Writing a will is one of those tasks that feels easy to postpone indefinitely, since it requires thinking about a topic most people would rather avoid. Yet dying without one, known as dying intestate, means your estate is distributed according to a fixed legal formula that may not reflect what you actually would have wanted, and can create real complications for the people you leave behind. This guide explains how to write a valid will in Singapore, and the local details that catch even careful people by surprise.
What a Will Actually Needs to Be Valid
Under the Wills Act, a valid will in Singapore must meet a few specific requirements. It must be in writing. The person making it, called the testator, must be at least 21 years old and of sound mind at the time of signing. The testator must sign at the foot of the will, and this signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses, who then also sign in the testator’s presence. The witnesses should not be beneficiaries under the will, or married to a beneficiary, since this can affect their ability to receive what the will intends to give them.
A handwritten will is possible, but even a fully handwritten document still needs two witnesses to be valid under Singapore law. There is no exception allowing a purely handwritten will without witnesses, unlike in some other countries.
Deciding What Actually Goes Into Your Will
A will should set out your assets and debts, and clearly state who should receive what. This includes property, savings, investments, and personal possessions of value. It should also name your executor, the person responsible for carrying out the terms of the will, along with a backup executor in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act when the time comes. If you have children under 21, you can also use your will to nominate a guardian for them, which is one of the more emotionally significant decisions many parents put off simply because it is difficult to think about.
The Single Most Common Misunderstanding: CPF Is Not Covered by Your Will
This is worth stating plainly because so many people get it wrong. Your CPF savings, across your Ordinary, Special, MediSave, and Retirement accounts, do not form part of your estate and are not covered by your will at all. If you want your CPF savings distributed according to your own wishes, you need to make a separate CPF nomination directly with the CPF Board. Without one, your CPF savings are transferred to the Public Trustee’s Office and distributed according to a fixed legal formula, a process that can take many months and involves an administrative fee. A comprehensive estate plan in Singapore genuinely needs both a will and a separate CPF nomination, since one does not substitute for the other.
Other Assets a Will Does Not Control
Beyond CPF, a few other categories of assets typically sit outside your will’s control. Insurance policies with a named beneficiary generally pass directly to that beneficiary, outside your estate. Property held in joint tenancy, which is how many married couples hold their HDB flat, passes automatically to the surviving joint owner by what is called the right of survivorship, regardless of what your will says. Assets held in a trust are also governed by the terms of that trust rather than your will. Understanding which of your assets fall into these categories, and which do not, is an important part of making sure your will actually does what you intend.
A Will Made Before Marriage Is Automatically Revoked
Under Singapore law, getting married automatically revokes any earlier will you made, unless that will specifically states it was made in contemplation of that particular marriage. This surprises many people who wrote a will years before marrying and assumed it remained valid. Divorce works differently: a will made before a divorce generally remains valid afterward, though many people choose to update their will following a divorce regardless, since the earlier version may no longer reflect their actual wishes.
Do Not Forget Digital and Less Obvious Assets
When listing your assets, think beyond the obvious categories of property, bank accounts, and investments. Many people now hold value in places that are easy to overlook when writing a will, such as cryptocurrency holdings, online business accounts, or accumulated points and credits with real cash value. These do not always fit neatly into a traditional schedule of assets, so it is worth thinking through your full financial picture deliberately, rather than assuming your executor will simply know to look for everything you actually own.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Write a Will?
You are not legally required to use a lawyer to write a will in Singapore, and simple, uncomplicated wills are sometimes prepared without one. That said, engaging a lawyer is generally worthwhile if your situation involves anything beyond the straightforward, such as a blended family, assets held overseas, a business you own, or specific conditions you want attached to a bequest. A simple will drafted by a lawyer is typically not expensive, and the cost is small relative to the complications an ambiguous or improperly executed will can cause later.
Considerations for Muslim Singaporeans
For Muslims domiciled in Singapore, inheritance is also governed by Faraid, the Islamic law of inheritance administered in relation to the Syariah Court, which sets out fixed shares for specific relatives. A will can still be made, but its interaction with Faraid principles is a distinct area worth discussing specifically with a lawyer familiar with this area, since the usual general principles that apply to other Singaporeans do not directly transfer.
Storing Your Will Safely
Once your will is signed and witnessed, keep the original somewhere safe and make sure your executor knows where to find it. The Singapore Academy of Law maintains a Wills Registry, a confidential record that notes that a will exists and where it is held, without storing its actual contents. Registering your will is voluntary but sensible, since it gives your family a clear place to check if they are ever unsure whether a will exists at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I update my will once it is written?
There is no fixed schedule, but it is generally sensible to review your will after major life events, such as having a child, a significant change in assets, or a change in who you would want as executor or guardian, rather than assuming a will written years ago still reflects your current wishes.
Can I write my own will using an online template instead of engaging a lawyer or a will-writing service?
This is possible for straightforward situations, though templates are generic by nature, so it is worth double checking that the final document actually meets Singapore’s specific execution requirements, particularly around witnessing, rather than assuming any template downloaded online is automatically valid here.
What happens if my named executor dies before I do and I never appointed a backup?
The court can appoint someone else to administer the estate in this situation, though it adds an additional step and potential delay, which is exactly why naming a backup executor from the outset is a simple precaution worth taking.
Can I disinherit a family member entirely in my Singapore will?
Generally you have considerable freedom to decide how your estate is distributed, though certain dependants may be able to apply to the court for provision from the estate under specific legislation if they were not adequately provided for, so this is worth discussing with a lawyer if you are considering excluding someone who might otherwise expect to inherit.
Is a will made in another country automatically valid in Singapore?
This depends on the circumstances under which it was made and the law of the country in question, so if you have a will from overseas and have since moved to Singapore, it is worth having it reviewed locally rather than assuming it will be recognised without question.
