If a parent has a stroke or develops advanced dementia, most families assume they can simply step in. Often they cannot. Without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), someone has to apply to court to be appointed as a deputy before they can make certain decisions on that person’s behalf. Deputyship in Singapore usually takes 4 to 6 weeks through the simplified process, or 3 to 4 months through the standard one.
Here is how the deputyship route works in plain steps, using the Family Justice Courts’ own guidance.
Why Families Get Stuck
Under the Mental Capacity Act, a person who has lost mental capacity cannot sign documents or give instructions. Banks and other organisations generally need to see legal authority before letting someone else act on their behalf.
There are two ways to have that authority:
- An LPA donee, chosen by the person while they still had capacity.
- A deputy, appointed by the court after capacity is lost.
The court process uses the term “P” for the person who lacks capacity. We will do the same.
LPA vs Deputyship at a Glance
| LPA | Deputyship | |
|---|---|---|
| Who chooses the decision-maker | You, while you still have capacity | The court, after you lose capacity |
| Who can make one | Anyone aged 21 and above | Family or others apply on your behalf |
| Official fees | LPA Form 1 free for Singapore Citizens (no end date given), plus a Certificate Issuer’s professional fee | Court filing fees estimated at S$40 to $50 (simplified) or $300 to $500 (standard), excluding doctor, affidavit and lawyer fees |
| Typical time | Prepared in advance | Usually 4 to 6 weeks (simplified) or 3 to 4 months (standard) |
| Ongoing duty | Donee acts in your best interests | Deputy submits annual reports to the Office of the Public Guardian |
The short version: An LPA lets you pick who decides for you, in advance and at low cost. Without one, your family must apply to court, get a medical report, gather consent from relatives and wait for an order before they can act on your behalf.
The Deputyship Route, Step by Step
Step 1: Get a medical report
The applicant brings P to a doctor for a report certifying that P lacks mental capacity. The report must be dated within six months before the application is filed, and the doctor must have seen P less than 12 months before writing it.
Step 2: Work out which process applies
There are two routes. The simplified process is for common orders when all relevant persons consent. Examples include consenting to medical or dental treatment, deciding on care services or living arrangements, and handling bank accounts.
For money, the simplified process covers withdrawals and sales totalling up to $80,000 from P’s funds. P’s CPF savings have a separate limit of up to $60,000.
The standard process applies if someone objects, or if the orders you need fall outside the simplified scope.
Step 3: Inform relevant persons and gather documents
“Relevant persons” are people in P’s life who are likely to have an interest in the application, usually close family. For a simplified application, the courts list documents such as:
- The names, dates of birth and contact numbers of P’s immediate family.
- Proof of your relationship to P, such as a birth or marriage certificate.
- P’s birth certificate and latest bank statements.
- Information about the care services to be engaged.
- Documents from P’s doctor or dentist if you are asking to consent to treatment.
Step 4: File the application
Simplified applications are filed online through the Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS). Standard applications go through eLitigation.
For the simplified route, all relevant persons must indicate their consent within three months of filing. They can do this in iFAMS with Singpass. You pay the $40 filing fee only after everyone has consented.
Step 5: Wait for the court’s decision
Cases are generally decided without anyone attending court. You may be asked to attend if the court needs clarification. If there are no issues, the order is emailed to you.
Step 6: Act as deputy, and report
A deputy makes decisions in P’s best interests and submits annual reports to the Office of the Public Guardian. These explain the decisions made for P and how P’s money was used for P’s benefit.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
The Family Justice Courts estimate:
- Simplified process: court filing fees of $40 to $50, usually completed in 4 to 6 weeks.
- Standard process: court filing fees of $300 to $500, usually completed in 3 to 4 months.
Both estimates exclude doctors’ fees for the medical report, fees for affirming or swearing affidavits, and lawyers’ fees if you use a lawyer. Incomplete submissions or complex cases take longer.
The time is often the harder part. While the application is under way, the family may be paying for care out of their own pockets. Our guide to what eldercare costs gives a sense of the sums.
Why an LPA Is the Simpler Path
An LPA is made while you are well. You choose your donees, you decide what they can and cannot do, and the Office of the Public Guardian registers it.
The steps are short. You fill in the form online, have it certified by a Certificate Issuer (an accredited medical practitioner, practising lawyer or psychiatrist), and submit it. Singapore Citizens pay no application fee for LPA Form 1, and MSF has said this continues with no end date after the earlier waiver ended on 31 March 2026. The Certificate Issuer still charges a professional fee. Our guide to making an LPA in three steps has the details.
In many families, this is a hard conversation to start. It can help to frame it around protecting the people you love from a court process, rather than around illness.
What To Do Next
- Read the Office of the Public Guardian’s LPA guide and decide who you would trust as your donee. Our guide to a donee’s powers and duties shows what you would be asking of them.
- Book a Certificate Issuer through the Health Appointment System or a lawyer of your choice.
- If a family member has already lost capacity, start with the Family Justice Courts’ deputyship pages and get the medical report first.
- For complex estates, family disagreements or large assets, speak to a lawyer.
