A Will allows you to give your assets to anyone and in any proportion you desire.
What happens if I do not have a Will?
If you did not create a Will, or if your Will became invalid, then your assets will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act.
Under the Intestate Succession Act, this is how your assets will be distributed:
Spouse
No Issue
No Parent
Spouse
Issue
½ share to be shared equally among issue and, where they have already died, their children.
Parents are not entitled.
Issue
No Spouse
Spouse
Parent
No Issue
½ share to surviving spouse.
½ share to be shared equally among surviving parents.
Parents
No Spouse
No Issue
Siblings
No Spouse
No Issue
No Parents
Grandparents
No Spouse
No Issue
No Parents
No Siblings and their children
Uncles and Aunts
No Spouse
No Issue
No Parents
No Siblings and their children
No Grandparents
From the Ministry of Law website
Issue refers to a child (legitimate or legally adopted) and the descendants of a deceased’s child. This meant that the Intestacy Succession Act forbade illegitimate and transferred children from receiving their inheritance if a Will is not made.
Also, if you want to give part of your assets to a charity, a friend, or just anyone outside your family, a Will is the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out.
Do I need a lawyer to make a Will?
Merely writing down your desires on a piece of paper and hiding it away in your pillow to be discovered by others after your death is not going to make it a valid Will.
There are many rules in Singapore that must be adhered to before a Will can be valid. Even so, if there is a significant change of circumstances in your life, such as a marriage or a divorce, your Will can become invalid.
It is better to obtain legal advice and get a simple will written out. Here at Gloria-James Civetta & Co., we provide cheap and easy wills writing services as well.
