill-health or old age;
“place of protection” means any place or institution —
declared as such under section 18K(1);
maintained or managed by any agency or voluntary organisation approved by the Minister of Culture, Youth and
Sports for the purposes of this Part; or
suitable whereby the owner, occupier or manager is willing to receive the victim;
“protected person” means a person who is protected under a protection order or an expedited order;
“protection order” means an order made under section 18B(1);
“relative” means a person who is related through the full-blood or half-blood, or through marriage, fostering or adoption, including de facto adoption;
“shared residence” means the premises at which the parties are, or have been, living together as members of the same household;
“victim” means a victim of domestic violence.
Nothing in this Part shall derogate from the provisions of the
Penal Code (Chapter 22) or of any other written law.
Part III
Maintenance of Wives and Children
Part IV