Singapore · Wills Act 1838 · Updated 2026
Wills Act execution requirements, DIY vs lawyer cost ranges, common drafting mistakes — every figure tied to the Singapore statute or a public 2026 fee schedule.
A will (also called a "last will and testament") is a legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after your death. It names executors to carry out your wishes, guardians for minor children, and specific beneficiaries for your property, money, and possessions.
You can make a valid will in Singapore if you:
If you die without a valid will in Singapore, the Intestate Succession Act determines who inherits your assets. This may NOT match your wishes:
| Surviving Relatives | Distribution |
|---|---|
| Spouse + Children | 50% spouse, 50% children (divided equally) |
| Spouse + Parents | 50% spouse, 50% parents |
| Spouse only | 100% spouse |
| Children only | 100% divided equally among children |
| Parents only | 100% parents |
| Siblings only | 100% divided equally among siblings |
| No relatives | Assets go to government |
If your will doesn't meet ALL legal requirements, it may be declared invalid. This means intestacy rules apply, defeating the entire purpose of making a will.
Basic document distributing straightforward assets to clear beneficiaries. No trusts, guardianship, or complex provisions.
Cost: S$200 - S$800
Time: 1-2 weeks
More detailed document with specific bequests, guardianship provisions, and instructions for various scenarios.
Cost: S$800 - S$2,000
Time: 2-4 weeks
Sophisticated document for complex estates with business interests, multiple properties, international assets, or trust provisions.
Cost: S$2,000 - S$10,000+
Time: 4-12 weeks
Matching wills for married couples or partners where each leaves everything to the other, then to same beneficiaries.
Cost: S$400 - S$1,500 for both
Benefit: 20-30% cheaper than two separate wills
💡 Tip: Choose people who are organized, trustworthy, and younger than you
⚠️ Critical: Without guardianship clause, courts decide who raises your children
📝 Note: These are wishes, not legally binding. Family can override.
List ALL assets: properties, bank accounts, investments, CPF, insurance, vehicles, businesses, jewelry, valuables, digital assets. Don't forget overseas assets.
Timeline: 1-2 days | Cost: Free (DIY)
Determine who gets what. Consider percentages vs specific amounts. Name backup beneficiaries. Decide on guardians for children.
Timeline: Few days to weeks | Requires family discussion
Select 1-3 trusted individuals to carry out your wishes. Consider their age, location, financial knowledge, and relationship with beneficiaries. Name backups.
Recommended: Family member + lawyer or professional
Either use will writing service/lawyer OR DIY with template. Ensure all legal requirements met. Include all necessary clauses. Use clear, unambiguous language.
Timeline: 1-4 weeks | Cost: S$0-10,000 depending on method
Check for errors, ambiguities, missing clauses. Ensure all assets covered. Verify beneficiary details correct. Confirm executors willing to serve.
Critical: Errors can invalidate will or cause family disputes
Sign at end of document in presence of TWO witnesses (both present together). Witnesses must NOT be beneficiaries. Witnesses sign in your presence.
⚠️ Must meet ALL execution requirements or will is invalid
Keep original in safe place (lawyer's office, safe deposit box, fireproof safe). Tell executor where will is stored. Consider registering with Wills Registry.
💡 Make copies but mark them "COPY" to avoid confusion
| Method | Cost Range | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY Template | FREE - S$50 | Cheapest, quick | High error risk, no advice |
| Online Will Service | S$100 - S$400 | Affordable, guided | Generic, limited customization |
| Will Writing Service | S$200 - S$800 | Professional, affordable | May lack legal expertise |
| Lawyer (Simple Will) | S$500 - S$1,500 | Legal advice, customized | More expensive |
| Lawyer (Standard Will) | S$800 - S$2,500 | Comprehensive, expert | Higher cost |
| Lawyer (Complex Will) | S$2,000 - S$10,000+ | Handles complexity | Most expensive |
| Mirror Wills (Couple) | S$400 - S$1,500 | Package discount | Only for aligned wishes |
S$200-500
Will writing service or basic lawyer
Good for: Simple estates, straightforward distribution
S$800-2,000
Experienced lawyer, standard will
Good for: Most families, multiple assets
S$2,000-10,000+
Specialist lawyer, complex estate
Good for: Business owners, trusts, international assets
| Factor | DIY Will | Lawyer-Drafted Will |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ✓ Free - S$400 | ✗ S$500 - S$10,000+ |
| Time | ✓ Few hours to days | 2-6 weeks |
| Legal Advice | ✗ None | ✓ Expert guidance |
| Error Risk | ✗ HIGH - common mistakes | ✓ LOW - professionally reviewed |
| Customization | ✗ Limited to templates | ✓ Fully customized |
| Complex Situations | ✗ Not suitable | ✓ Handles complexity |
| Tax Planning | ✗ None | ✓ Optimized |
| Validity Confidence | ✗ Uncertain | ✓ Legally sound |
For most people, the cost difference between DIY (S$0-400) and basic professional will (S$500-800) is minimal compared to estate value and potential problems. A S$500 investment to ensure your S$500,000+ estate is properly distributed is worthwhile.
