If you’re writing your will, you’re already looking after the people who come after you
Most people put this off for years. The fact that you’re reading this page means you’ve already done the hard part: deciding to actually get it done.
I’m Wahab. I run A.W. Law LLC in Chinatown. I’ve drafted wills for new parents, grandparents, business owners, and people who just wanted the HDB flat to go to the right sibling without a fight.
This page is for you if you’re thinking about writing or updating a will. The first 10 minutes are free, and nothing commits you.
What a will in Singapore actually is
A will is a written document that says who gets what after you die, and who you want to carry it out. In Singapore, wills are governed by the Wills Act. To be valid, a will must be:
- In writing. Printed or handwritten. Not a video, not a voice note.
- Signed by you. You must be at least 21 years old and of sound mind.
- Witnessed by two people. They must watch you sign and then sign themselves. The witnesses cannot also be beneficiaries under the will, otherwise their gift is void.
A will does not cover everything. These move outside the will:
- CPF money. Goes to whoever you named in your CPF nomination. If you made no nomination, CPF goes to the Public Trustee and is split under the Intestate Succession Act.
- Joint bank accounts and joint tenancy property. The surviving holder usually keeps them automatically.
- Insurance with a named beneficiary. Paid directly to the named person.
Because of this, writing a will is only half the job. We’ll go through your CPF nomination and any insurance beneficiaries at the first meeting, so everything lines up.
A will takes effect only after you die. If you want someone to handle your affairs while you’re alive but unable to (for example after a stroke), you need a separate document called a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): a legal form that lets you name someone to make health and money decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. Many clients draft the will and the LPA together.
If you die without a will, you’re said to have died intestate, and your estate is split under the Intestate Succession Act along fixed shares. Your family then has to apply to the Family Justice Courts for letters of administration, which usually takes longer than a normal probate application. Our probate page goes into that process in more detail.
When to write a will
You should consider writing a will as soon as you’re old enough (21+) and have anything you care about passing on. The common triggers we see:
- You just bought a flat or condo. Your home is now your biggest asset.
- You’ve had a child. You want to name a guardian and set money aside properly.
- You got married. Marriage cancels any previous will, so you almost certainly need a new one.
- You got divorced. Your ex stops inheriting, but the rest of the will may be outdated. Time to review.
- You own a business or have an overseas asset, or a blended family.
- You’ve just seen a parent or relative die without a will, and you’ve seen how messy it gets.
If you’re a parent thinking about what happens if you’re gone, our blog post on estate planning for parents in Singapore walks through the whole picture, including naming a guardian and setting up a simple trust for minor children.
If you’ve been through a divorce recently, beneficiary designations on insurance, CPF, and any existing will usually need updating. See our divorce page for how ex-spouses get treated in a will.
What to expect when drafting a will, honestly
How long it takes.
A simple will, from first meeting to signed document, usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. The bulk of the time is you deciding who you want as executor and what you want to happen. The drafting itself is quick. A complex will with trusts, overseas assets, or a Lasting Power of Attorney alongside takes 2 to 4 weeks.
How much it costs.
A simple will at A.W. Law is S$300 to S$800, flat fee, all-in. Adding an LPA, a testamentary trust for young children, or clauses for overseas assets costs more, and we give you a written quote before any drafting starts. The 10-min Will Discovery Session is always free. By the end of the session, you’ll know exactly what your will will cost.
What’s hard.
Two things.
One, the decisions. Who do you want to leave the flat to? If you have three children, do they share everything equally, or does one get the HDB and the others get cash? Who is the executor? Who is the guardian if your kids are young? These questions aren’t legal, they’re personal. We can guide you through the options, but you make the calls.
Two, telling your family. Some clients want to tell their spouse and adult children what’s in the will so there are no surprises later. Others want to keep it private until after. Either is fine. The will is legally valid either way.
How we handle will drafting at A.W. Law
A few things we do differently:
- Flat fee, in writing, before we draft. You know exactly what you’ll pay.
- One meeting to review, one to sign. Most simple wills take 2 appointments. We don’t pad the process.
- Plain-English wording. Every clause is explained in the draft we send you. If you can’t read it, we haven’t done our job.
- Witness signing at our office. Two of our staff witness it, so there are no worries about beneficiary witnesses.
- Registry lodgement if you want it. We can lodge a record with the Wills Registry at the Singapore Academy of Law, so your family can find the will when the time comes.
- WhatsApp until 10pm on weekdays. You’ll think of things in the evening (“wait, what about the unit trust account?”). Message us.
- Languages. English, Malay, or Tamil.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point. Two minutes’ walk from Chinatown MRT, Exit E.
What happens next
Writing a will is one of the kindest things you can do for the people around you. The next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Will Discovery Session using the form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp from the button on the screen.
Nothing commits you. Most sessions end with a short list for you to bring next time (your rough list of assets, the names of executors and beneficiaries) and a flat-fee quote. If you want to handle both your will now and the family’s probate later under one retainer, see our combined wills and probate service.
