Will and LPA Package in Singapore

A complete Singapore estate plan typically comprises three core documents:

• A will under the Wills Act 1838, addressing distribution on death;
• A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) under the Mental Capacity Act 2008, addressing decisions if the donor loses capacity during life;
• An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) under the Advance Medical Directive Act 1996, addressing refusal of extraordinary life-sustaining treatment in terminal illness.

Each document is governed by its own statute, addresses its own scenario, and stands as a separate legal instrument. They are not interchangeable: a will does not address incapacity; an LPA does not address death; an AMD addresses only a narrow terminal-illness scenario.

However, the three documents draw on substantially overlapping information:

• The same family members are typically involved across all three (executor under the will, donee under the LPA, family members aware of the AMD);
• The same asset inventory informs both the will (for distribution) and the LPA (for property and affairs authority);
• The same conversations about values, preferences, and family dynamics underlie all three;
• The same practising solicitor can prepare all three with substantial efficiency.

For these reasons, most Singapore practising solicitors active in estate planning offer combined "will and LPA packages" — or, more comprehensively, "will, LPA, and AMD packages" — as their standard private-client product. The packaging is not just commercial convenience but a reflection of how estate planning actually works in practice.

A will without an LPA leaves the family exposed to incapacity. An LPA without a will leaves the estate to intestacy rules on death. Most Singapore residents need both, and the most efficient way to obtain them is as a coordinated package from a single solicitor.

This article walks through what a typical package covers, how it is structured, and what indicative pricing looks like. Actual scope and pricing vary by solicitor and circumstances; specific arrangements should be confirmed with the engaged solicitor before commencement.

The will component addresses distribution of the estate on death. A standard Singapore will in a package typically includes:

Revocation clause

An express revocation of all prior wills and codicils, eliminating ambiguity about which document is current.

Appointment of executors and trustees

Typically two executors (or one executor and a named substitute), with appropriate language covering renunciation, predeceasing, and the right to charge professional fees if a professional executor is appointed.

Guardianship of minor children

For parents of children under 21, a nomination of guardians under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1934, taking effect on the death of both parents.

Specific legacies and gifts

Identified items or sums for particular beneficiaries — heirlooms to specific family members, charitable bequests, gifts to friends or carers. Each is described with sufficient specificity to avoid ambiguity.

Residuary clause

The catch-all clause disposing of everything not specifically dealt with, typically to the testator's spouse and children in stated proportions, or via a will trust where minors or other special beneficiaries are involved.

Trust provisions

Where the residue (or part of it) passes to minor or special-needs beneficiaries, the will incorporates trust mechanics — trustees, age of vesting, powers of advancement, and discretionary provisions.

Funeral and burial wishes

Non-binding but informative guidance on religious observance, cremation, internment, and other end-of-life preferences.

Standard administrative clauses

Trustee investment powers, charging clauses, indemnities, and other boilerplate provisions consistent with current Singapore estate-planning practice.

The will is executed under the formalities of the Wills Act 1838: signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses, both witnesses present at the same time, each witness attesting and signing in the testator's presence. The drafting solicitor typically arranges signing in their office, with the solicitor and a staff member acting as witnesses to ensure proper execution.

Standard practice is to register the will with the Singapore Academy of Law Wills Registry — a record of the will's existence (not its content) that assists with locating the document after death. The original will is then stored either by the solicitor (in the firm's fireproof storage) or by the testator in a secure location they can describe to family members.

The LPA component addresses incapacity during the donor's lifetime. A standard package typically includes a Form 1 LPA covering both personal welfare and property and affairs, with the package solicitor acting as the certificate issuer.

Form 1 versus Form 2

For most Singapore residents in a standard package, Form 1 is sufficient. Form 1 grants general authority under the MCA's default framework, with the donor appointing one or two donees and any reasonable restrictions added in the standard restrictions section. It can be completed online via the OPG portal and is the most cost-effective option.

Form 2 is used where bespoke provisions are needed — for example, multiple donees with complex jointness arrangements, a named replacement donee, specific authority for life-sustaining treatment decisions, or unusual gift-making powers. Form 2 requires solicitor drafting and is usually offered as an add-on or upgrade rather than the default.

