Our Probate Services

Loh Eben Ong LLP provides three main probate services in Singapore: applications for a Grant of Probate where the deceased left a valid Will, applications for Letters of Administration where there is no Will, and resealing of foreign Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration issued in Commonwealth jurisdictions. All three services are handled on an uncontested basis by the firm's experienced probate lawyers. All probate and Letters of Administration applications are filed in the Family Justice Courts under the Probate and Administration Act 1934.

Grant of Probate

A Grant of Probate is a court order that confirms the authority of the executor named in the deceased's Will to administer the estate. If the deceased left a valid Will appointing you as executor, you will need to apply for a Grant of Probate from the Family Justice Courts.

What Does the Grant Authorise?

The Grant of Probate gives the executor legal authority to:

• Collect all assets belonging to the deceased (bank accounts, property, investments, etc.)
• Pay off any outstanding debts, taxes, and liabilities of the estate
• Distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the Will

Role of the Executor

The executor is the person named in the Will to carry out the deceased's wishes. As executor, you have a legal duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, to keep proper accounts, and to distribute the estate in accordance with the Will. You must be at least 21 years old to act as executor.

Documents Required

To begin the probate application, you will need to gather certain documents, including the original Will, the death certificate, and information about the deceased's assets and liabilities.

Letters of Administration

When the deceased did not leave a valid Will, or when the named executor is unable or unwilling to act, the next-of-kin may apply for Letters of Administration from the Family Justice Courts.

Who Can Apply?

The right to apply for Letters of Administration follows a statutory priority set out in the Probate and Administration Act:

• Surviving spouse
• Children of the deceased
• Parents of the deceased
• Siblings of the deceased
• Other next-of-kin in order of priority

The applicant must be at least 21 years old. In most cases, the court requires at least two administrators unless a specific exemption applies.

Distribution Under the Intestate Succession Act

When there is no Will, the estate is distributed according to the rules set out in the Intestate Succession Act. The distribution depends on which relatives survive the deceased. For full details on the distribution rules, see our Intestacy page.

Resealing of Foreign Grants

If a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has already been issued in a foreign jurisdiction, you may not need to apply for a fresh grant in Singapore. Instead, you can apply to reseal the foreign grant in Singapore, which recognises the foreign grant and gives it effect locally.

Resealing is available for grants issued in gazetted Commonwealth territories under the Probate and Administration Act. For full details on the resealing process, eligible jurisdictions, and required documents, see our Resealing page.

Get Started

Whether you need a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or a Resealing, we are here to help. For answers to common questions about costs, timeframes, and requirements, see our probate FAQ. Choose from the options below to begin.