

Why Write a Will?
- You can decide on how your assets will be distributed after your death. Without a will, your assets may not be given to your choice of beneficiaries. This may lead to serious disputes and disharmony among loved ones.
- You can appoint the right executors and trustees whom you know and trust. Executors and trustees will help to manage your assets and estate affairs after you pass on. This includes distributing assets according to your instructions and paying your debts and liabilities (using your assets).
- You can appoint a guardian to take care of your children who are below 21 years old. If you have children, it’s important to make sure that they’re always protected and cared for.
- An administrator, usually a next-of-kin, must step forward to apply for the Letter of Administration before he/she can distribute the estate according to the Intestate Succession Act. As such, there may be serious disagreements as to whom should do so.
- The process may be more time-consuming as the administrator may not be ready with the required information on the estate, have no time or find it too complicated. There are cases where no one is willing to step forward to be the administrator due to uncertainties in the estate’s liabilities. There are also cases where several people want to be the administrator due to the large amount of assets at stake, sometimes for the wrong reasons.
- If there are young children involved or if your estate’s value is above a certain threshold, 2 sureties are needed before the court would grant the letter. The sureties must swear an affidavit certifying their worth is equal or more than the total value of your estate.
- On the unfortunate occasion that both parents pass on at the same time, there may be great uncertainty as to whom should take on the responsibilities of guardianship to your children.
Deceased Dies Intestate Leaving: | Distribution |
---|---|
Spouse
(No parents or issue*) |
Spouse
100%
|
Spouse, Issue
(With or without parents) |
Spouse
50%
Issue
(To be shared equally) 50%
|
Issue
(No spouse) |
Issue
(To be shared equally)
100%
|
Spouse, Parents
(No issue) |
Spouse
50%
Parents
(To be shared equally) 50%
|
Parents
(No spouse or issue) |
Parents
(To be shared equally)
100%
|
Siblings
(No spouse, issue or parents) |
Siblings
(To be shared equally)
100%
|
Grandparents
(No spouse, issue, parent or siblings) |
Grandparents
(To be shared equally)
100%
|
Uncles & Aunts
(No spouse, issue, parents, siblings, grandparents) |
Uncles and Aunts
(To be shared equally)
100%
|
None of the above |
Government
100% |
Who Is Eligible?
- You should understand the nature of the act and what the consequences are;
- You know and approve the contents of the will, nature and extent of properties;
- You know who your beneficiaries are and can appreciate their claims on your properties; and
- You are free from an abnormal state of mind that might distort feelings or judgements relevant to making the will.
- Muslim wills. Muslim wills must adhere to Faraid guidelines. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide this service.
- If you want to give a combination of fixed amounts and percentages. For example, if you have $100,000 of assets and wish to give a fixed amount of $40,000 to your mother and the residual assets ($60,000) to be divided among your siblings by proportion.
- If you want to give away specific assets to a particular beneficiary and your other assets to be divided among your other beneficiaries. For example, you have $100,000 of assets and a house and wish to give away your house to your father and the $100,000 assets to be divided among your siblings.
- If your needs are more complex. For example, if you wish to distribute your estate primarily to your spouse and children, but in the event where the entire family passes on in a common disaster, you might want to re-distribute your estate wishes.
- If you are translating this website for a person who does not understand English, please note that the person is unable to use our will writing service. This is because, in addition to the will having to be interpreted for the person in a language that he understands, the sign-off portion where he and the witnesses sign off needs to be amended to state that the content of the will had been explained in his language and that he fully understands the content of the will. We are not able to make such amendments and any handwritten amendment could make the will null and void.
Getting Started
- CPF balances will be distributed according to your CPF Nomination if you have made one. If you do not make a CPF nomination, your money will be paid to the Public Trustee in Singapore, who will pay it out in accordance with the Intestate Succession Act. Read more on the CPF website and download the form here https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Schemes/schemes/other-matters/cpf-nomination-scheme
- Proceeds of insurance policies will go to the beneficiaries nominated in the insurance policies. If you do not make a nomination, the proceeds will form part of your estate to be distributed according to your will or if no will is done, it will be distributed in accordance with the Intestate Succession Act.
- Property under Joint Tenancy – the property will be passed over to the survivor joint tenant. For example, if you own a property as joint tenants with your spouse, in the event that you pass on, your spouse will inherit the property wholly. For real-estate properties that are held as joint tenants, these properties cannot be passed on through the operation of a will.
- Generally-speaking, the assets in joint-bank accounts and joint-stock brokerage accounts would also be payable to the surviving account holder. However, due to different clauses with regards to these accounts, in some cases, these assets may form part of the estate to be distributed according to your will or the Intestate Succession Act.
Managing Your Will
- change in distribution wishes
- change or death of any of beneficiaries, guardian, executor, trustee
- marriage or re-marriage – these events will revoke your earlier will you have made.
- change in personal circumstances such as addition of new family member, or divorce
- CPF nomination – you can read more from CPF website and download the form here. https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Schemes/schemes/other-matters/cpf-nomination-scheme
- Schedule of assets – this is a list of assets that you have, eg, property, bank accounts, investment, overseas assets.
Disclaimer
MoneyOwl is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This service is provided as a general service over the Internet and the information provided is not to be construed as legal advice and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up-to-date and which may change from time to time. By using this service, you acknowledge that the information, materials and content provided is for information purposes only and should not be construed nor relied upon as legal advice. This service is meant as a publishing service, and all documents provided and produced through this service are meant to provide a guideline for common and standard situations and are provided on an “as is” basis.
Please note that each person’s situation is unique and your use of this service and the Will(s) produced for your use, may not necessarily fit your particular circumstances. If you have any legal questions or if you are unsure whether the service will be suitable to meet your needs, you are advised to seek specific legal or professional advice.
MoneyOwl is not responsible for any loss, claim, liability, or damage related to your use of this.
