SINGAPORE - A specialised courts for family-related matters opened on Wednesday morning.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon officiated the opening of the Family Justice Courts, which comprise the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts, and the Youth Courts.

The Family Courts and Youth Courts replaces the State Courts' Family and Juvenile Justice Division, which dealt with nearly 24,000 cases last year.

Chief Justice Menon said the Family Justice Courts will hear the "full suite" of family-related cases including all divorce and related matters, family violence cases, adoption, succession and guardianship cases, Youth Court cases, and applications for deputyship under the Mental Capacity Act.

The courts are established in line with the Family Justice Act, which took effect on Wednesday.

That act arose from recommendations by the Committee of Family Justice, which was formed last year to review how to reform Singapore's family justice system to meet the needs of youth and families in distress.