The Five Plans

Five plans. How many have you got?

Each one decides something different for the people you love. Tap where you are with each.

  • About a minute
  • Free
  • No sign-up

Tap an answer for each plan

WillCPFInsuranceLPAACP

Who gets what you own

Three plans. Each one covers different things.

Will

Decides who inherits your estate, who manages it, and who looks after your children and pets

CPF nomination

Decides who gets your CPF savings

Insurance nomination

Decides who gets your policy payouts

Who decides for you, if you can't

Two plans for if illness or injury means you can't decide for yourself.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

Decides who makes decisions for you if you lose mental capacity

Advance Care Plan (ACP)

Records the care you'd want if you can't speak for yourself

Answer all 5 to see where to start.

General information to help you plan, not legal advice. Questions about your will? Our will-writing team answers by chat or email, usually within 24 hours.

Five plans that work together

Estate planning (or legacy planning) usually comes down to five plans. Each one covers something the others can't, so a will on its own isn't the whole picture.

This checklist takes about a minute. Tap where you are with each plan to see what it means for the people you love, where to start, and how to do each step. It's free and anonymous, and there's nothing to sign up for. We save your answers on this device so you can come back and update them.

The five plans at a glance

PlanWhat it decidesWithout oneWhere to do it
Will Who inherits your estate, who manages it, and who looks after your children and pets A fixed legal formula decides who gets your home, savings, and investments, and the court appoints a guardian for children under 21 Online with MakeGoodwill, or with a lawyer
CPF nomination Who gets your CPF savings The Public Trustee distributes them by a fixed legal formula, and charges a fee cpf.gov.sg
Insurance nomination Who gets your policy payouts Payouts usually go to your estate, and your family may need a court grant before the insurer pays out. Policies can work differently, so it's worth checking with your insurer how yours would be paid. Your insurer
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Who makes decisions for you if you lose mental capacity Your family would usually need to apply to court for the authority to act for you, starting from SGD 3,000 with a lawyer MyLegacy – free for Singapore citizens using the standard form
Advance Care Plan (ACP) The care you'd want if you can't speak for yourself Your family may have to make difficult decisions about your care without knowing your wishes myACP on MyLegacy

Why your will can't do it all

Your will covers your estate, but some of the biggest things you own follow their own path.

  • Your CPF savings go to the people in your CPF nomination. Your will can't change this – our guide to CPF nominations explains why.
  • Insurance with a named nominee pays out to that nominee.
  • Property and bank accounts held as joint tenants usually pass to the surviving owner automatically.

The LPA and the Advance Care Plan are different again. They work while you're alive, if illness or injury means you can't decide for yourself. Your will only takes effect after you pass away.

Without a will, the law decides who inherits the rest. See how the formula works with The Split.

Life changes that undo your plans

Two of these plans can stop working without you doing anything.

  • Getting married automatically revokes your will, unless the will says it was made in contemplation of that marriage. If yours doesn't say so, you'll need a new one.
  • Getting married also cancels your CPF nomination, so you'll need to make a new one.

Divorce doesn't cancel either. A former spouse you named stays in your will and your CPF nomination until you change them. It's worth checking all five plans after big life changes, like marriage, divorce, a new child, or a new home.

From the Learning centre What is a CPF nomination, and how does it work in Singapore? Read the full guide → From the Learning centre What happens if you pass away without a will in Singapore? Read the full guide → From the Learning centre Legal guardianship in Singapore Read the full guide →

Frequently asked questions

A complete estate plan in Singapore usually covers five things: a will, a CPF nomination, nominations on your insurance policies, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and an Advance Care Plan (ACP). Your will covers your estate. Your CPF savings and nominated insurance pass outside it. The LPA and ACP cover decisions while you're alive.
Your will takes effect after you pass away – it's how you decide what happens to your estate. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) takes effect while you're still alive – it appoints someone to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. The two work together but cover different stages of life. MakeGoodwill helps you with your will. An LPA needs to be certified by an accredited LPA Certificate Issuer – an accredited medical practitioner, psychiatrist, or lawyer – before it's registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
The payout usually goes to your estate. If you have a will and your insurer has a certified copy, it can be paid according to your will; otherwise it follows the intestacy rules. Either way, your family may need a court grant, such as probate or letters of administration, before the insurer pays out in full. A nomination lets your insurer pay the people you name directly. Policies can work differently, so it's worth checking with your insurer how yours would be paid.
Yes. Marriage automatically revokes your will, unless the will says it was made in contemplation of that marriage, and it cancels your CPF nomination. Divorce doesn't cancel either, so a former spouse you named stays in your will and your CPF nomination until you change them. It's worth reviewing all five plans after either.
Making an LPA is free for Singapore citizens using the standard form (Form 1). It must be certified by an accredited LPA Certificate Issuer – a doctor, psychiatrist, or lawyer – who may charge a fee, before it's registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. MakeGoodwill doesn't offer LPAs; you can start one on MyLegacy.
An Advance Care Plan (ACP) records the care you'd want, so your loved ones and healthcare team can act in your best interests if you're no longer able to speak for yourself. You can make one online with myACP on MyLegacy.
Yes. It's free and anonymous, and there's nothing to sign up for. We save your answers on this device so you can come back and update them.