{"id":1272,"date":"2021-05-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/?p=1272"},"modified":"2025-12-13T09:55:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T01:55:56","slug":"intestate-succession-act-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/intestate-succession-act-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Intestate Succession Act Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you die without a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/what-is-a-will-singapore\/\">valid Will<\/a> in Singapore, the Intestate Succession Act will dictate your estate distribution. Under those circumstances, nobody has control over how the law distributes your estate. Given that the Intestate Succession Act is the law&#8217;s attempt to create a fair distribution, the legally entitled beneficiary may not be your intended beneficiary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Author&#8217;s Note:<\/strong> The Intestate Succession Act does not apply to any Muslim. Consequently, it shall not affect any rules of the Muslim law in respect of the distribution of the estate of any such person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#part1\">What is Your Domicile?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#part2\">Movable Property vs Immovable Property<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#part3\">Nine Rules of Distribution<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#part4\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One Minute Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In order to ascertain whether the Intestate Succession Act is enforceable, we need to determine your domicile and the type of property that you own.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Altogether, there are nine rules of distribution under the Intestate Succession Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To point out, there are multiple shortfalls under the default estate arrangement. Therefore, I will highly encourage you to draft a proper Will.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"part1\">Part 1: What is Your Domicile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To begin with, we need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/how-to-determine-your-domicile\/\">determine your domicile<\/a> in order to ascertain whether the Intestate Succession Act is enforceable. According to Oxford Dictionary, domicile refers to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To put it another way, your domicile is the country where you intend to spend the rest of your life at. This is regardless of where you may be at this time. It is important to realise that we will apply the Intestate Succession Act if your domicile is in Singapore. To explain, this means that you own the rights to the use or benefit of the property situated in Singapore. For this purpose, the property may be movable or immovable, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"part2\">Part 2: Movable Property vs Immovable Property<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite that (point in Part 1), we may still apply the Intestate Succession Act if your domicile is not in Singapore. However, you must possess the rights to the use or benefit of the immovable property that is situated in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Example of Immovable Property:<\/span> Land, benefits to arise out of land, and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"part3\">Part 3: Nine Rules of Distribution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 1:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Spouse of the Intestate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Issue (includes children and the descendants of the deceased children), Parent(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given that your spouse is the only survivor, your spouse shall be entitled to the whole of the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 2:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Spouse, Issue, Parent(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On this occasion, your spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate. Next, your issue shall be entitled to the other half of the estate in equal portions. It is important to realise that your parent(s) are not entitled to the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 3:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Issue, Parent(s)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Spouse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All in all, your issue shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal portions. Similar to Rule 2, your parent(s) are not entitled to the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 4:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Spouse, Parent(s)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Issue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this situation, your spouse shall be entitled to one-half of the estate. Meanwhile, your parent(s) shall be entitled to the other half of the estate in equal portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 5:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Parent(s)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Spouse, Descendants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By and large, your parent(s) shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 6:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Brothers and Sisters, and children of deceased brothers and sisters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Spouse, Descendants, Parent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be that as it may, your brothers and sisters shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What if there is a deceased brother or sister?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, the children of the deceased brother or sister shall take according to their stocks the share in which the deceased brother or sister would have taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 7:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Grandparents of the Intestate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Spouse, Descendants, Parents, Brothers and Sisters, children of such brothers and sisters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Summing up, your grandparents shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 8:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surviving:<\/strong> Uncles and Aunts of the Intestate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence:<\/strong> Spouse, Descendants, Parents, Brothers and Sisters, children of such brothers and sisters, Grandparents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On this occasion, your uncles and aunts shall be entitled to the whole of the estate in equal portions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Rule 9:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the distribution under Rules 1 to 8 are defaulted, then the Government shall&nbsp;be entitled to the whole of the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"part4\">Part 4: Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, the rules of distribution through the Intestate Succession Act may look fairly straightforward. However, I must highlight that this occurs only in the ending stages of wealth distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before your family is able to inherit your assets, they have to undergo the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/the-administrative-process-on-dying-without-a-will-in-singapore\">lengthy administrative process<\/a> in order to obtain a Letter of Administration. Furthermore, a third party may contest the distribution. For one thing, this results in an unnecessary delay to the distribution process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, the Intestate Succession Act is your final voice in the absence of the Will; I just hope that this voice speaks for the your intended wishes in due time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>First Published: 27 March 2019<br>Last Updated: 25 May 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Reference:<\/span><br><a href=\"https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Act\/ISA1967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understand Singapore&#8217;s Intestate Succession Act and how your estate will be distributed if you pass away without a valid Will.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-intestacy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pzl.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}