Can a Will be validly made if the will maker’s signature is witnessed remotely via video call, skype, facetime or zoom? This question has arisen because COVID-19 has caused difficulties for people to gather together physically in the presence of others. Wills Act requirements – ‘in the presence of’ Section 6 (2) of the Wills […]
Author: EzWills
Is a Will signed digitally using an electronic signature valid?
“Is a Will signed digitally using an electronic signature valid?” and “can I have my Will signed with my witnesses watching on Skype?” are questions that have arisen since the Global Pandemic hit. Wills Act requirements Section 6 (2) of the Wills Act requires every Will to ‘be signed at the foot or end’ of […]
What is a Mirror Will or what are Mirror Wills?
Mirror Wills are wills usually made by couples (married or unmarried) that ‘mirror’ each other. They are different from identical wills in that identical wills are exactly identical to each other e.g. the same person may be appointed executor in each identical Will. With mirror wills each will may follow the same ‘pattern’ except like […]
Simultaneous death of a couple – what happens?
If 2 persons die under circumstances where it is impossible to know who died first the commorientes rule applies and the elder is deemed to have died 1st. This may lead to an inequitable outcome.
Same sex couples without Wills
What happens if someone in a same sex relationship passes away without a Will whilst living in Singapore? The legal situation is quite clear in this instance. The law just treats him/her as single when he/she passed away. If a person were to pass away in Singapore without a Will his/her estate falls under the […]
How to write a Will – 3 things you must get right
When making a Will in Singapore many people just google ‘How to write a Will?’ or ‘How should I make a Will?’. Really, it is more important that you get three things absolutely right if the Will is not going to be invalid. Valid Will The requirements for a valid Will can be found at […]
Leaving nothing to a spouse in your Will
When writing a Will Singapore law requires a Will Maker to leave something for the spouse of the Will Maker. Inheritance Family Provision Act (Cap. 138) The Inheritance Family Provision Act allows a person who is a Will Maker’s : spouse; unmarried daughter (regardless of age): infant son; or disabled son or daughter who is […]
When must I update my Will?
If you write your Will with proper planning and foresight you may find that you do not need to update your Will for a long time. Some people have been able to get by without having to update their Wills for 10 years or more. On the other hand, if you do not put any […]
Foreign based assets – concurrent or international Will?
It is not uncommon for people in Singapore to have assets located overseas. You have foreign born persons who move to Singapore but keep assets overseas. You also have Singaporeans who are born in Singapore but studied overseas, have business overseas or invest overseas. Many of these people maintain overseas bank accounts or own overseas […]
Providing for children in your Will – to name or not?
In making a Will in Singapore or writing a Will there is no legal requirement that you have to state a person’s name in full if it is possible to identify that person some other way. The practice is to provide NRIC numbers. Doing so leaves no doubts. However, if a will maker states in […]