By The Ledger desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
To make a valid will in Singapore you must be at least 21, the will must be in writing and signed at the end, and you must sign it in front of two witnesses who are present at the same time. A gift to a witness, or to a witness’s spouse, is void, though the rest of the will stands. Marriage revokes an earlier will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage; divorce does not. If you die without a will, a non-Muslim’s estate is divided under the Intestate Succession Act, and a Muslim’s under the Administration of Muslim Law Act. Your CPF savings are never covered by a will: they follow your CPF nomination.
A will is a short document that saves your family a long wait. Here is what makes one valid, what it costs, and the default the law applies if you never write one.
Quick facts
- Minimum age to make a will: 21, under the Wills Act.
- Two witnesses, both present when you sign; neither they nor their spouses should be beneficiaries.
- Marriage cancels an existing will; divorce does not.
- The Wills Registry, run by the Singapore Academy of Law, records where your will is kept. It does not store the will itself.
- CPF money, and property held as joint tenants, pass outside your will.
- No will (non-Muslims): a surviving spouse and children share the estate half and half.
What makes a will valid?
The Wills Act sets the formalities, and they are strict. Get one wrong and the document may fail, leaving your estate to the intestacy rules.
- Be 21 or older and of sound mind when you make it.
- Put it in writing. Typed or handwritten both work.
- Sign at the end. If you cannot sign, someone may sign for you in your presence and at your direction.
- Sign (or acknowledge your signature) in front of two witnesses who are present together.
- Have both witnesses sign in your presence. Choose adults who receive nothing under the will and whose spouses receive nothing.
- Name an executor, the person who will apply for probate and carry out your wishes.
- Keep the original somewhere safe, and tell your executor where it is.
Muslims in Singapore may make a will (wasiat), but it can dispose of only up to one-third of the net estate, and only to people who are not already Faraid heirs or to charity. The remaining two-thirds follow Faraid, as set out in the inheritance certificate issued by the Syariah Court.
What does a will cost?
There is no government fee to make a will. Your cost is mainly the lawyer, if you use one, and fees vary widely between firms and with how complicated your estate is. Ask for a written quote before you start. A home-made will is legal if it meets every formality above, but mistakes are common and only surface after death, when they can no longer be fixed.
| Item | Who charges | Cost (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting a will | Your lawyer | Varies by firm and complexity; get a quote |
| Recording your will’s details in the Wills Registry | Singapore Academy of Law | $50 per submission (optional) |
| Searching the Wills Registry after a death | Singapore Academy of Law | $10 per search |
| Small estates of $50,000 or less administered by the Public Trustee | Public Trustee’s Office | Sliding scale from 6.5% of the first $5,000; minimum $15 |
Registration with the Wills Registry is voluntary, but it helps your family find the will. Information is released only to you, your lawyer, your estate’s representatives, or, after your death, beneficiaries and next of kin.
Who inherits if there is no will?
For non-Muslims domiciled in Singapore, the Intestate Succession Act decides, in strict order. Your wishes, and promises made at the dinner table, do not count.
| Who survives you | How the estate is shared |
|---|---|
| Spouse only | All to the spouse |
| Spouse and children | Half to the spouse; half shared equally among the children |
| Children only | All, shared equally among the children (a deceased child’s children take that share) |
| Spouse and parents, no children | Half to the spouse; half to the parents |
| Parents only | All to the parents equally |
| No spouse, children or parents | Siblings, then grandparents, then uncles and aunts |
| No relatives at all | The Government |
Unmarried partners, stepchildren who were not adopted and friends receive nothing under these rules. With no will there is also no executor: a family member must apply to court for letters of administration before the estate can be dealt with (estates of $50,000 or less can instead be handled by the Public Trustee). For Muslims, the Syariah Court’s inheritance certificate sets out the heirs and their shares.
What a will does not cover
Under the CPF Act, CPF money does not form part of your estate, so your will cannot direct it; a CPF nomination does. A flat or condo owned as joint tenants passes automatically to the surviving owner (see our guide to joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common). Insurance policies with a valid nomination pay the nominee directly. Check all three alongside the will.
The WahLiao Verdict
If you are married, have children, own property or support a parent, write a will this year, and redo it the month you marry. Keep it simple, use two independent witnesses, record it in the Wills Registry and tell your executor where the original lives. Then make your CPF nomination the same week, because the will cannot reach that money. An afternoon now spares your family months later.
Questions people ask
Do I need a lawyer to make a will?
No. A will is valid if it meets the Wills Act formalities. A lawyer helps you avoid drafting errors and is worth it for blended families, businesses or overseas assets.
Can my daughter witness my will?
She can sign as a witness, but any gift to her, or to her spouse, in that will becomes void. Use two people who inherit nothing.
Does getting divorced cancel my will?
No. A will made during the marriage stays valid after divorce, so a former spouse could still inherit or act as executor. Make a new one.
Does the Wills Registry keep my will?
No. It records your details, the will’s date, who drafted it and where the original is kept. Store the original with your lawyer or somewhere safe at home.
Sources: Public Trustee’s Office, intestate distribution and small-estate fees; Singapore Academy of Law, Wills Registry and its fees; Ministry of Law, Wills Registry transfer and access rules; CPF Board, CPF monies not covered by a will; Singapore Statutes Online, Wills Act 1838. The Ledger explains; it does not advise.
Read next: CPF Accounts Explained · Dormant Bank Accounts and Unclaimed Money · Back to The Ledger
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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