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A simple will, explained clause by clause

Read a sample will with a plain-English note beside every clause. Add your family’s names to see how it reads for you, then download it free.

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For reading only. The sample shows how a will works, and it isn’t meant to be signed.

SAMPLE

Last Will & Testament – samplePage 3

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENTofRACHEL SAMPLE

Your assets worldwideThe sample assumes you live in Singapore, so your will covers your worldwide assets.

I, RACHEL SAMPLE, holder of NRIC / FIN [NRIC], of [address] make this my last will (“Will”) and HEREBY REVOKE all prior wills, codicils and other testamentary dispositions previously made by me.

Who’s making the willYou name yourself and cancel any will you made before, so only this one counts.

Preliminary Declarations

Daniel Sample is my spouse.

I have the following living children:Ethan Sample born on [date of birth]Chloe Sample born on [date of birth]

All references to my spouse are references to Daniel Sample.

Your family, by nameFull names and dates of birth mean no one has to guess who you meant.

In this Will, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)“my child” or “my children” means any child of mine — whether legitimate, legitimated or adopted, born to me, or conceived through assisted or artificial reproductive technology using genetic material contributed by me (including those born from a surrogacy arrangement) — in each case whether such adoption, birth, or conception occurs before or after the date of this Will, but shall exclude (i) any illegitimate person and their descendants and (ii) any person conceived using genetic material donated by me where I have not during my lifetime certified in writing that such person should be treated as my child for purposes of this Will; and

(b)“my issue” and “my descendants” means my children (as defined above) and the lineal descendants by blood of any of them, however remote, taking the same meaning of “child” at every generation.

Who counts as a childThe children named above, plus any child you adopt or have later. Stepchildren and children born outside marriage aren’t included automatically, so list them as beneficiaries if you want them to inherit.

I have included an Appendix to this Will, which is not a testamentary document but has been placed with this Will to assist my Executor in finding my financial assets and delivering personal messages I have written to my beneficiaries.

The pages at the backPoints to the Schedule of Assets and Personal Messages. They help your executor, but they aren’t part of the will and don’t need to be signed or witnessed.

SAMPLE

Sample will

Rachel Sample’s will, with notes

A simple sample will, explained clause by clause.

For reading only. The sample isn’t meant to be signed, and it isn’t written for your situation. ID numbers, dates of birth, and the address are placeholders.

Make it yours

See the sample with your family’s names

Type your names and the will, the notes, and the PDF update as you go. The sample assumes you live in Singapore, are married, and your children are under 21.

Names stay in your browser. We don’t store them or send them anywhere. ID numbers, dates of birth, and your address stay as placeholders.

Your will at a glance

RSRachel SampleMakes the will

DSDaniel Sample50%ExecutorGuardian

ESEthan Sample25%

CSChloe Sample25%

Shares of what’s left after debts, expenses, and taxes

Daniel Sample gets 50%. Each child gets 25%. In your own MakeGoodwill will, you choose any split.

Your sex

This decides the legal wording that defines your children in the will.

Your full name Your spouse’s full name

Your children 1 to 4, oldest first

The sample

The will, with notes

How our template would set out the will for the family above, without the backup guardians, substitutes, gifts, and pet caretakers. Each section starts in plain English. Open the clauses to read them, with notes beside them and your family’s names highlighted.

Not in this sample

Section 1 of 6

You and your family

The will names you, your spouse Daniel Sample, and your children Ethan Sample and Chloe Sample. It cancels any will you made before. The sample assumes you live in Singapore, so it covers your assets worldwide.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENTofRACHEL SAMPLE

Your assets worldwideThe sample assumes you live in Singapore, so your will covers your worldwide assets.

The note Singapore residents see in the app

Through this service, you can create a will that covers your worldwide assets. If you have assets situated outside Singapore, you should seek independent legal advice in the relevant jurisdiction to ensure that this will is recognised and effective there. If you move out of Singapore, you should also seek legal advice to ensure that this will continues to be valid.

Who’s making the willYou name yourself and cancel any will you made before, so only this one counts.

Preliminary Declarations

Daniel Sample is my spouse.

I have the following living children:Ethan Sample born on [date of birth]Chloe Sample born on [date of birth]

All references to my spouse are references to Daniel Sample.

