Singapore probate: where families can start

Locate the will before choosing a process

Singapore Courts explain that the Family Justice Courts can appoint someone to manage an estate through a grant of probate or letters of administration. Their guidance distinguishes an executor applying where there is a valid will from a beneficiary applying for letters of administration where there is no valid will.

If the family is unsure whether a will exists, the Courts suggest checking with the Wills Registry, lawyers or family members. Finding a document and establishing whether it is valid are different steps; an adviser can help with the latter.

Not every asset follows the same route

The Courts' guidance also notes situations in which a grant may not be needed, depending on the asset and circumstances. Do not infer from a short article that a particular account or property can be transferred without one. Ask the relevant institution or a qualified Singapore practitioner what records it requires.

Prepare a list of assets, liabilities, existing documents and potential contacts before making an application. Keep private account details secure while sharing only what the person handling the estate needs.

Questions to bring to an adviser

• Has a valid will been located?
• Who is named to deal with the estate?
• Are there assets or family members outside Singapore?

Cross-border assets deserve separate advice

A Singapore process does not, by itself, answer every question about property elsewhere. If the person also lived or held assets abroad, ask qualified professionals in the relevant jurisdictions how local procedures and documents fit together.

Official starting points

Check these sources for updates; their guidance may have changed since our last source check.

• Singapore Courts — Probate and administration
• Singapore Courts — Apply for probate