23 straight answers on wills, executors, trusts and LPAs in Singapore. If yours is not here, ask us.
Yes. Singapore law requires that a will is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people who are not beneficiaries or their spouses. It does not require a lawyer. What it does require is getting those formalities exactly right, and that is where home-made wills tend to come apart.
Usually one sitting, then a draft back to you to read in your own time. You sign when you are satisfied with it, not before.
Nothing. If you already know roughly what you own and how it is held, that speeds things up, but we can work through it together from a blank page.
Yes. A foreigner can make a valid Singapore will for assets in Singapore. There is no citizenship or residency requirement. However, there are cross-border complications for certain citizenships, and some matters are governed by the law of the foreigner's domicile. Check with a lawyer in your home country before drafting a will in Singapore.
No. We are a will-writing practice, not a law firm. Where an estate is contested, complex or needs a solicitor, we say so and work alongside one rather than pretending otherwise.
Someone organised, likely to outlive you, and willing. It can be a beneficiary. We always name a backup, because the most common problem is an executor who cannot act when the time comes.
Yes. Your executor can also be a beneficiary in Singapore. It is very common in Singapore estate planning.
If your executor dies, becomes mentally incapable, or simply refuses to act, Singapore law has clear fallback mechanisms. Your substitute executor steps in (if you named one). If not, the beneficiaries must apply to court for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed. Otherwise, the court will appoint someone, usually a beneficiary (with the largest interest), to administer your estate.
✔ Always name at least one substitute executor. Preferably two.
✔ Choose executors who are:
✔ Avoid appointing:
Protecting a child with special needs is one of the most sensitive and complex parts of will-writing in Singapore. The goal is always the same: lifelong financial security, stable caregiving, and legal protection long after you are gone.
You protect a child with special needs by:
Often yes. Joint holdings pass to the survivor, but that only moves the problem one step down the line, and CPF, insurance and anything held in your sole name still need instructions.
No. Your CPF savings go to your CPF nominees, and an insurance nomination overrides your will. That is why we do your CPF nomination for you at the same time as your will and, if need be, help with your insurance policy nominations too.
You can include overseas assets in a Singapore will, but you must plan carefully, because foreign laws may override your will and probate becomes more complex. We will tell you plainly when a foreign asset needs advice in that country rather than a line in a Singapore will.
Yes. You can include digital assets such as DBS PayLah balances, crypto, online accounts, digital wallets, cloud storage, social media and digital files in your will. But you must plan for access, location and legal authority.
It is an asset like any other, but it interacts with your shareholders' agreement. We read both together, because the agreement can override what your will says.
It will. A marriage, a divorce, a new property, a child, a business sale. Each one can change how your estate should be handled. We revisit your documents with you rather than leaving you with a file that quietly goes out of date.
Marriage → automatically revokes your existing will.
Divorce → does not revoke your will.
You can revoke an old will by:
A codicil is allowed, but not recommended unless the change is extremely small. Most lawyers in Singapore prefer drafting a new will instead.
Yes. The common findings are witnesses who should not have witnessed it, an executor who can no longer act, and CPF or insurance nominations that contradict the will entirely.
They do different jobs. A will takes effect after death; an LPA covers the period when you are alive but can no longer decide for yourself. Most families need both, and the LPA is the one usually left too late.
We complete your LPA with you on the government's own portal and make sure it is finished properly. The certification is done separately, by a doctor or lawyer, and is not something we do.
Yes, whenever you want control over how and when your assets reach the people you leave them to: a young child, a child with special needs, a beneficiary overseas, or someone who cannot manage money. We set up living (inter vivos), standby and testamentary trusts.
Setting up a trust is one of the most powerful estate-planning tools in Singapore, especially when you want long-term control, protection, or structured distribution of your assets. But the type of trust you choose determines everything: how the money is managed, who benefits, and how much control you retain. Speak to us for details.
No, we do not store wills. Once your will is signed, we ask you to register it with the Wills Registry, run by the Singapore Academy of Law, for a $50 fee. It records where your will is kept, so your family can find it.
Leave your name and number and we will call you back to talk it through. No obligation either way.
