Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Singapore?
Answered from official Singapore sources and the reported court record, as of — recomputed live.
The law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will in Singapore. A will must be in writing, signed by the person making it, and witnessed by two people who are not beneficiaries. Using a lawyer is optional and is common for larger or more complex estates.
What the question is really asking
A will is a formal document by which a person sets out who is to receive their property after death and who is to administer the estate. Whether a lawyer is needed to make one is a question of what the law requires versus what is merely prudent — and on the requirement, the Wills Act is clear that no lawyer is necessary for a will to be valid.
What the law does insist on is a set of formalities. A will must be in writing; it must be signed by the person making it, or by someone signing on their behalf in their presence and by their direction; and that signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of witnesses who are present at the same time and who then sign in the maker's presence. A person who witnesses a will, or whose spouse does, generally cannot take a gift under it, which is why witnesses should be independent of the beneficiaries. Get these formalities wrong and the document may fail as a will, whatever the maker intended.
Because the consequences of an invalid or unclear will fall on the estate and the family after death, many people choose to have a lawyer prepare one, particularly where the estate is substantial, holds business or overseas assets, involves trusts or young children, or where a dispute is foreseeable. A lawyer is also commonly involved after death, when the estate is administered and, if the will is contested, when the dispute reaches the courts. The reported record shows how the courts have decided will-validity and estate disputes when they do arise.
Official sources & how it works
The instruments and public records that govern the answer, each with its source and the year it describes.
The statute that sets the formal requirements for a valid will — writing, signature, and attestation by two or more witnesses present together — and the rule voiding gifts to a witness or a witness's spouse.
Source: Wills Act 1838 (Singapore) · as of 2020
The Family Justice Courts' public guidance on proving a will and obtaining a grant of probate or letters of administration after death, and on what an executor or administrator must do to administer the estate.
Source: Probate and administration, Family Justice Courts · as of 2026
What makes a will valid in Singapore?
Under the Wills Act, a will must be in writing, signed by the person making it (or by another at their direction and in their presence), and that signature made or acknowledged before two or more witnesses present at the same time, who then sign in the maker's presence. The maker must also have testamentary capacity and intend the document to operate as a will.
Can a beneficiary witness a will?
This should be avoided. A gift to a person who witnesses the will, or to that witness's spouse, is generally void, even though the will itself may still be valid. For this reason witnesses should be independent adults who take nothing under the will. A lawyer preparing a will typically arranges suitable independent witnesses as part of the signing.
When is a lawyer worth using for a will?
A lawyer is optional but is commonly used where the estate is large or complex, holds business or overseas assets, involves trusts or provision for young children, or where a challenge is foreseeable. A lawyer can also ensure the formalities are met so the will is not later found invalid. For a simple estate, a validly executed will can be made without one.
Explore the court record
This is one part of what the reported record shows about how lawyers and litigation work in Singapore.
- For who appears in the reported probate and estate cases, and how the courts decided will-validity and administration disputes, see Probate and Administration Lawyers in Singapore: The Court Record.
- For what the courts have ordered parties to pay in costs when an estate or will dispute is litigated, see What Singapore Courts Actually Awarded in Costs.
Methodology & disclaimer
This page explains the question factually from cited Singapore legislation, official public records and the reported Supreme Court court record. It describes how a process or requirement works in general; it does not tell any particular person what to do, is not a recommendation of any lawyer or firm, and is not legal advice. How a specific matter should be handled depends on its facts and is a question for a qualified lawyer.