Donee selection

The solicitor advises on donee selection during the instruction-taking process. Typical considerations include:

• Trust and family relationship;
• Singapore residence (for practical accessibility);
• Age and health of the proposed donee;
• Whether one or two donees, and how multiple donees will act (jointly or jointly and severally);
• Whether a replacement donee should be named in case the primary donee cannot act.

Certification interview

The solicitor acts as the certificate issuer, conducting the certification interview with the donor. The interview confirms the donor's understanding of the LPA, absence of pressure or coercion, and ability to make the decision. The certificate is signed contemporaneously with the LPA execution.

Donee acceptance

The proposed donee(s) sign the LPA, accepting the appointment and acknowledging the statutory duties.

Registration with the OPG

The completed LPA is submitted to the OPG for registration. The package typically includes the solicitor's handling of submission, follow-up with the OPG, and confirmation of registration to the donor.

The LPA takes effect on registration but the donee's authority engages only when the donor loses capacity in the relevant domain (or, for property and affairs, on whatever earlier date the LPA specifies).

For most Singapore residents, the Form 1 LPA bundled into a standard package is both legally adequate and cost-efficient. Form 2 is reserved for situations where the default framework genuinely does not fit the donor's circumstances.

The Advance Medical Directive (AMD) addresses refusal of extraordinary life-sustaining treatment in terminal illness. It is the narrowest of the three documents in scope but, where applicable, addresses a difficult family scenario directly through a statutory framework.

Whether the AMD is included in a package depends on the donor's preferences. Some donors do not wish to make an AMD, preferring to leave end-of-life decisions to family discussion at the time. Others wish to relieve their families of that decision by making their preferences explicit in advance.

Where included, the AMD component typically involves:

Discussion of the framework

The solicitor explains the AMD's narrow scope — terminal illness with imminent death, requiring three medical practitioners' certification, and addressing only extraordinary life-sustaining treatment. Many donors initially expect the AMD to address a broader range of scenarios and need clarification.

Discussion of values and preferences

The donor articulates their preferences about end-of-life treatment. These preferences may extend beyond the AMD's formal scope (e.g. preferences about palliative sedation, hospice care, place of dying) and may be recorded in supplementary documents even though they are not part of the AMD itself.

Form completion and execution

The AMD must be made on the prescribed form, signed by the maker in the presence of two witnesses. One witness must be the maker's own medical practitioner (typically the maker's GP). The other must be at least 21, of sound mind, and must not be a beneficiary under the maker's will or insurance.

The medical-practitioner witness requirement means that AMD execution sometimes requires a separate appointment with the donor's GP, rather than being completed in the solicitor's office. The solicitor coordinates this where appropriate.

Registration with the MOH

The completed AMD is registered with the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives at the Ministry of Health. The registry is confidential; access is restricted to authorised medical practitioners after the AMD is sought to be relied upon. The solicitor handles registration as part of the package.

Many estate-planning packages offer the AMD as an optional component, with donors electing whether to include it. Practising solicitors estimate that AMD take-up is meaningfully lower than LPA take-up, reflecting the narrower scope and the more personal nature of the decision.

A well-structured package goes beyond the three core documents to address the assets that pass outside the will. Without this coordination, the will and LPA may produce outcomes the donor did not intend.

CPF nomination review

CPF balances do not pass under the will; they pass under the CPF Nomination filed with the CPF Board. The solicitor reviews the donor's existing nomination (or its absence) and advises on whether changes are needed to align with the overall plan. Where no nomination exists, the package may include guidance on completing one.

Insurance nomination review

Life insurance proceeds pass under the policy nomination, not under the will. The solicitor reviews existing nominations and advises on alignment with the will. Where appropriate, the solicitor advises on the distinction between revocable nominations and trust nominations under the Insurance Act 1966.

Joint property review

Property held in joint names with survivorship — common for HDB flats and joint bank accounts — passes automatically to the surviving joint owner on death. This bypasses the will entirely. The solicitor identifies joint property and advises whether it should be restructured (e.g. converted to tenancy in common where the will's distribution intent so requires).

Family communication

The package commonly includes guidance on family communication — telling the executor about the will's location, the donee about the LPA, and family members about the AMD. A document hidden away serves no purpose if no-one knows it exists.

Storage

The original will is typically stored either at the solicitor's firm (in fireproof storage with the firm's records) or by the testator (in a home safe or bank safe deposit box). The solicitor advises on options and confirms the chosen approach in writing.

