One firm for both sides: writing the will now, handling the probate later
Most families touch wills and probate twice in a lifetime. Once, when an older relative dies and someone has to sort out the estate. And again, when the shock of that wears off and you think: I should have my own papers in order.
I’m Wahab. I run A.W. Law LLC in Chinatown. We handle both sides of this under one roof, often for the same family across different years.
This page is for you if you want to plan properly for your own estate, or you’re dealing with a loved one who has just passed away, or both. The first 10 minutes are free, and nothing commits you.
What wills and probate in Singapore actually is
Wills and probate are two ends of the same process.
The will side is what you do while you’re alive. You write a document that says who gets your assets after you die and who you want to carry out your wishes. In Singapore, wills are governed by the Wills Act. A valid will must be in writing, signed by you (aged 21 or older and of sound mind), and witnessed by two people who aren’t also beneficiaries.
The probate side is what happens after you die. Your named executor takes the will to the Family Justice Courts and applies for a grant of probate: the court’s formal approval of the will and the executor’s authority to act. Probate is governed by the Probate and Administration Act. If there is no will, the next-of-kin applies for letters of administration instead, and the estate is split under the Intestate Succession Act. Muslims follow Syariah inheritance rules (faraid).
A complete estate plan has more than just a will. Most clients who engage us for the combined wills and probate service also set up:
- A CPF nomination. CPF money does not pass through a will. It goes directly to whoever you named in your nomination.
- A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). A legal form that lets someone you trust make health and money decisions for you if you lose mental capacity, for example after a stroke.
- Beneficiary checks on insurance. Policies with a named beneficiary pay out directly, outside the will.
- A testamentary trust, if you have young children and want money held for them until a certain age.
The goal of doing both sides under one roof: the lawyer who drafts your will understands what probate will actually look like for your family. That shapes the drafting. Clauses get simpler, assets get grouped more cleanly, and executors get briefed early.
For a pure will drafting matter, our will page covers the drafting side in detail. For applying for a grant after a death, our probate page covers the court process.
When the combined service is the right fit
The combined wills and probate service works best when:
- You’ve just been through a family death and want to get your own will sorted before you forget how messy intestate succession is.
- You’re a parent with young children and want a will, LPA, guardian nomination, and CPF nomination all checked together. See our guide on estate planning for parents in Singapore.
- You have overseas assets or a blended family and want one lawyer following you across years as things change.
- The family wants continuity. Parents engage us for wills, and when the time comes decades later, the family knows exactly which firm to come back to.
If you only need one side right now, that’s fine. A simple will today, and your family can come back when the time comes. Or, if a parent has just died and you don’t have a will of your own yet, we can do the probate first and the will drafting a few weeks later, so nothing overlaps in your head.
If a family member is threatening to challenge the will, the matter becomes contested and we handle it that way. See our guide on how to contest a will in Singapore.
What to expect, honestly
How long it takes.
A simple will, from first meeting to signed document: 1 to 2 weeks. Adding an LPA, a trust, or overseas clauses: 2 to 4 weeks.
A probate application at the Family Justice Courts: 3 to 6 months from filing to grant for a clean, uncontested estate. Contested probate can run 1 year or more.
If you engage us for both sides, the will work usually finishes in weeks. The probate work may sit in the file for years, until it’s needed.
How much it costs.
At A.W. Law:
- A simple will: S$300 to S$800 flat fee.
- An LPA alongside: additional S$150 to S$350.
- A simple probate application later: S$2,500 to S$6,000, depending on how many assets and beneficiaries.
- Combined package (will plus standing retainer for future probate): flat fee in writing, usually a small discount on the probate fee for continuing clients.
Complex matters (overseas assets, business interests, blended families, contested probate) cost more and we price them in stages. The 10-min Discovery Session is always free. We give you a written quote before any paid work starts.
What’s hard.
The will side is emotionally easier than clients expect. Most people feel lighter after signing.
The probate side is harder when it arrives, because it arrives alongside grief. Having the will already drafted by us years earlier makes the probate application faster and less painful, because we already know the family and the estate.
Family conversations are the other friction point. Sometimes a will surprises a sibling, or a CPF nomination quietly overrides what people assumed. We can help frame those conversations, or handle them entirely in writing, so you don’t have to.
How we handle wills and probate at A.W. Law
A few things we do differently:
- One firm, long view. You can engage us once and come back in 20 years. We keep a sealed copy of the will and the executor’s contact.
- Flat fees, in writing, before any drafting or filing. You should never get a surprise bill.
- Plain-English everything. Every clause in the will is explained in the draft. Every probate letter is written in words your family can read.
- Witness and signing at our office. Two staff witness the will, so there are no worries about invalid witnesses.
- Wills Registry lodgement at the Singapore Academy of Law, if you want it. So your family can find the will when the time comes.
- WhatsApp until 10pm on weekdays. For when you suddenly remember a bank account at 9pm.
- Languages. English, Malay, or Tamil.
If a surviving spouse is also dealing with a divorce that wasn’t finalised before their partner’s death, or needs to update beneficiary designations on policies naming an ex-spouse, our divorce page will be relevant too.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point. Two minutes’ walk from Chinatown MRT, Exit E.
What happens next
Whether you’re planning ahead, handling a recent death, or both, the next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Wills and Probate 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 clear view of what you actually need (just a will, just probate, or the full estate plan), a short list of things to gather, and a flat-fee quote.
