Deposit of Information with the Wills Registry

      

•   1. What is the Wills Registry?
  The Public Trustee maintains a confidential Wills Registry where testators and their solicitors can deposit information on Wills. No actual wills are deposited at the Wills Registry. All Wills must be kept by the testator or his/her representative.
•   2. What are the benefits of the Wills Registry?
  In the administration of a deceased’s estate, the administrator or executor has to first determine whether the deceased left behind a Will. Often, the next-of-kin or beneficiaries may also believe that the deceased may have done so but do not have a copy of the Will or information as to which solicitor drew up the Will.
  
  The information available from the Wills Registry will be useful to the following persons:
  
  

  • The person who made the Will (also known as the testator) and/or his/her solicitors if the testator wishes to make a subsequent Will;
  • The next-of-kin or beneficiaries of a deceased testator and/or the solicitors acting for the estate of the deceased testator to assist them in the administration of the deceased testator’s estate; or
  • The next-of-kin or beneficiaries of a deceased and/or their solicitors in determining whether the deceased left behind a Will governing the distribution of his/her estate.
•   3. What kind of information can be deposited at the Wills Registry?
  The Public Trustee welcomes testators and their solicitors to deposit information on Wills, including Wills that have been previously drawn up, with the Wills Registry by completing this form and providing the following information:
  
  

  • Particulars of the Testator;
  • Date of Will and Codicil (i.e. a supplement modifying a Will);
  • Particulars of the Solicitor/Person who has drawn up the Will;
  • Particulars of the Custodian of the Will; and
  • Particulars of the Informant.

  
  The completed form may be sent by post or by hand to the Wills Registry:
  
  Wills Registry -- Insolvency & Public Trustee's Office
  The URA Centre (East Wing)
  45 Maxwell Road #06-11,
  Singapore 069118
  
  Solicitors may deposit the information on behalf of the testator. However, where the informant is not a testator’s solicitor, a copy of the identity card of the testator must be enclosed together with the completed Form 5.
•   4. Will the Wills Registry keep my information confidential?
  The confidentiality of information pertaining to a Will deposited with the Registry will be strictly protected. For this reason, information at the Registry will only be released to solicitors acting for the testator or the estate and to approved persons, upon the death of the testator.
•   5. How do I obtain information relating to a Will?
  Only the following persons may make a search for information pertaining to a Will by submitting this form to the Wills Registry:
  
  

  • The testator, upon proof of his identity;
  • The solicitor who is assisting the testator to draw up any subsequent Will;
  • The solicitor acting for the estate of the deceased testator/deceased, upon production of the deceased's death certificate; or
  • The next-of-kin or beneficiary of a deceased testator/deceased, upon production of the deceased's death certificate and documents establishing his relationship with the deceased.
•   6. What kind of fees does the Wills Registry charge for its services?
  • Deposition of information: Free
  • Costs of a search application: S$10