Where the donor has more complex circumstances — a family business, cross-border assets, trusts, or a family office — the package may extend further to coordinate these elements. See our articles on family offices in Singapore and estate planning in Singapore for the broader framework.

Estate-planning packages are typically billed on a fixed-fee basis. The certainty suits both the client (who knows the cost) and the solicitor (whose scope is well-defined). Where the scope expands during the engagement, the engagement letter typically provides for additional fees on a stated basis.

The following is indicative orientation, not a quotation. Actual fees vary widely by solicitor, firm, and the complexity of the donor's circumstances. Always obtain a written quote before engaging.

Standard single-person package (will + Form 1 LPA + AMD)

For a Singapore resident with a straightforward estate (HDB flat or condo, modest investments, standard family situation), a fixed fee in a moderate three- to low-four-figure SGD range is typical at smaller firms. Larger firms generally charge more.

Mirror package for a couple (two coordinated wills + two LPAs + two AMDs)

Often offered at a discount to two separate packages, reflecting shared instruction-taking and coordinated drafting. Typical pricing is in the four-figure SGD range.

Will-only or LPA-only

Lower fees apply where only one document is needed. A simple will alone is in the low- to mid-three-figure SGD range at smaller firms. A Form 1 LPA alone, including solicitor certification and OPG registration handling, is in a similar range.

Add-ons

• Form 2 LPA. Bespoke drafting typically adds a four-figure SGD amount to the package.
• Trust provisions. Substantive trust mechanics in the will (testamentary trusts for minor children or special-needs beneficiaries) typically add a four-figure SGD amount.
• Cross-border coordination. Where the estate includes assets in multiple jurisdictions, additional fees apply for liaison with overseas counsel.
• Complex family situations. Blended families, prior marriages, estranged beneficiaries — these often require additional time on instruction-taking and drafting, reflected in higher fees.

Disbursements and registration fees

In addition to the solicitor's fees, the package usually includes:

• OPG registration fee for the LPA (currently subsidised or waived for Singapore citizens for Form 1 in many circumstances — check the OPG website for the current position);
• MOH registration fee for the AMD;
• SAL Wills Registry fee for registration of the will;
• Any disbursements (printing, courier).

The Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 require the solicitor to provide a written letter of engagement before work commences, setting out the basis of fees and the manner in which they will be calculated. This is the document that should be carefully reviewed before signing.

Fixed-fee packages are the norm for standard estate-planning work. A solicitor unable or unwilling to quote a fixed fee for a straightforward will and LPA package warrants further enquiry. Obtain quotes from multiple firms if the fee feels high.

The right solicitor for an estate-planning package is one who:

• Holds a current Singapore Practising Certificate — verifiable via the Law Society Member Directory;
• Has an active private-client practice — not an occasional one-off service;
• Is willing to quote a fixed fee for standard packages;
• Is responsive and clear in communication during the consultation phase;
• Issues a written letter of engagement before commencing work;
• Has appropriate storage arrangements for original documents;
• Knows the interaction between the will, LPA, AMD, CPF nominations, insurance nominations, and joint property;
• Has a track record (no current public disciplinary findings);
• Speaks the donor's preferred language fluently — important for Mandarin-, Malay-, or Tamil-speaking donors;
• Has cross-border experience where the donor has overseas assets or beneficiaries.

The instruction-taking process is itself diagnostic. A good package solicitor asks broad questions about family, assets, values, and concerns — not just the technical questions about distribution. The instruction-taking should feel thoughtful, not transactional.

For most Singapore residents, the choice is between:

• Smaller heartland firms. Often more cost-effective for standard packages. Many have established private-client practices serving local communities, often with bilingual capability.
• Mid-size and larger firms. Typically more expensive but with deeper specialist expertise, particularly for cross-border estates, family businesses, and trust-based plans.
• Boutique private-client firms. Specialist firms focused on private-client work. Often appropriate for higher-net-worth or more complex situations.

To find a participating Singapore-qualified solicitor for an estate-planning package, use our find a lawyer directory or contact us to request an introduction. For more on choosing an estate-planning lawyer specifically, see our estate planning lawyer article.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Always consult a Singapore-qualified lawyer holding a current Practising Certificate before acting. Indicative pricing is illustrative orientation only and is not a quotation.