What happens if you die without a Will in Singapore?

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What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Singapore?

The short answer

If you die without a valid will in Singapore, the Intestate Succession Act decides who inherits your estate, using fixed shares you cannot change. Your family must then apply to court for Letters of Administration before they can touch your assets. For Muslims, the Act does not apply; estates are distributed under faraid instead.

The result is often not what people expect. A spouse does not automatically inherit everything, and partners, stepchildren and close friends receive nothing.

Who gets what under the Intestate Succession Act

Section 7 of the Act sets a strict order. Each row applies only if no one in the rows above survives you.

Who survives you	How your estate is divided
Spouse, no children, no parents	Spouse gets 100%
Spouse and children	Spouse gets 50%; children share 50% equally
Children, no spouse	Children share 100% equally
Spouse and parents, no children	Spouse gets 50%; parents share 50% equally
Parents only	Parents share 100% equally
Siblings only	Siblings share 100% equally; a deceased sibling's children take their parent's share
Grandparents only	Grandparents share 100% equally
Uncles and aunts only	Uncles and aunts share 100% equally
No one above	The Government takes the whole estate

If one of your children has passed away, their children (your grandchildren) take that child's share. Sources: Intestate Succession Act 1967, MoneySense, SingaporeLegalAdvice.

Five outcomes that surprise families

Your spouse may get only half. With children, your spouse shares the estate 50/50 with them, including your share of the family home if it is in your name.
Your elderly parents get nothing if you have a spouse and children. Many people assume they will be provided for.
Partners, stepchildren and friends are excluded. The Act does not recognise unmarried partners or stepchildren who were not legally adopted.
Young children receive their share at 21, all at once. Until then it is generally held on their behalf, with no say from you on how it is used.
No one is appointed as guardian. Without a will, you have not named who should care for your minor children.

What your family has to do: Letters of Administration

With a will, your chosen executor applies for a Grant of Probate. Without one, your family must apply to the Family Justice Courts for a Grant of Letters of Administration, and the court decides who can act.

	With a will (Probate)	Without a will (Letters of Administration)
Who manages the estate	The executor you chose	An administrator, by legal priority (spouse first, then children, and so on)
Who inherits	The people you named	Fixed shares under the Act
Extra requirements	Generally none	Administration bond; sureties generally required for estates above S$5 million
Family agreement needed	Less	Others with equal rights may need to consent or renounce
Guardian for children	Named by you	Not named

The application needs a death certificate, a Schedule of Assets, and details of every person entitled to a share, including any beneficiary under 21 (Family Justice Courts). Gathering this is much harder when no one knows what you owned or where your documents are.

Assets that follow different rules

Some assets never pass through intestacy or a will, so they need their own planning.

CPF savings: paid to your CPF nominees. With no nomination, they go to the Public Trustee's Office for distribution, which takes longer and carries a fee.
Insurance with a nomination: paid directly to the nominee.
Jointly held property and accounts: under joint tenancy, your share passes automatically to the surviving co-owner.
Muslim estates: distributed under the Administration of Muslim Law Act and faraid, with an Inheritance Certificate from the Syariah Court.

This is why a will on its own is not enough. Your nominations and joint holdings need to match your wishes too.

How to make sure your wishes are followed

A will decides who inherits. The documents around it decide how smoothly your family can carry it out. At Kin Wills, one flat fee of S$450 nett covers:

A legally valid will drafted with a Certified Will Writer, naming your beneficiaries, executor and children's guardian.
A full Schedule of Assets and Liabilities so your family knows exactly what you own and owe.
A CPF and insurance nomination report so the assets outside your will match your wishes.
A house visit and a one-time annual review in your first year.

You can add more protection when you need it:

SAL Wills Registry lodgement through our partner law firms, so your family can trace your will.
Kin Reserve™ vaulting, with physical and digital protection, so the original is never lost.
Professional executorship, so your estate is handled by an experienced executor rather than left to grieving family.

Limited time: sign up by 31 October 2026 for a free Certified True Copy.

Book a free 10-minute consultation →

Frequently asked questions

Does my spouse get everything if I die without a will in Singapore?

Only if you have no children and no surviving parents. With children, your spouse gets half and the children share the other half. With parents but no children, your spouse and parents split the estate 50/50.

Do my parents inherit if I have a spouse and children?

No. Under the Intestate Succession Act, parents inherit only if you leave no children.

Can my unmarried partner inherit without a will?

No. The Act does not recognise unmarried partners. A will is the only way to leave them part of your estate.

Do stepchildren inherit under the Intestate Succession Act?

Not unless they were legally adopted. Stepchildren must be named in a will to inherit.

Who applies to court if there is no will?

A family member applies for Letters of Administration, in order of legal priority, usually starting with the surviving spouse. Others with an equal or higher right may need to consent or renounce.