There are 2 ways the Courts may order a division of CPF savings: transfer orders and charging orders. We transfer or pay upon a court-order specified triggering event. 

When we transfer or pay from one party's CPF accounts, this party will have lower CPF balances. As such, their participation in CPF schemes may be impacted and they should make alternative arrangements if necessary.

Transfer order

Under a transfer order, we transfer savings directly from one party's CPF accounts to the receiving party's CPF accounts. Generally speaking, money is transferred to corresponding CPF accounts: from Ordinary Account to Ordinary Account, Special Account to Special Account, and so on.

The transfer of CPF monies can take place without the party setting aside his retirement sum first. The receiving party can use the CPF monies immediately for approved CPF schemes such as housing, investment and education. They may also withdraw the monies when they are eligible. 

For a transfer order to work, the receiving party must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident as at the date of the court order.

The court may order a division of your matrimonial HDB flat and, or private property via some of these methods:

• Sale or part-share sale
• Transfer to ex-spouse with full refunds, partial refunds or no refunds to the outgoing owner's CPF accounts
• Retention by one party
• Surrender

The Courts may order:

• An ownership transfer of investment from one party to the receiving party; or
• A sale of one party's investments. The proceeds are refunded to the owner's CPF Investment Schemes' accounts before they are refunded to the Ordinary and, or Special Accounts. The Board may then transfer to the receiving party's CPF accounts or pay the receiving party. 

For details, read division of matrimonial investment assets (PDF, 55KB)

If one party has started receiving monthly payouts from their CPF LIFE plan, the Courts may order a payment from these payouts to the receiving party instead.

Alternatively, the Courts may order the Board to make a refund of the party's CPF LIFE plan's premium to their Retirement Account. Depending on the court order, either the Board transfers the amount to the receiving party's CPF account, or pay the amount to the receiving party in cash.