What happens if I pass away without a Will in Singapore?

Without a will, the Intestate Succession Act will determine what each of the surviving family members will get. In addition, the Grant of Letter of Administration needs to be applied. The estate settlement process can then take a longer time and may cost more.

Does CPF monies follow my Will?

CPF monies do not form part of a deceased member's estate and are not covered by a Will. CPF members can make a CPF nomination via the Singpass App, under CPF. The member would need to prepare two witnesses in the process (their Names, NRICs, Emails).

Is CPF nomination revoked after divorce?

CPF nomination is not automatically revoked after a divorce. The member needs to take action to amend it. The member's ex-spouse will still receive his / her CPF savings if they are named as a beneficiary and the member passes away.

What happens to my HDB flat when I pass away?

Ownership of the flat will be distributed according to the Will or the Intestate Succession Act (if there is no Will). However, if there is a Will, there is still a need to apply for the Grant of Probate. If there is no Will, a Grant of Letter of Administration is needed.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person (the "donor") to voluntarily appoint one or more trusted people (the "donees") to make decisions and act on the person's behalf if he / she loses mental capacity (due to an accident or illness or medical emergency).

Do insurance proceeds form part of my estate?

It depends if a nomination has been made and the type of nomination, being revocable nomination, irrevocable nomination or Trust, or no nomination / invalid nomination. In general, for no nomination / invalid nomination, the proceeds form part of the deceased's estate.

Can an executor also be a beneficiary?

It is legal and also common for an executor and beneficiary to be the same person. However, a beneficiary cannot be any of the witnesses.

What happens to a person's Singpass after he / she passes away?

When a person passes away, their Singpass account is automatically deactivated once the death is registered. Access that require a Singpass login will be cut off and portals such as CPF, HDB cannot be used.

Estate Planning for A Mother with Three School-Going Children

Bentley Chen

11 minutes ago

1 min read

Meal after Will Discussion

Brief Background

Family Profile / Situation

Recently, I had the opportunity to help a mother with three school-going children with her Will and estate planning.

With a new 4-room HDB flat, growing children and meaningful savings, she has already done a lot to build a secure future for her family.

But one important question remains:

“If something happens to me, will my family know what to do with everything I’ve worked so hard to build?”

Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy or the elderly. For parents, it can simply be about making sure your children are cared for and your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

A Will is one small step towards giving your family clarity, certainty and peace of mind.

If this story reminds you of your own situation, feel free to reach out. I'm happy to have a no-obligation discussion and help you understand your available options.

Contact Ben;

Email: ben@benestateplanning.com

Mobile: +65 9368 5769