Singapore probate lawyers

An applicant will generally need to be at least 21 and have mental capacity. For probate, the named executor applies. For administration, being a relative does not by itself give priority over other entitled beneficiaries.

If there is a will but no executor able and willing to act, Letters of Administration with the Will Annexed may be appropriate.

• A missing original will, an executor who has died or does not wish to act, or a disagreement about the estate.
• Beneficiaries under 21 or persons who lack mental capacity.
• A deceased person domiciled overseas, a foreign will or grant, or documents in another language.

These may affect the evidence, administrators, bond or sureties required. This page concerns non-contentious applications; a dispute needs a separate assessment.

A bank, insurer or other institution may require a grant before releasing assets held in the deceased’s sole name. The answer depends on the assets and how they are held.

CPF savings follow the CPF nomination and statutory distribution process. Property held in joint tenancy generally passes to the surviving joint owner, although further title or mortgage steps may be needed. A share held as tenant in common forms part of the estate.

If the estate does not exceed S$50,000, check whether the Public Trustee can administer it before paying for a grant application. Eligibility conditions and exclusions apply; the value alone is not enough.

• The death certificate, including the official digital document if issued electronically.
• The original will and any codicils, if there is a will.
• Applicants’ NRICs or passports and relevant family particulars.
• Birth, marriage, divorce or death records needed to establish relationships.
• Asset details and supporting records, with estimated values at the date of death.
• Any foreign grant and related court documents.

The documents required depend on the application. Keep originals safely and tell us if a document is missing or not in English.

Send us a clear copy of every page of the will and any codicils for initial review, and keep the originals for inspection. We need to assess the wording, signatures, witnessing, alterations and any discrepancies before confirming the application requirements.

Questions about how the will was signed or whether the deceased understood it may require an affidavit of due execution, usually from an attesting witness. Other discrepancies or concerns about the will may require a separate affidavit or further evidence. Please provide the witnesses’ details if available. This additional work can affect fees and timing.

Use our probate quote form for an estimate. Fees depend on the grant, estate value, domicile and any additional work required.

We confirm the scope and fees after reviewing the information. Check what the quotation covers, including court fees, disbursements, translations and foreign-law evidence where relevant.

Obtaining a grant and carrying out the later collection, transfer or distribution of assets are separate stages. Any further work should be agreed separately.

For deaths registered under the digital system introduced on 29 May 2022, ICA issues a digital death certificate with a QR code for verification. Send us the original downloaded PDF with the QR code and verification details intact, rather than a photograph or screenshot. If you have an older paper certificate, provide it for our review.

If the death occurred overseas, including in Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia, send us the official death certificate in its original language and any English translation. Keep any original paper certificate or authority-issued digital file available.

We need to assess both the document and how its authenticity can be verified. A non-English certificate will generally need an English translation meeting the court’s requirements. Further certification, authentication or supporting evidence may be needed. A translation alone does not verify the certificate’s authenticity.

Please check with us before paying for translation or certification. Requirements depend on the document, issuing authority and court; an overseas QR code or verification result does not by itself guarantee acceptance.

You can send the initial information online if you are overseas. Before arranging notarisation, translation or courier delivery, ask us which documents and signing formalities are needed for your application.

The deceased’s domicile, broadly their permanent home in law, can affect the application. Dying overseas does not by itself mean that the deceased was domiciled overseas. Foreign-law evidence may be required, subject to the applicable route and any exceptions. We review this alongside any foreign will or grant.

Tell us where the deceased was domiciled and where the applicants and assets are located.

We review booking requests during office hours. Requests made outside office hours may not be attended to until the office reopens. Please wait for confirmation before travelling.

A will deals with your estate after death. A Lasting Power of Attorney concerns decisions during your lifetime if you lose mental capacity.