Singapore Court Records

Court records can mention some of your ancestors as defendants, plaintiffs, jurors, or witnesses. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence. They often provide occupations, descriptions of individuals, and other family information. They seldom provide birth, marriage, or death information.

Most researchers use court records after they have investigated other records. Court records tend to be difficult to use since few are indexed, the handwriting is hard to read, and they include unfamiliar legal terms. To interpret court records, you may need to consult a dictionary.

Online Records
NOTE: Singapore was included in the Straits Settlements.
 * 1618-1909, Indexes to wills, administrations, inventories and estates at FamilySearch. Digital Images.


 * 1808-1884, Cases heard and determined in Her Majesty's Supreme court of the Straits Settlements by Straits Settlements, Supreme Court, and James William Norton-Kyshe. (Singapore : Printed at the "Singapore and Straits printing office", 1885).
 * Straits Settlements Records (SSR) and Overseas Records. This is a collection of records digitized by the National Archives of Singapore. Court records from the British colonial era are included in this collection.
 * Court Records at the British National Archives

Additional Reading

 * Family Law in Malaysia and Singapore by Ahmad Ibrahim. (Singapore : Malayan Law Journal, 1978).