Dependency Claims in Unregistered Marriages

On December 11, 2010, the four-wheel drive Low Chin Wee was driving collided with a truck on the Jalan Klang-Telok Intan road. Chin Wee died on the spot, and his wife, Dee Bee Yoke, subsequently filed a claim for loss of support. The Sessions Court in 2011 awarded Bee Yoke more than RM150,000. However, last week the Court of Appeal reversed that decision because it ruled that Bee Yoke was not Low’s lawful wife. She went through a Chinese customary marriage with Low but did not register their marriage. Family lawyer Vicky Alahakone explains the implications of this ruling.