S'pore actress, 36, reveals she has to adopt her own child as a single mum to legitimise relationship in eyes of the law

As a single mum in the past, local actress Shirli Ling has to "adopt" her own daughter.

In a Feb. 10 video posted on Instagram, Ling opened up about her experience, after learning about the speculation surrounding the aftermath of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu's death.

Following her passing at 48, Hsu's former spouse was reportedly given custody of her children, as he was their biological father.

They were consequently relocated to Beijing, despite efforts from Hsu's family and her second husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo, to keep the children in Taiwan.

Ling explained that this was because Koo did not legally adopt Hsu's children, despite his marriage to Hsu.

"Many people are unaware that if you remarry, your husband actually needs to [legally] adopt the child from your previous marriage," she said.

"[So that] when you are gone, your children will belong to your now husband. Otherwise, the biological father can come and fight for their custody."

Adopting her own child

Ling then shared her own experience.

Now a mum of five and a grandmother of one, the 36-year-old recalled that when she had her fourth child, she was a single unwed mum.

As a result, she has to legally "adopt [her] own daughter", she said.

While skipping this process does not mean that the child won't benefit from government benefits or schemes, it does introduce some legal ambiguity in things like inheritance and custody.

For instance, in the event of her death, her child might "lose out" to her other children if there was a dispute involving her inheritance.

This is because of laws that differentiate based on a child's legitimacy status, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's website.

Furthermore, if a single mum were to remarry — as Ling did — her new spouse would have to legally adopt the child as his too.

"Then the child will be legally ours," she said, implying that she has not yet legally adopted her own daughter.

The process to adopt one's own child is understood to cost a few thousand dollars.

Her husband is also willing to legally adopt her daughter, who is 11 this year, she said.

"Many things are unpredictable, I also want to do this as soon as possible," she added.

"Even though I don't have many assets now, I'm confident that past the age of 40, I will have a lot."

Top image from shirli_ling/Instagram