How are Assets Distributed in the Event that there is No Will?

If you are a Singaporean who has property only in Singapore, your assets will be distributed following the rules of the Intestate Succession Act.

The first question to ask is whether you have left behind a surviving spouse.

IF YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND A SURVIVING SPOUSE, BUT YOUR PARENTS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND YOU HAVE NO CHILDREN,

Your surviving spouse is entitled to all your assets

IF YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND A SURVIVING SPOUSE AND CHILDREN,

Your surviving spouse is entitled to half of your assets. The remaining half of your assets will be divided equally between your children.

It does not matter that you have parents who have outlived you – they will not have a share of your assets.

IF YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND A SURVIVING SPOUSE, AND PARENTS WHO HAVE OUTLIVED YOU, BUT YOU HAVE NO CHILDREN

Your surviving wife is entitled to half of your assets, while your parents will share the other half equally.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT HAVE A SURVIVING SPOUSE?

If you do not have a surviving spouse, but you have children, your assets will be divided equally between your children.

If you do not have a surviving spouse or any children, your assets will be divided equally between your parents.

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE ANY SURVIVING SPOUSE, CHILDREN OR PARENTS?

If you do not have any surviving spouse, children or parent, but you have left behind surviving siblings and/or nephews and nieces, your assets will be divided equally between all of them.

If you have no surviving spouse, children, parent, sibling, nephews or nieces, but you have left behind surviving grandparents, your assets will be shared by them equally.

If you do not have any surviving spouse, children, parent, sibling, nephews, nieces or grandparents, but you have left behind surviving aunts and/or uncles, your assets will be divided equally between all of them.

If you do not have any surviving relatives, your assets will go entirely to the State.

If you feel that you have assets that you wish to gift to specific people who will not receive a part of your assets by virtue of the Intestate Succession Act, or that you wish to exclude certain people from receiving a part of your estate, please approach a lawyer. You would be able to address your concerns by drafting a will.