Singapore Wills Registry: How to Search for a Will After Someone Dies

One of the first things an executor or family member should do after a death in Singapore is find out whether the deceased left a will. The answer determines almost everything that follows—who can apply to administer the estate, how assets are distributed, and how long the process takes.

Searching the home for documents is the obvious starting point. But there's a more authoritative place to check: the Singapore Wills Registry, maintained by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).

What the Wills Registry Actually Is

The Wills Registry is a voluntary registry where individuals can deposit a copy of their will for safekeeping. Registration is not compulsory under Singapore law—a will is valid whether or not it has been filed with the SAL. But because the registry exists, checking it is a critical step before initiating any court proceedings.

If you apply to the Family Justice Courts for Letters of Administration (the intestate route) when a registered will actually exists, you've administered the estate unlawfully. Correcting this after the fact is expensive and time-consuming.

How to Search the Registry

Searches are conducted online at wills.sal.sg. You'll need:

• The digital death certificate (download this from the My Legacy portal via Singpass within 30 days of death—after that, you'll need to apply for a physical extract from the ICA at S$40)
• Payment of the S$10 search fee
• The deceased's personal details

The SAL will confirm whether a will has been deposited and, if so, provide details to the authorised searcher. The registry doesn't disclose the contents of the will in a search—it confirms existence and provides enough information for the executor to retrieve the original.

It's worth noting that depositing a will with the registry costs S$50 and is completely voluntary. The practical implication: many Singaporeans have valid wills held by their lawyers or in their personal files that were never registered. A clear registry result doesn't mean no will exists—it means no will was deposited with the SAL.

Where Else to Look for a Will

Beyond the Wills Registry, check these locations before concluding the estate is intestate:

My Legacy vault. The government's My Legacy portal (mylegacy.life.gov.sg) allows individuals to store digital legacy planning documents, including advance care directives and details about where their will is kept. The deceased may have stored notes here if they had a Singpass account.

The deceased's solicitors. If the person used a law firm for estate planning, the original will is often held by the lawyer for safekeeping. Contact any law firms the deceased dealt with.

Safe deposit boxes. Banks maintain safe deposit boxes that can hold original will documents. Accessing these after death requires the bank's deceased estate process and may need a court order if the sole renter has died.

Personal papers at home or office. Original wills are typically kept in a filing cabinet, document safe, or with personal financial records.

What Happens If You Find a Will

If a valid will exists, the named executor must apply to the Family Justice Courts for a Grant of Probate. This application must be filed within six months of the deceased's passing—delays beyond this require a formal explanatory affidavit to the court.

Estates up to S$5 million are handled by the Family Courts. Estates above S$5 million go to the Family Division of the High Court. Unrepresented executors cannot file via the eLitigation system remotely—they must book an appointment at the CrimsonLogic Service Bureau (at Supreme Court Lane or Havelock Square) to submit physical forms for digitisation.

The filing requires:

• An Ex Parte Originating Application
• A Statement
• A certified true copy of the will
• The digital death certificate
• An Administration Oath
• A Schedule of Assets detailing all global holdings

For non-contentious estates, most families engage a probate lawyer on a fixed fee. Simple uncontested estates typically run S$1,500 to S$3,500 in legal fees. Once granted, probate is usually issued electronically within three to six months.

What Happens If There Is No Will

If no will is found—either in the Wills Registry or elsewhere—the estate is intestate. The distribution of assets is then governed by the Intestate Succession Act (ISA), which sets out a strict hierarchy regardless of what the deceased may have verbally wished.

The ISA distribution rules for non-Muslim estates:

• Spouse only: 100% to spouse
• Spouse and children: 50% spouse, 50% equally among children
• Children only: 100% equally among children
• Spouse and parents (no children): 50% spouse, 50% equally among parents
• Parents only: 100% equally among parents
• Siblings only: 100% equally among siblings

Unmarried partners, stepchildren who weren't legally adopted, and long-term cohabitants receive nothing under intestacy. This is one of the most common sources of family conflict and financial hardship after a death.

The ISA also sets the priority for who can apply to administer the estate. The spouse has first priority, then children, then parents, then siblings. A family member with lower priority can only apply if those with higher priority formally execute a Renunciation document before a Commissioner for Oaths.

Muslim Estates: A Different Route

For Muslim deceased, the Wills Registry search still applies—but there are additional steps. Before applying to the Family Justice Courts, the family must first obtain an Inheritance Certificate from the Syariah Court. This certificate identifies the lawful heirs under Faraid (Islamic inheritance law) and calculates their exact shares. The Inheritance Certificate is a mandatory prerequisite for court filings involving Muslim estates.

Even if a Muslim person left a will (called a Wasiat), it can only govern a maximum of one-third of the net estate and only to non-Faraid beneficiaries. The remaining portion follows Faraid rules regardless.

A Common and Costly Mistake

Families sometimes assume that if a CPF nomination exists, there must also be a will—or vice versa. These are separate instruments. A CPF nomination does not substitute for a will; it only governs CPF monies, which are legally excluded from the estate entirely. A will cannot override a CPF nomination.

Another common mistake: assuming that because the Wills Registry shows nothing, the estate must be intestate. Always exhaust the other search avenues above before initiating an intestate administration.

The Stakes Are High

Administering an estate as intestate when a will actually exists—or distributing assets in the wrong order of priority—can result in the administrator being held personally liable for any shortfall. Creditors must be paid before beneficiaries. The executor has a strict fiduciary duty throughout.

The When Someone Dies in Singapore — Estate Settlement Guide covers the full process from death certificate to final distribution, including a complete document checklist, the Schedule of Assets template, and step-by-step guidance on the Probate and Letters of Administration pathways. If you're the executor and you're figuring this out under time pressure, having the steps laid out in order makes a material difference.

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