Married Women Act · 2014 Revised Edition · Part II · Rights and Duties of Husband and Wife
18E. Compensation
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Where a victim of domestic violence suffers personal injuries, destruction or damage to property, loss of property or financial loss as a result of the domestic violence, the court may award such compensation in respect of such injuries, destruction, damage or loss as it considers just and reasonable.
The court may take into account —
the pain and suffering of the victim, and the nature and extent of the physical or mental injury suffered;
the cost of medical treatment for any such injury;
any loss of earnings arising from any such injury;
the amount or value of the property destroyed, damaged or lost;
necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the victim when he is compelled to separate or be separated from the defendant due to the domestic violence, such as —
lodging expenses to be contributed to a place of protection;
transport and moving expenses;
the expenses required in setting up a separate household which, subject to subsection (3), may include amounts representing such housing loan payments or rental payments or part thereof, in respect of the shared residence or alternative residence, for such period as the court considers appropriate.
In considering any expenses that may be taken into account under subsection (2)(e)(iii), the court may also take into account —
the financial position of the victim as well as that of the defendant;
Married Women 20
maintenance to be paid or any other obligatory expenses to be made or contributed by the defendant that arises from the relationship that exists between the parties;
the possibility of other proceedings being taken between the parties and the matter being more appropriately dealt with under other provisions of the Act or any other written law relating to the financial provision of spouses or former spouses and other dependants.
Terms defined in s 3
defendant
Defined · s 3“defendant”, in relation to a maintenance order or a related attachment of earnings order, means the person liable to make payments under the maintenance order;
earnings
Defined · s 3“earnings”, in relation to a defendant, means any sums payable to him — (a) by way of wages or salary, including any fees, bonus, commission, overtime pay or other emoluments payable in addition to wages or salary by the person paying the wages or salary or payable under a contract of service; (b) by way of pension, including an annuity in respect of past services, whether or not the services were rendered to the person paying the annuity, and including periodical payments by way of compensation for the loss abolition or relinquishment, or any diminution in the emoluments, of any office or employment;
Part III
Maintenance of Wives and Children
Part IV