Your family, by nameFull names and dates of birth mean no one has to guess who you meant.

In this Will, unless the context otherwise requires:

The pages at the backPoints to the Schedule of Assets and Personal Messages. They help your executor, but they aren’t part of the will and don’t need to be signed or witnessed.

Section 2 of 6

Children and pets

Daniel Sample becomes guardian of your children until they turn 21. Your executor, as trustee, looks after what they inherit until then, and can pass a child’s share to their guardian.

Not in this sample:

Guardianship of Children

If Ethan Sample is under 21 years of age at the date of my death,

i.I appoint Daniel Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC]) as guardian of Ethan Sample.

If Chloe Sample is under 21 years of age at the date of my death,

i.I appoint Daniel Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC]) as guardian of Chloe Sample.

Who looks after your childrenDaniel Sample is responsible for your children’s wellbeing until they turn 21. The other parent is usually the first choice of guardian.

Not in this sample · backup guardian

If Daniel Sample is unable or unwilling to serve as guardian, you name a backup guardian to take his place.

No backup guardianIf Daniel Sample can’t act, it’s left to the court to appoint a guardian, which can take time and may not reflect your wishes. Your own MakeGoodwill will can name a backup guardian, often a sibling or close friend.

Not in this sample · temporary guardian

If your guardian lives outside Singapore, you name a temporary guardian to care for your children until your guardian can take legal custody.

No temporary guardianOnly needed if a guardian lives overseas. The sample assumes Daniel Sample lives in Singapore.

Furthermore, the guardian shall serve as custodian for his or her property until he or she reaches 21 years of age.

Without prejudice to the clauses in my Will, my Trustee may pay or transfer any assets comprised in, or any income of, my Estate to which any minor is beneficially entitled, to the guardian or parent of the minor and the receipt of the guardian or parent shall be a full discharge to my Trustee.

Money for your childrenYour trustee – your executor, Daniel Sample – looks after what your children inherit until they turn 21. The trustee can pass a child’s share to their guardian, and the guardian then holds it as custodian until the child turns 21.

Not in this sample · pet caretaker

You name a caretaker to look after your pets.

No petsThe sample leaves pets out. In your own MakeGoodwill will, you name a caretaker. If they can’t take your pet on, your executor finds it a safe, loving home, and any costs are paid from your estate.

Section 3 of 6

Your executor

Daniel Sample is your executor and trustee: they gather your assets, pay your debts and taxes, apply for the Grant of Probate, and share out your estate. They can be paid reasonable compensation.

Not in this sample:

Appointment of Executors and Trustees

10.

I appoint Daniel Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC]) as my executor and trustee of this Will (my “Executor”).

Who sorts out the estateYour executor gathers your assets, pays your debts and taxes, applies for the Grant of Probate, and distributes your estate according to your will.

Not in this sample · substitute or joint executor

If Daniel Sample is unable or unwilling to act as executor, you name a substitute executor to take his place. Or you name a joint executor to act alongside him.

No substitute executorIf Daniel Sample can’t act, no one is named to take his place. You leave shares to children under 21, so if you own real estate in Singapore, such as a home, it’s advisable to appoint two joint executors: selling real estate held for a child needs two trustees acting together.

11.

I declare that in the interpretation of this Will, the expression “my Executor” shall mean my executor and trustee for the time being.

12.

Subject to the clauses of this Will, the below shall guide my Executor where applicable:

i.my Executor may exercise any powers given to them by law;

ii.my Executor may retain real estate and personal property without liability for loss or depreciation until such time as they should be distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Will;

iii.my Executor shall have all the powers of an absolute beneficial owner in relation to the management and administration of my estate;

iv.my Executor may sell, call in and convert my Residuary Estate into money with power to postpone the sale, calling in and conversion thereof for so long as he or she in his or her absolute discretion think fit without being liable for loss, and to distribute in its original form my Residuary Estate;

v.my Executor may sell any real property specifically gifted under this Will where the intended beneficiary is unable or unwilling to accept the gift and apply the proceeds towards the discharge of any encumbrances over such property from the proceeds of such sale;

vi.my Executor may lease any real estate or personal property in my estate;

vii.my Executor may abandon, adjust, arbitrate, compromise, sue on or defend and otherwise deal with and settle claims in favour of or against my estate; and

viii.my Executor may serve as trustee for any real estate or personal property left to minors until they reach 21 years of age.

