Intestate Succession Act 1967 - Singapore Statutes Online (2024)

Rule 1

If an intestate dies leaving a surviving spouse, no issue and no parent, the spouse shall be entitled to the whole of the estate.

Rule 2

If an intestate dies leaving a surviving spouse and issue, the spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate.

Rule 3

Subject to the rights of the surviving spouse, if any, the estate (both as to the undistributed portion and the reversionary interest) of an intestate who leaves issue shall be distributed by equal portions per stirpes to and amongst the children of the person dying intestate and such persons as legally represent those children, in case any of those children be then dead.

Proviso No. (1) — The persons who legally represent the children of an intestate are their descendants and not their next‑of‑kin.

Proviso No. (2) — Descendants of the intestate to the remotest degree stand in the place of their parent or other ancestor, and take according to their stocks the share which he or she would have taken.

Rule 4

If an intestate dies leaving a surviving spouse and no issue but a parent or parents, the spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate and the parent or parents to the other half of the estate.

Rule 5

If there are no descendants, the parent or parents of the intestate shall take the estate, in equal portions if there be 2parents, subject to the rights of the surviving spouse (if any) as provided in rule 4.

Rule 6

If there are no surviving spouse, descendants or parents, the brothers and sisters and children of deceased brothers or sisters of the intestate shall share the estate in equal portions between the brothers and sisters and the children of any deceased brother or sister shall take according to their stocks the share which the deceased brother or sister would have taken.

Rule 7

If there are no surviving spouse, descendants, parents, brothers and sisters or children of such brothers and sisters but grandparents of the intestate, the grandparents shall take the whole of the estate in equal portions.

Rule 8

If there are no surviving spouse, descendants, parents, brothers and sisters or their children or grandparents but uncles and aunts of the intestate, the uncles and aunts shall take the whole of the estate in equal portions.

Rule 9

In default of distribution under rules 1 to 8, the Government shall be entitled to the whole of the estate.

Intestate Succession Act 1967 - Singapore Statutes Online (2024)

FAQs

What are the intestate succession laws in Singapore? ›

If an intestate dies leaving a surviving spouse, no issue and no parent, the spouse shall be entitled to the whole of the estate. If an intestate dies leaving a surviving spouse and issue, the spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate.

How do you distribute assets without a will in Singapore? ›

Without a will, your surviving family member(s) will have to apply for a 'Letters of Administration' before they can manage or distribute your estate. This process can require more steps and involve greater legal or administrative costs. If you die without a will, the law determines who gets what.

What are the general principles of intestate succession? ›

In respect of the intestate it may be thought an obliga- tion upon every man to provide for those which descend from his loins; and as the administrator is to discharge all other debts, so this debt to nature should likewise exact a distribution, to all that descend from him in lineal degrees, be they ever so remote. .

What happens to a house if the owner dies in Singapore? ›

When a joint owner of a property dies, their interest in the flat will be automatically transferred to the remaining co-owners. The remaining co-owners will have to lodge a Notice of Death with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

What is the order of priority of succession? ›

Typically, a surviving spouse and children are given priority, followed by other close relatives, such as parents and siblings.

Can beneficiary be executor of will Singapore? ›

It is possible to select your beneficiary as the executor of your Will, especially when you are leaving all your assets to a sole beneficiary. In the alternative, you may choose a professional executor of Will in Singapore (for instance a trust company approved and licensed by the MAS).

Who gets money if no will in Singapore? ›

In Singapore, a person is described as having died 'intestate' if they die without leaving a valid Will. To determine how the estate is distributed, the Intestate Succession Act must be consulted. The relatives of the deceased will inherit the assets according to the proportions set out in this act.

What happens to bank account when someone dies without a will in Singapore? ›

After receiving notification of the deceased's death, the bank will freeze the accounts of the deceased, including savings, current and fixed deposit accounts. The legal representative of the deceased will approach the bank to close the bank accounts of the deceased.

How do I withdraw money from a deceased person's account Singapore? ›

go to the bank. produce their NRIC card to prove that they are the named Executor in the will and the Grant of Probate. Produce the Grant of Probate. Instruct the bank to release the money in the deceased bank account to them.

Who is not allowed to inherit? ›

Generally, children have no right to inherit anything from their parents. In certain limited circ*mstances, however, children may be entitled to claim a share of a deceased parent's property.

Who inherits in succession? ›

Generally, only spouses, registered domestic partners, and blood relatives inherit under intestate succession laws; unmarried partners, friends, and charities get nothing. If the deceased person was married, the surviving spouse usually gets the largest share.

What is the general rule of inheritance? ›

The daughters are entitled to half of the share as given to the son. The grandsons are not entitled to any share in the presence of the son. If the son is not living, then the grandson is entitled to a share in the inheritance. If there are more than one son, the inheritance will be distributed equally amongst them.

Can foreigners inherit property in Singapore? ›

If you are a non-Singapore citizen, you can only inherit a non-landed private property, unless you obtain approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU).

How to check if someone has died in Singapore? ›

ICA Registry of Births and Deaths only maintains records of deaths that occurred in Singapore, which were registered in Singapore since 1872. You can refer to the guide on death extract application for more information. You can apply for a death extract online using the e-Service.

What happens to credit card debt when someone dies in Singapore? ›

In Singapore, the deceased person's remaining family members are not held accountable for any outstanding debts. The remainder of the personal loan will often be paid by your estate.

How does inheritance work in Singapore? ›

According to the legislation on inheritance which is based on the Singapore Civil Law, the following rules apply in case of distribution of assets: the whole estate is left to the spouse if there are no children, the estate is divided between the spouse and the children, if they exist, and the estate is divided between ...

Will distribution of assets in Singapore? ›

Apply for a Grant of Probate if the person left a will. Determine what assets were owned by the deceased and estimate the total value of the estate. Pay off any of the deceased's outstanding debt, bills or taxes. Distribute the assets to the beneficiaries according to the will.

What is the grant of Probate in Singapore? ›

A Grant of Probate legally recognises an individual as the executor of the deceased's estate. The appointed individual manages the deceased's property. This includes distributing the estate to the beneficiaries after payment of the deceased's debts and other expenses.

Is there inheritance tax in Singapore? ›

In Singapore, inheritance tax is governed by the Estate Duty Act (EDA). According to section 2A of the EDA, inheritance tax is only applicable to persons who died before 15 February 2008. This means that persons dying on or after 15 February 2008 do not have to pay inheritance tax.

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