Almost half of Singaporeans haven't gotten around to writing a will. It's easy to assume that just means things get sorted out "fairly" by default — but the actual default is a fixed legal formula, not a reflection of what you would have wanted.
What Happens If You Don't Have a Will
A 2022 Straits Times survey found that around 48% of Singaporeans have no will. When someone dies without one, their estate doesn't go unclaimed — it's distributed automatically under the Intestate Succession Act, following a fixed formula that takes no account of your actual wishes, family circumstances, or anyone outside the recognised categories of next-of-kin.
The Intestate Succession Act applies to most Singapore Citizens and PRs. Muslims are instead governed by Syariah law on inheritance (faraid).
What's missing from every intestacy scenario is anyone outside those fixed categories: unmarried partners, stepchildren you never formally adopted, close friends, or a favourite charity. None of them inherit anything under intestacy, no matter how close the relationship — a will is the only way to include them.
Insurance Payouts Need Their Own Nomination Too
The law's default rarely matches what you'd actually choose — and the same applies to life insurance. A policy nomination determines who receives the payout, and how quickly.
Revocable Nomination
Can be changed anytime; the payout still forms part of your estate for creditor claims.
Trust Nomination
Payout goes directly and quickly to named beneficiaries, generally protected from your estate's creditors.
Without any nomination, the payout falls into your general estate and is distributed under your will — or intestacy, if you have none — often taking considerably longer to actually reach the people who need it.
A will and a set of nominations aren't the finish line — they're the basics. For the fuller picture on shaping how and when your wealth reaches people, and protecting it for generations to come, see the full legacy planning guide.