Singapore Probate Lawyers — Loh Eben Ong LLP

A straightforward, uncontested probate application in Singapore typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from the date of filing to extraction of the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. This timeline covers the court's processing time at the Family Justice Courts after all documents have been filed. The overall duration, however, depends on several factors: how quickly the applicant gathers the required documents (original Will, death certificate, asset details), whether the court raises any requisitions or queries, and whether any caveats have been filed against the estate. Complex estates involving multiple properties, overseas assets, or disputes among beneficiaries may take 3 to 6 months or longer. Loh Eben Ong LLP handles probate applications on an uncontested basis. See our step-by-step probate process guide for full details on each stage.

The cost of probate in Singapore typically comprises three components: legal fees (the lawyer's professional fees for preparing and filing the application), court filing fees (payable to the Family Justice Courts, which scale with the estate value), and disbursements (out-of-pocket expenses such as oath commissioner fees, title searches, and document extraction fees). Legal fees vary depending on whether the application is for a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or Resealing, and on the complexity of the estate. For a straightforward matter, total costs including legal fees, court fees, and disbursements typically start from around $1,500 to $3,500. Use our online quotation tool for an instant fee estimate tailored to your specific situation.

An executor is the person named in the deceased's Will to carry out the instructions in the Will and administer the estate. The executor derives authority from the Will itself and applies for a Grant of Probate from the Family Justice Courts. An administrator is appointed by the court when there is no Will, or when the named executor is unable or unwilling to act. The administrator applies for Letters of Administration instead. Both have the same legal duty: to collect the estate's assets, pay all outstanding debts and liabilities, and distribute the remainder to the beneficiaries — either according to the Will (executor) or the Intestate Succession Act 1967 (administrator). Both must be at least 21 years old. Learn more on our probate services page.

Whether probate is required for a small estate in Singapore depends on the types of assets held and the policies of the institutions holding them. Some banks may release balances below their internal threshold (often $50,000 or less) without requiring a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. However, for property (HDB flats, private condominiums, landed property), shares, and most financial assets above the bank's threshold, a Grant is required regardless of the overall estate size. If the total estate value does not exceed $50,000, the next-of-kin may apply to the Public Trustee's Office to administer the estate instead of going through the court process, though certain conditions apply. Contact us to discuss the best approach for your specific situation.