I died without a will. How is my estate distributed?

What the Law Says

The Intestate Succession Act (ISA) governs how your estate is divided if you die without a valid will in Singapore. Section 7 sets out the exact distribution rules depending on who survives you — especially whether you leave behind a spouse, children, parents, or other relatives.

Under section 7, if you die leaving a spouse and children, your spouse receives half of your estate, and your children share the other half equally.

If you die leaving only a spouse and no children or parents, your spouse inherits the entire estate.

If you die leaving children but no spouse, your children inherit everything in equal shares.

If you die leaving no spouse or children, your parents inherit everything — equally if both are alive; otherwise, the surviving parent gets all.

More distant relatives (e.g., siblings, grandparents) may inherit only if no spouse, children, or parents survive — following the strict order in section 7.

Statutory Text

Where a person dies intestate survived by a spouse and issue, the spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate and the issue shall be entitled to the other half.

— Intestate Succession Act, s. 7 — Distribution where deceased survived by spouse and issue

What to Do

Sources