The executor’s powersGives Daniel Sample broad powers to manage the estate, such as selling, leasing, and settling claims, and to act as trustee for anything your children inherit, whether real estate, money, investments, or belongings, until they turn 21.

13.

My Executor shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for carrying out the duties set forth in this Will.

Paying the executorLets your executor be paid for their work. It’s on by default when you create your own will, and you can turn it off to remove this clause.

Section 4 of 6

Debts and taxes

Debts, expenses, and taxes are paid from your estate before anyone inherits.

Section 5 of 6

Who gets what

What’s left is shared: 50% to Daniel Sample, and 50% shared equally between your children. If someone passes away before you, their share goes to the others. A beneficiary has to outlive you by 30 days to inherit.

Daniel Sample 50%
Ethan Sample 25%
Chloe Sample 25%

Not in this sample:

Distribution of the Estate

Not in this sample · gifts

Before the rest of your estate is shared, you leave specific gifts – personal items, vehicles, real estate, financial accounts, or cash – to a person or a charity.

No giftsThe sample shares everything by percentage. In your own MakeGoodwill will, you can leave specific gifts first.

16.

Residuary Estate

a.Subject to the payment of all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses (including any costs or expenses to give effect to specific gifts made under this Will), all payable taxes and estate duties, and the specific legacies above, my Executor shall distribute all of my remaining estate, both real and personal (including any property over which I may have a general power of appointment or disposition by will) (“Residuary Estate”) to the following persons in the following proportions:

i.50% to Daniel Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC])

ii.25% to Ethan Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC])

iii.25% to Chloe Sample (NRIC / FIN Number: [NRIC])

Who gets what’s leftWhatever is left after gifts, debts, expenses, and taxes is your residuary estate. Here, 50% goes to Daniel Sample and the other 50% is shared equally between your children.

b.For the avoidance of doubt, my Residuary Estate shall include: (i) any retirement savings or investment accounts (including the proceeds of any life policy) as may be paid to my estate; and (ii) any asset which I hold or used to hold as joint tenant with any other person, where such asset has become solely owned by me by reason of the death of the other joint tenant or tenants during my lifetime.

Nothing slips throughAlso covers money paid into your estate, such as life insurance proceeds, and anything you held as a joint tenant if you outlive the co-owner and become the sole owner.

c.If any of the gifts set out in this clause shall fail, such gift shall be added to the other gifts which have not failed in the proportions which such other gifts bear to each other.

d.If, after applying every preceding provision of this clause, any part of my Residuary Estate remains undisposed of (whether because every named beneficiary has predeceased me, or has failed to survive me by 30 days, or for any other reason), I direct my Executor to distribute that part of my estate to such of my issue as survive me, per stirpes; and if I leave no surviving issue, then to the persons who would be entitled to my estate under the Intestate Succession Act 1967 of Singapore as if I had died intestate at the date of my death.

If someone passes away firstWith no substitutes named, their share is divided among the other beneficiaries in proportion. If none of them survive you by 30 days, it goes to your descendants, or else as the intestacy rules decide.See how the intestacy rules split an estate

Not in this sample · substitute beneficiaries

If Daniel Sample passes away before you, or at the same time, you name substitute beneficiaries to receive his share.

No substitute beneficiariesIn your own MakeGoodwill will, you choose who inherits each share if that person can’t: your children, their children, or someone else you pick.

17.

Every beneficiary under this Will who survives me but fails to do so by the period of 30 days shall be treated for the purposes of this Will as having died in my lifetime and the gift bequeathed to any such beneficiary and its intermediate income shall devolve accordingly.

The 30-day ruleA beneficiary has to outlive you by at least 30 days to inherit. If they don’t, their gift is treated as if they passed away before you.

Section 6 of 6

Final declarations

You confirm you’re 21 or older, understand your will, and are making it freely. If one clause fails, the rest still stands. The sample stops before the signature page.

Two pages to fill in

Start the paperwork your family will thank you for

These documents sit alongside your will but aren't part of it. Fill them in by hand and keep them with your important papers.

Appendix

Schedule of Assets

This appendix (Schedule of Assets and Personal Messages) is not legally binding, does not form part of the will, and is not required to generate a valid will. The information added is intended to help the executor in the administration of the estate.

