Probate Lawyer Singapore – Grant of Probate & Letters of Administration

A Grant of Probate is issued when the deceased left behind a valid Will. The executor named in the Will applies for this Grant, which authorises them to collect the deceased’s assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate according to the Will.

By contrast, Letters of Administration (LOA) are required when the deceased passed away without a valid Will. The Court appoints an administrator—usually a spouse or close family member—to manage and distribute the estate. Distribution must follow the Intestate Succession Act (for non-Muslims) or Muslim inheritance laws.

The main difference lies in whether a Will exists: Probate follows the deceased’s wishes, while Administration follows statutory rules.

The cost depends on the size and complexity of the estate. We provide fixed transparent fees:

• $1,390 – for estates under $500,000 with no property or minor beneficiaries.
• $2,390 – for estates under $3 million.
• Larger Estates – Fees depend on estate value and complexity.

When there is no Will, the right to apply follows a strict legal order: spouse, children, parents, siblings, nephews/nieces, grandparents, and then aunts/uncles.

If a person higher in priority does not wish to act, they must renounce their right in writing. In practice, the spouse or eldest child commonly applies.

Administrators have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of all beneficiaries. If there are minor beneficiaries, the Court may also require sureties (guarantors) to safeguard the estate.

For uncontested cases with complete documents, a Grant of Probate or LOA can usually be obtained within 4–6 weeks.

However, the process may extend to several months if:

• There are disputes among beneficiaries.
• The estate includes overseas assets.
• There are minor beneficiaries requiring sureties.
• Asset valuations or tracing are needed.

Experienced probate lawyers help avoid unnecessary delays by ensuring compliance with procedural and statutory requirements.

CPF monies are treated differently from other assets. If the deceased made a valid CPF nomination, the CPF Board distributes savings directly to nominees.

If there is no nomination, CPF monies are transferred to the Public Trustee’s Office (PTO) for distribution according to the Intestate Succession Act. CPF monies do not form part of the estate and are not distributed under a Will or by probate.

No. Some assets bypass probate entirely:

• CPF savings with valid nominations
• Insurance policies with nominated beneficiaries
• Joint tenancy property, which passes automatically to the surviving owner
• Joint bank accounts, which pass to the surviving account holder

A Grant is typically required for sole-owned property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and business assets.

If the deceased had assets in Singapore but the main Grant of Probate or LOA was issued overseas, the foreign Grant must often be resealed by the Singapore High Court before it is recognised locally.

Resealing is available for Grants from Commonwealth countries and Hong Kong. Once resealed, executors can manage Singapore assets without starting the process afresh. If the Grant is from a non-Commonwealth country, a fresh application in Singapore may be required.

Resealing usually takes 2–3 months if documents are in order. It is advisable to engage a lawyer to ensure compliance with Singapore’s procedural rules.

Once the Grant is issued, the executor or administrator has authority to:

1. Notify banks, insurers, CPF Board, and HDB.
2. Collect the deceased’s assets into an estate account.
3. Pay debts, taxes, and funeral expenses.
4. Distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries.
5. Provide an account of the estate if requested.

Executors and administrators must act diligently and transparently. They can be held personally liable for mishandling estate assets.

Where there is no will, section 7 of the Intestate Succession Act governs distribution of the assets. For example:

• Spouse only (no children or parents): spouse inherits the entire estate.
• Spouse + children: spouse gets 50%, children share the remaining 50% equally.
• Children only (no spouse): children share the entire estate equally.
• Spouse + parents (no children): spouse gets 50%, parents share the remaining 50%.

This statutory distribution applies strictly – the deceased’s personal wishes cannot be taken into account without a will.

Yes. If someone believes a Will is invalid due to undue influence, fraud, or lack of mental capacity, they may file a caveat to block the issuance of probate. If probate has already been granted, challenges must be brought within six months, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

The Court can also remove executors or administrators who fail in their duties. Estate disputes are often complex and may involve mediation or litigation.