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 Is More Than a Will

Bentley Chen
Jun 8
1 min read

Many people think estate planning only starts after someone passes on.

In reality, estate planning is also about making sure families receive what they are rightfully entitled to.

Eye-level view of a cozy family home surrounded by a lush garden — Recovering What Rightfully Belongs to Family

Brief Background

Family Profile / Situation

Recently, I accompanied a client to submit a claim for her late husband's Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) benefit. The claim amounted to $70,000.

What struck me was that many families may not be aware of benefits, insurance policies, CPF-related schemes, unclaimed assets, or other entitlements left behind by their loved ones.

When a loved one passes away, family members are often overwhelmed with grief. Important documents may be misplaced, and valuable benefits can easily be overlooked.

Estate planning is not just about:

✓ Writing a Will

✓ Setting up nominations

✓ Planning wealth distribution

It is also about:

✓ Identifying assets

✓ Locating policies and benefits

✓ Assisting beneficiaries with claims

✓ Ensuring no rightful entitlement is left unclaimed

Don't Leave Your Loved Ones Searching for What Is Rightfully Theirs

Every dollar recovered can help support the family during a difficult period.

If you have elderly parents, a spouse, or dependant, take some time to organise your important documents and let your loved ones know where they can be found.

The best estate plan is not only one that distributes assets smoothly, but also one that ensures nothing is forgotten.