Administration of Small Estates of the Deceased

      

•   1. How can the Public Trustee help in the administration of small estates
  of the deceased?
  You can apply to the Public Trustee for the Public Trustee to administer a deceased’s estate (excluding CPF Monies) if the value of the estate does not exceed S$50,000. Applications for Letters of Administration are not needed if the Public Trustee agrees to administer an estate.
  
  In administering an estate, the Public Trustee recovers and realises assets in the estate and distributes these to the beneficiaries. The Public Trustee ascertains the beneficiaries according to the Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146) for non-Muslims and Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3) for Muslims.
  
  If the beneficiary is a minor, the Public Trustee will hold the minor’s share in trust until the minor is of 21 years old. In the meantime, the minor beneficiary’s guardian can apply to the Public Trustee for the minor’s monthly maintenance.
  
  The assets recovered by the Public Trustee are:
  
  

  • Deceased’s monies in banks or other financial institutions in Singapore
  • Deceased’s shares which are listed on the Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) (The shares can be sold or transferred to one of the beneficiaries or claimant)
  • Deceased’s vehicle, except taxis
    (The vehicle is to be transferred to one of the beneficiaries / claimant)
  • Deceased’s undrawn salary
  • Compensation monies due to the deceased.
•   2. Can I apply to the Public Trustee for the administration of small estates
  of the deceased?
  Any person over 21 years old can apply. Friends or relatives can also apply on behalf of beneficiaries.
•   3. How much does the Public Trustee charge for the administration of
  small estates of the deceased?
  The statutory fees payable to the Public Trustee are as follows:
  
  

  For the first $5,000	6.50%
  For the next $2,000	6.00%
  For the next $3,000	4.25%
  For the next $10,000	2.75%
  For the next $30,000	2.25%

  
  These fees cannot be waived. A minimum fee of $12 may apply. 
•   4. How can I apply for the Public Trustee to be an Administrator of small
  estates of the deceased?
  You need to complete an online application and provide a copy of the documents stated in the application. Alternatively, the documents may be submitted to:
  
  The Public Trustee (Insolvency & Public Trustee's Office)
  The URA Centre, East Wing, 45 Maxwell Road,
  #06-11, Singapore 069118
  Tel : 63251500 |  Fax: 6224 2858
  Email: ipto_enquiry@ipto.gov.sg
  
  If the deceased was a Muslim, you also need to submit to the Public Trustee an Inheritance Certificate. The certificate can be obtained from the Syariah Court.
  
  The above information and documents are required to ascertain the beneficiaries of the deceased.
  
  Application forms which are incomplete or submitted without the required documents will result in a delay in the distribution of the deceased’s estate to the beneficiaries.
  
  

  Please note that the information given to the Public Trustee must be true. It is an offence to furnish false information to a public servant.

  
  The Public Trustee will not administer the estate if it is discovered that any information given is incorrect or untrue.
•   5. In what situations is the Public Trustee unable to help in the
  administration of small estates of the deceased?
  The situations where the Public Trustee is unable to assist include:
  
  

  • Where the estate exceeds S$50,000 in value.
  • Where there are conflicting claims to the estate or disputes between beneficiaries.
  • Where the estate has outstanding debts or liabilities.
  • Where the deceased had shares or other interest in unlisted companies (foreign or local).
  • Where the deceased was a partner, a sole-proprietor or had interest in a firm or other business.
  • Where the deceased was the sole lessee (owner) of a HDB flat and there are minor interests.
  • Where there are pending law suits which involve the deceased.

  
  Where the Public Trustee is unable to administer the estate, you may have to apply to the Courts for Letters of Administration (i.e. appoint administrators) to deal with the deceased’s estate.
  
  If you qualify for legal aid, you may apply to the Legal Aid Bureau for assistance in applying for the Letters of Administration. If you do not qualify, you will have to engage the services of a lawyer.