If the deceased left a valid will, their estate will be distributed according to their wishes. The executors will need a court order, known as a Grant of Probate, before they can distribute the estate to beneficiaries named in the will.
The executors named in the will are responsible for distributing the estate. By applying for the Grant of Probate, the executors obtain legal authority to gain access to the estate and begin administration. After obtaining the Grant of Probate, executors locate the deceased’s assets, pay debts and expenses owed by the deceased, and distribute the estate, acting in the best interests of the beneficiaries.
The process of obtaining a Grant of Probate includes:
When someone dies without a will, their estate will be administered under the Letters of Administration.
If the deceased left no will, the court will need to appoint at least one person as the administrator of the estate, usually the deceased’s spouse or the next-of-kin. Before the administrator can administer the estate, they need to file an application with the court to obtain Letters of Administration.
The process of obtaining Letters of Administration includes:
Mr Baiross and his team helped me with my litigation case and offered really good advice. I am very appreciative of his work and expertise as it helped me close my case. Thank you🙏🏼🥹
Excellent service from Mr. Baiross and the team at IRB Law LLP. The consultation was clear, professional, and provided very practical solutions. Thanks!
Cannot praise the team at IRB Law enough... from Mohamed Baiross's prompt reply to my whatsapp message late in the night, to Hadhri's prompt follow-up and assistance, they made the process of getting of a POA a really smooth one. Given our tight deadline, the team was very patient and super duper helpful in answering our queries and lending the helping hand. Thank you so much again for everything, we really appreciate it. Kudos to the wonderful team! Cheers! 😀
Highly recommended! With their welcoming office, I had a great experience with IRB Law. Kudos to Mr. Ahmad Ghazi, Mr. Baiross, and the rest of the IRB Law team for their efficiency and excellent coordination. Special thanks to Mr. Ahmad Ghazi, who handled my queries with exceptional professionalism, patience, and dedication from the very beginning. He took the time to explain the process clearly, answered all my questions promptly, and provided clear legal advice on possible future scenarios as well. It was all smooth process within 2 weeks!
We engaged IRB for a recent case and had an absolutely wonderful experience with Mr Baiross and Mr Joel. From our very first consultation, we knew we were in good hands. Mr Baiross took the time to understand our situation and walked us through the potential consequences with so much empathy, patience and genuine concern. He never made us feel rushed, and his ability to explain everything clearly gave us a lot of reassurance during what was a very stressful period for us. It was clear from the very first conversation that he genuinely cared about helping us, and we knew we wanted to engage him and his team. We were also incredibly fortunate to work with Joel throughout the process. His friendly and approachable demeanour made it so easy to communicate with him. He always kept us focused on the end goal, while making the entire process feel much less daunting. At times, it genuinely felt like we were discussing things with a friend rather than a lawyer. What we appreciated most about Joel was his ability to empathise with our situation and understand how we were feeling before offering his thoughts and advice. He never made us feel like our concerns were insignificant, and we always felt heard, respected and supported. His professionalism, patience and personal touch really stood out to us. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a team that is not only professional and knowledgeable, but also genuinely empathetic and invested in their clients.
| Probate | Letters of Administration |
|---|---|
| There is a will, and there is a named executor able and willing to act | The deceased dies intestate without a will, or there is no executor able or willing to act |
| The application for a Grant of Probate is filed by an executor named in a will or their lawyer | The application is filed by an administrator, usually a spouse or next-of-kin, or their lawyer |
| The court issues a Grant of Probate to the named executor | The court appoints an administrator |
| The executor distributes the estate according to the will | The administrator administers the estate according to intestacy rules |
Working with probate lawyers in Singapore helps:
Our probate lawyers in Singapore ensure a fast and efficient probate process with our expert probate service, attention to detail, and experience in settling conflicting claims.
At IRB Law, our probate lawyers are always available to our clients for any questions or assistance to ensure an efficient Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration process.
We pride ourselves on affordable and transparent legal fees in Singapore. For information about applicable fees for our Probate and Letters of Administration services, please contact our office.
Mohamed Baiross is the managing partner of IRB Law and one of the nation's leading lawyers in multiple practice areas, including civil, corporate, and commercial law. With over three decades of experience as a business lawyer, Mohamed Baiross has built a renowned corporate law firm in Singapore, providing expert legal services to global corporations and local businesses.
Pang Khin Wee is a highly respected litigator with over a decade of experience in the legal industry. Mr Pang’s practice experience includes personal injury, criminal law, family (and particularly contested divorces), contract drafting and commercial transactions. In the course of his career, Mr Pang has served as an Associate Director at a major Singapore law firm and also as counsel for government-linked tenders in public healthcare institutions. Mr Pang brings his vast experience in litigation and advisory matters to IRB Law to deliver exceptional results for clients across a diverse range of legal matters.