What are the requirements for a valid will in Singapore?

What the Law Says

The Wills Act sets out the formal requirements that a will must meet to be legally valid in Singapore.

To be valid, a will must satisfy all the conditions in section 6 of the Wills Act. It must be in writing and signed by the person making the will — known as the testator — or by someone else in the testator’s presence and at their direction.

The signature must be made or acknowledged by the testator in the presence of at least two witnesses who are present at the same time. Each witness must then sign the will in the presence of the testator — though they do not need to sign in each other’s presence.

The testator must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind when making the will. While not part of section 6’s formalities, these capacity requirements are essential for validity.

Statutory Text

No will shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator or by some other person in his presence and by his direction and, where the testator signs otherwise than with his usual signature, the fact that he intended by that signature to give effect to the will shall be proved; and the signature shall be made or acknowledged by him in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time; and each witness shall attest and subscribe the will in the presence of the testator, but no particular form of attestation shall be required.

— Wills Act, s. 6 — Formalities of execution

What to Do

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