Laws of Intestacy in Singapore

In the absence of a will, your estate will be distributed in accordance to Singapore’s Intestate Succession Act. This does not apply if you are of Islamic faith.

According to Section 7 of the Intestate Succession Act, the priority of distribution is as follows: (1) Spouse, children (2) Parents (3) Siblings (4) Grandparents (5) Aunts and Uncles.

Here is a simplified version of the rules found in Section 7:

Rule 1: Where the deceased has left behind a surviving spouse but has no children and no surviving parents, the spouse shall be entitled to the whole of the estate

Rule 2: Where the deceased has left behind a surviving spouse and children, the spouse shall be entitled to ½ of the estate

Rule 3: Where the deceased has left behind children but has no surviving spouse or surviving parent, the children shall be entitled to the estate in equal proportions. If a child has passed away too, then the grandchildren can legally represent him/ her to claim their parents’ portion of the estate

Rule 4: Where the deceased has left behind a surviving spouse and surviving parent(s) but has no children, the spouse shall be entitled to ½ of the estate and the parent(s) to the other ½

Rule 5: Where the deceased has left behind surviving parent(s), but has no surviving spouse or children, the parents shall be entitled to the whole of the estate (each parent will get ½)

Rule 6: Where the deceased has left behind siblings but has no surviving spouse, children or parents; the siblings shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal proportions. If a sibling has passed away too, then the children of the sibling can legally represent their parent to claim their parents’ portion of the estate.

Rule 7: Where the deceased has left behind grandparents but has no surviving spouse, children, parents or siblings, the grandparents shall be entitled to the whole of the estate (each grandparent will get ½)

Rule 8: Where the deceased has left behind aunts and uncles but has no surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings or grandparents, the aunts and uncles shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal proportions

Non-compliance with the above rules will lead to the Government being entitled to the whole estate.