Bottom line: If your estate is worth more than S$100,000 or has ANY complexity, use a lawyer. The risk of DIY errors far outweighs the modest savings.
If a beneficiary or their spouse witnesses your will, they forfeit their entire inheritance. This is the most common mistake. Use completely independent witnesses (neighbors, colleagues, etc.).
Many Singaporeans die without making a will. When that happens the Intestate Succession Act applies and may distribute your estate contrary to your wishes — and tie up assets for 6-12 months.
"Divide my estate among my children" - does this include stepchildren? Adopted children? Illegitimate children? Be specific with full legal names and NRIC numbers.
Wills do NOT cover CPF or insurance policies. These require separate nominations. Without CPF nomination, it's distributed by law (NOT your will), which may not match your wishes.
Marriage automatically revokes your will (you need a new one). Divorce, births, deaths, major asset changes all require updates. An outdated will causes more problems than no will.
If you have children under 21 and don't name guardians, courts decide who raises them. This can lead to family disputes and unsuitable placements.
Don't choose executors who: live overseas, are elderly/sick, lack financial knowledge, have conflicts with beneficiaries, or are untrustworthy. Pick organized, younger, local people.
If nobody knows where your will is, it's useless. Tell your executor the exact location. Keep copies (marked "COPY") with family members.
Not signing at the end, only one witness, witnesses not present together, unsigned by witnesses - any of these invalidates your will entirely.
HDB flats have special rules. Joint tenancy automatically passes to survivor (your will doesn't control this). Tenancy-in-common follows your will. Know which you have.
Review and update your will every 3-5 years AND immediately after:
A codicil is a supplementary document making small changes to your existing will without redrafting the entire document.
Good For:
Cost: S$150-500
⚠️ Warning: Must be executed with same formality as original will (signature + 2 witnesses)
Write entirely new will that revokes all previous wills. Clearer and safer than multiple codicils.
Good For:
Cost: S$300-2,000+
✓ Recommended: For major changes, new will is clearer than codicil
Any alterations to an executed will must be witnessed again by 2 witnesses, or the changes are invalid.
Indicative 2026 SG market ranges: online DIY-assisted wills S$89–S$250 (with free options at OCBC Will Generator and MoneyOwl); lawyer-drafted simple will S$300–S$800; lawyer-drafted complex will (multi-jurisdiction, business interests, embedded trusts) S$1,500–S$5,000+; comprehensive estate plan (will + LPA + trust + business succession) S$5,000–S$15,000+. Verify direct with provider.
No — a DIY will is valid in Singapore if it meets the Wills Act execution requirements. However, for estates with property, business interests, foreign assets, blended families or special-needs beneficiaries, a Singapore-admitted lawyer is strongly recommended. The cost (S$300–S$800 for a simple lawyer-drafted will) is small insurance against drafting errors that can invalidate the will or trigger family disputes.
Wills Act requirements: (1) testator must be at least 21 years old with mental capacity (s 4); (2) will must be in writing (s 6); (3) testator must sign at the end of the document; (4) two witnesses must be present simultaneously when the testator signs, and each must sign in the testator's presence (s 6); (5) witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries — any gift to such a witness is void under s 10 although the rest of the will stands; (6) will must be made voluntarily without undue influence.
Yes — marriage automatically revokes a previously-made will, unless the will was expressly made "in contemplation of marriage" to a specific person. After marriage, you must make a new will.
Yes, you can — but it is risky for any non-trivial estate. Common DIY errors include making a beneficiary or their spouse a witness (the gift is then void), defective execution (the entire will may be invalid), vague language causing disputes, and missing residuary or guardian clauses. For estates with property, business interests, or minor children, the modest cost of a lawyer-drafted will is meaningful insurance.
Your estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act 1967 (Cap. 146) — a fixed formula based on surviving family members. Spouse with no children and no parents takes 100%; spouse with children takes 50% and the children share 50%; spouse with parents but no children takes 50% and parents take 50%; and so on. Unmarried partners receive nothing under the Act. Probate cannot start until Letters of Administration are granted, typically 6–9 months. Muslims are governed by AMLA + Faraid instead.
No. CPF savings (Ordinary Account, Special Account, MediSave, Retirement Account, CPFIS holdings) are not covered by your will. They pass per your CPF Nomination — a separate document made with the CPF Board (free, online via my cpf portal). Without a CPF Nomination, your CPF goes to the Public Trustee for distribution under the Intestate Succession Act (or Faraid for Muslims), with a 0.5% admin fee on amounts over S$1,000 (capped at S$5,000).
Review every 3–5 years and update immediately after any major life event: marriage (which automatically revokes a previous will), divorce, birth or adoption of a child, death of a named beneficiary or executor, significant asset changes (buying or selling property, business sale), relocation to or from Singapore, or changed family relationships.
Sources: Wills Act (SSO) · Intestate Succession Act (SSO) · CPF Board · Full list at /sources.
Get matched with an experienced will-writing lawyer in Singapore. Free 3-minute assessment.
