Wills and succession planning
Will writing lawyer in Singapore
A workable will gives clear instructions, meets execution requirements and fits the assets, family and appointments that exist in real life.
Book a Free Initial ConsultationWhat should be decided before a will is drafted?
Map the assets and liabilities, identify any jointly held, nominated, trust or foreign property, and decide who should act as executor. Then define gifts, substitutes, guardianship wishes and the residue of the estate.
A will operates within wider succession arrangements. CPF nominations, insurance nominations, trusts, company documents and joint ownership may pass property outside the will or require separate coordination.
Will writing
How will the will fit the asset arrangements?
List how each asset is held and identify existing documents, dependants and any overseas connection. Ask how the arrangements interact before deciding what the will should contain.
- Sole ownership
- Identify assets held in your own name and the intended beneficiaries.
- Joint ownership
- Record how jointly held assets are owned and obtain advice on their treatment.
- Nominations and trusts
- Identify existing nominations, trust arrangements and related documents for coordinated advice.
- Businesses and overseas assets
- Bring relevant company documents and details of foreign property or other connections.
What makes a will formally valid?
The Wills Act sets rules for capacity and execution. A written will must be signed and witnessed in accordance with the Act.
Execution should be planned so that witness eligibility, physical presence, pages and signing are clear. Avoid informal alterations after signing.
How should executors be chosen?
Choose people who are willing, trustworthy and able to manage records, institutions, liabilities and beneficiaries. Consider location, age, complexity and substitutes.
Where minors, trusts, business interests or family conflict may be involved, the appointments and powers require additional care.
How should gifts and the residue be written?
Identify property and beneficiaries precisely and state what happens if a person dies first or an asset is no longer owned. A residue clause deals with property not otherwise effectively given.
Specific gifts should be tested against loans, co-ownership, tax, liquidity and the practical need to pay expenses and debts.
Which events should trigger a review?
Review after marriage, divorce, birth, death, relocation, major asset change, business transaction or breakdown with an executor or beneficiary.
Singapore’s Wills Act contains rules on revocation by marriage and other changes. Do not rely on an old will without checking its current effect.
Where should the will be kept?
Store the original securely and tell the executor how it can be found. Keep an asset and contact list separately so it can be updated without altering the will.
Registration of information about the will’s location may assist later discovery, but it does not replace secure custody of the original.
What cross-border issues need attention?
Foreign property, nationality, domicile and overseas wills may raise conflict, form, tax and administration issues.
Coordinate documents so that one will does not accidentally revoke or obstruct another. Local advice may be needed in each relevant jurisdiction.
How can Justin Chan Chambers help?
A will review can identify the asset path, appointments and execution steps before drafting. Related trusts, nominations, LPAs and company succession can be considered separately.
Bring identity and family details, asset and liability information, existing wills, nominations and company or trust documents.
What should you prepare for an initial review?
- Family and beneficiary details
- Asset, liability and ownership schedule
- CPF and insurance nominations
- Existing wills, trusts and LPAs
- Company, partnership and shareholder documents
- Foreign assets, residence and nationality information
Frequently asked questions
The Wills Act contains rules that may void a gift to an attesting witness or the witness’s spouse. Use independent eligible witnesses.
The Wills Act contains a revocation-by-marriage rule with exceptions. Review the will before or after marriage.
CPF savings are generally dealt with under CPF nomination and statutory rules. The nomination should be coordinated with the wider estate plan.
A self-written will can be valid if legal requirements are met, but ambiguity, execution mistakes and overlooked assets can create later difficulty.
The right number depends on the estate, appointees and any continuing trust. Substitute appointments may be important.
Keep it secure, unaltered and accessible to the executor after death. Record where it is held.
Primary Singapore sources
The following official sources were checked on 18 September 2026. They provide general information and may change.
Discuss your family, assets and existing arrangements
Bring existing wills and related documents, together with the family, asset, liability and nomination information available. Identify any overseas connection or change in circumstances. Different assets may follow different succession arrangements.
Recorded commentary on legacy planning
MONEY FM 89.3 · 19 March 2024
Money and Me: Why procrastinating with these two documents could be a bad idea for your money
Justin Chan Yew Loong and Michelle Martin discuss legacy planning through examples of disputes and the value of preparing important documents in advance.
Listen on MONEY FM 89.3 →