Probate in Singapore is the court process that confirms the executor named in a will and gives them legal authority to collect and distribute the estate. The executor files with the Family Justice Courts, ideally within six months of the death. Court fees for a straightforward case start at about S$210, and the courts estimate two to three months for the grant.
If there is no will, the equivalent is a Grant of Letters of Administration, covered in our guide to what happens when someone dies without a will. This guide is for executors. It is general information, not legal advice.
Probate in Singapore: Do You Need a Grant?
Not everything the person owned needs one. The Singapore Courts say these may pass without a grant:
- CPF money, which follows the CPF nomination.
- Property held in joint tenancy with no outstanding mortgage.
- Certain insurance policies with nominations.
- Certain joint or sole bank accounts that meet the bank’s own guidelines.
If the estate is worth no more than $50,000, the family may be able to ask the Public Trustee to administer it instead. It will not act where there are disputes, outstanding debts, pending lawsuits, or certain assets such as an HDB flat that an eligible child may inherit or a policy with a nominee.
Anything else in the person’s sole name, such as a bank account, shares or their share of a property held as tenants-in-common, normally needs the grant before the institution will release it.
The short version: File within six months. Use the Probate eService if you are the sole executor and the estate is simple; otherwise the Service Bureau or a lawyer. Budget about $210 to $240 for the application plus small document fees, and two to three months for the grant.
Before You File: The Executor’s Groundwork
- Get the original will. The courts require the original to be presented at the Probate Counter for verification by 4.30pm on the next operating day after filing.
- Get the death certificate. A certified copy is not needed if you have the digital death certificate.
- List the assets and debts. Write to each bank, insurer and the Central Depository for balances as at the date of death. These go into the Schedule of Assets.
- Check the other executors. If several are named and some do not wish to act, each signs a renunciation before a lawyer or Commissioner for Oaths.
The Courts’ list of 20 common filing errors is worth reading before you start.
Three Ways to File
Probate eService. The courts’ online service is for a named sole executor who meets all its criteria, including:
- The applicant has Singpass and is older than 21.
- The estate is worth no more than $2 million.
- The deceased was a Singapore citizen or PR, domiciled and died in Singapore, on or after 15 February 2008, and was not Muslim.
- The original will is in English, signed by the deceased and witnessed by at least two people who signed together.
The Service Bureau. If you do not qualify for the eService and have no lawyer, book an appointment at the Service Bureau. It prepares the Originating Application and Schedule of Assets from your information and files them on eLitigation for you.
A lawyer. Not required, but sensible for large or overseas estates, a will that may be challenged, a business, or family disagreement. The courts cannot give legal advice or recommend lawyers.
The Court Fees
The courts’ estimated fees for filing probate:
| Item | Estimated fee |
|---|---|
| Optional probate or caveat search | $20 (no existing case) or $50 |
| Originating Application | $210 to $240 |
| Schedule of Assets | $15 |
| Certified true copy of the will | $25 |
| Certified true copy of death certificate | $15 |
| Renunciation by another executor | $25 |
| Other supporting documents | $15 each |
These exclude any lawyer’s fees, and Service Bureau charges if any. Estates worth up to $5 million go to the Family Courts; larger estates go to the Family Division of the High Court.
How Long Probate Takes, Step by Step
- File the application. Within six months of death if you can.
- File the supporting documents. The courts ask for the supporting affidavit and administration oath within 14 days of filing the application. If you need more time, you must ask the court for an extension and give reasons.
- The court reviews. If everything is in order, the grant may be issued without a hearing. If there are issues with the application, you must attend a hearing; an application can be struck out if you do not attend.
- The grant is issued, electronically by default. You can ask for a printed grant with the court seal, or certified copies if an institution wants one.
- Collect and distribute. Take the grant to each bank and institution, pay debts and any tax owed by the estate, then distribute under the will.
The courts estimate two to three months for the grant. MoneySense puts the whole process at three to six months, because gathering paperwork and collecting assets take time.
An Illustrative Timeline
Illustration only. Ms Ng is not a real person.
Ms Ng is the sole executor of her father’s will. His estate is a bank account, some listed shares and his half of a flat held as tenants-in-common. She spends five weeks getting balances from the bank and the depository, files on the eService in month two, and receives the grant in month four. Transferring the flat share and closing the accounts takes another two months.
Your Duties as Executor
- Act in the beneficiaries’ interests and keep records of what you collect and pay.
- Settle the estate’s debts and income tax before distributing. IRAS deals with the executor as the legal personal representative.
- For property, check whether beneficiaries are eligible to keep an HDB flat, and the Residential Property Act rule that a foreign beneficiary’s interest in residential property must be transferred or sold within five years of death.
The whole process starts with the will itself. If you have not made one, our guide to how to write a will covers the rules.
What To Do Next
- Find the original will and keep it safe and unaltered.
- Write to each institution for the date-of-death balances.
- Check the eService criteria; if you do not meet them, book the Service Bureau or speak to a lawyer.
- Use our money checklist for when someone dies to keep track of the other tasks.
- If you are planning ahead for your own family, our legacy readiness checklist helps you leave your executor less to chase.