Good to know

Some assets pass outside your will. A nominated CPF account, or any account or policy with a named nominee, goes straight to the nominee.
If an asset is jointly owned, what happens depends on how it’s held. As joint tenants, it passes automatically to the surviving owner. If you outlive the other owners, it becomes yours alone and forms part of your residuary estate. As tenants-in-common, your share stays in your estate and can be passed on through your will.
Listing these here still helps your executor account for everything. Not sure how something is held? Check with your provider or the title deed.

Assets under my sole name

Name	Type	Nominated?	Approximate value
e.g. DBS Current Account 123-456789	Bank account	No	SGD 20,000

Nominations and joint ownership

Name	Type	Jointly owned or nomination	Approximate value
e.g. CPF Ordinary Account	CPF	Yes	Not specified
e.g. #02-01 125 Bugis Street	Residential	Yes	SGD 650,000

The PDF also has tables for loans and your advisors.

Schedule of Assets. A list of what you own, so your executor can find it.

Appendix

Personal Messages

I instruct my executor to deliver these messages to my intended beneficiaries, either electronically or in hard copy. They should not be shared with anyone other than the recipient, and should be excluded from public availability.

Personal Messages. Words for the people you love, passed on by your executor. They aren't legally binding.

Your own will

Six things the sample leaves out

Each one is a question we ask when you create your will with MakeGoodwill. Tap one to see where it would go.

A backup guardian

Takes your first choice’s place if they can’t act as guardian.

See where it goes

A temporary guardian

Cares for your children until a guardian who lives overseas can take legal custody.

See where it goes

A pet caretaker

Someone to look after your pets. If they can’t, your executor finds a safe, loving home.

See where it goes

A substitute or joint executor

A substitute steps in if your executor can’t act. A joint executor acts alongside them.

See where it goes

Gifts

Personal items, vehicles, real estate, financial accounts, or cash, to a person or a charity.

See where it goes

Substitute beneficiaries

Who inherits a share if that person can’t: your children, their children, or someone you choose.

See where it goes

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Questions about the sample

No. It's a sample for reading. It has no signature page, and the ID numbers, dates of birth, and address are placeholders. To make your own legally valid will, create it with MakeGoodwill, then print and sign it with two independent witnesses present.

To keep it short and easy to follow. Backup guardians, substitutes, gifts, and pet caretakers are where families' wills differ most, so they need your own answers.

Your CPF savings never pass through your will: they go to whoever you name in your CPF nomination. Insurance with a nominee goes to the nominee, and anything you hold as joint tenants passes to the surviving owner. The Schedule of Assets has a separate table for these.

Check your five plans

It depends on where you live. If you're resident in Singapore, your will covers your worldwide assets. If you hold assets outside Singapore, get legal advice there to make sure your will is valid and effective. If you're resident outside Singapore, your will covers your Singapore-situated assets only.

The sample is a civil will. If you're Muslim, inheritance follows faraid. We'd recommend a lawyer who specialises in Muslim estate planning.

No. The download is free and doesn't need an account.

The people you love deserve a plan

Create your will in under an hour, with backup guardians, substitutes, gifts, and pet caretakers included. Then print and sign it with two independent witnesses.

Start my will

The sample will is for general information only. It isn't legal advice, it isn't written for your situation, and it isn't meant to be signed. The Sample family is fictional, and names you type stay in your browser. MakeGoodwill is not a law firm or a substitute for a lawyer's advice about complex estate planning issues. If you need legal advice for your specific situation, you should consult with a licensed lawyer.

A simple will, explained clause by clause

Preliminary Declarations

See the sample with your family’s names

The will, with notes

You and your family

Preliminary Declarations

Children and pets

Guardianship of Children

Your executor

Appointment of Executors and Trustees

Debts and taxes

Debts, Expenses and Taxes

Who gets what

Distribution of the Estate

Final declarations

Severability

Final Declarations

The sample stops here

Start the paperwork your family will thank you for

Schedule of Assets

Assets under my sole name

Nominations and joint ownership

Personal Messages

Six things the sample leaves out

A backup guardian

A temporary guardian

A pet caretaker

A substitute or joint executor

Gifts

Substitute beneficiaries

Questions about the sample

The people you love deserve a plan