Guide to Will Writing in Singapore

Guide to Making a Will in Singapore

The Wills Act governs the making of a Will in Singapore. The Wills Act states that a testator (the person making the Will) may devise, bequeath or dispose of his real or personal estate via a Will.

The following contains the key points concerning Will writing in Singapore.

Requirements of a valid Will

In general, when preparing a will, the following must be in place.

• The Will must be written.
• To make the Will, the testator must be of at least 21 years of age.
• Upon preparation by the testator, the Will must be committed with their signature at the foot of the will.
• After the preparation of the Will, 2 witnesses must be present to witness the signing of the Will by the testator. The witnesses must also leave their signatures on the Will in the presence of the testator.
• The 2 witnesses present must not be beneficiaries of the Will.

Recommended clauses in a Will

When making a Will, you should include the following clauses:

• Your personal particulars and information.
• A revocation clause to revoke any previous Will that was made previously.
• Your marital status.
• The name of your executor(s) who will execute your written Will. A beneficiary of the Will may also be appointed as the executor.
• Appointment of up to 2 guardians to take care of any minor children.
• The name of the beneficiary or beneficiaries who will receive the assets.
• The percentage of your assets each beneficiary is to receive.
• A residuary clause on how to distribute remaining assets based on your wishes.

CPF monies

CPF money may not be included inside a written will. As such, if you wish to distribute the money inside your CPF account upon your passing, you will need to nominate a beneficiary for your CPF account. This can be done with the CPF Board. Each nominated person will receive a portion of your CPF money as indicated in your nomination. If no nomination has been made, the money inside your CPF account will be automatically transferred to the Public Trustee’s Office and made available to your next of kin.

What happens after the Will has been prepared?

Once you have done up your Will, please keep it in a safe place and inform the executor and your family about the Will.

Make a fresh Will upon marriage or divorce

You should keep in mind that if you get married, any Will you did before your marriage will automatically become invalid unless you had indicated in your Will that it was made in contemplation of marriage.  However, in the case of a divorce, the reverse is true – any Will you made before the divorce remains valid.

Remember these 2 simple rules: your old Will is revoked upon marriage. However, it is not revoked upon divorce.

So, you may wish to consider changing your Will to reflect on your new situation.

Will Writing Services by PKWA Law

While it is not legally required to engage a lawyer to draft a Will in Singapore, many people choose to do so to ensure that their wishes are clearly and properly documented. Lawyers are regulated by the Law Society of Singapore and must follow strict professional standards when preparing legal documents such as Wills.

An experienced wills  lawyer will ensure that the instructions received are genuinely from the client and are given freely, without pressure or undue influence. Lawyers are also covered by professional indemnity insurance. Professional advice can help ensure that your Will includes the appropriate provisions and is structured in a way that reduces the risk of disputes or confusion in the future.

PKWA Law has more than 30 years of experience assisting families in Singapore with estate planning. Our team can assist with:

• Drafting a legally valid Will
• Establishing trusts where appropriate
• Preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
• Making CPF nominations

PKWA Law has been consistently recognised by The Straits Times as one of Singapore’s Best Family Law Firms.

Need guidance on your situation?

If you would like clarity on your options or next steps, speak to our lawyers for a confidential discussion. Visit our practice area page to learn more about our services and how we can help.

This article is meant as a general guide. For more specific advice relating to your situation, you should consult a wills lawyer.