SingaporeWhat happens to my CPF savings when I die?
Your CPF savings do not form part of your estate and are paid directly to your validly nominated beneficiaries; if you have no nomination, the money is transferred to the Public Trustee for distribution according to the Intestate Succession Act.
What the Law Says
CPF savings are excluded from your estate under Singapore law and are governed separately from wills and intestacy rules — unless no valid nomination exists.
When you die, your CPF savings go first to the beneficiaries named in a valid CPF nomination. This is because CPF monies are held in trust by the CPF Board and do not automatically become part of your estate.
If you have not made a CPF nomination (or your nomination is invalid or revoked), your CPF savings are transferred to the Public Trustee. The Public Trustee then distributes the funds according to the Intestate Succession Act — but only after settling funeral expenses and administrative fees.
Under the Intestate Succession Act, distribution depends on who survives you — for example, if you leave behind a spouse and children, your spouse receives half and the children share the other half equally.
Statutory TextWhere a person dies intestate, his estate shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
— Intestate Succession Act, s. 7 — Distribution of estate on intestacy
What to Do
Make a CPF nomination online via CPF e-Service or at a CPF Service Centre — it’s free and revocable.
Review your nomination every few years or after major life events (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth of child).
If you have no nomination, inform your family that CPF funds will go to the Public Trustee and may take up to 30 days to distribute.
Ensure your family knows how to apply to the Public Trustee by submitting Form A and supporting documents (e.g., death certificate, ID).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.