Online Wills in Singapore (2026): What the Wills Bill Means for Executing, Registering & Updating Your Will

Last updated: 11 May 2026

The way Singaporeans plan for the distribution of their estates is changing. Online wills in Singapore have surged in popularity as digital drafting platforms, bank-sponsored templates and professional online services make it faster and cheaper than ever to prepare a testamentary document. Yet speed of preparation is only half the equation, a will that is not properly executed under the Wills Act (Cap. 352) is worthless, regardless of how it was drafted. The proposed Wills Bill, introduced in 2025 and debated into early 2026, signals Singapore’s most significant reform to will-execution rules in decades, proposing to allow electronic execution and virtual witnessing for the first time.

This guide walks through what the law requires today, what the Wills Bill would change, and the concrete steps testators, executors and families should follow to make, register and update a will that will withstand legal scrutiny.

Key takeaways:

• Validity today. You may draft a will online, but under current law it must be printed, physically signed by the testator, and witnessed by two people who are present in the same room (Wills Act, s 6).
• Registry. Depositing your will information with the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) Wills Registry is optional but strongly recommended, it makes retrieval faster and reduces the risk of lost documents.
• When to consult a solicitor. Complex estates, cross-border assets, trusts, blended families and any situation where testamentary capacity might later be questioned all warrant professional legal advice.

What the Wills Bill (2025–26) Proposes, At a Glance

Singapore’s Ministry of Law introduced the Wills Bill as part of a broader push to modernise personal-law infrastructure for a Smart Nation. The Bill’s core objective is to bring testamentary law into alignment with the Electronic Transactions Act and contemporary digital practices, while maintaining safeguards against fraud and undue influence. Industry observers expect the reforms to lower barriers for straightforward estates and encourage more Singaporeans, especially younger adults, to make a will for the first time.

Timeline and Current Status

The Wills Bill was tabled in Parliament during the 2025 legislative session and has been the subject of public consultation and select-committee review. As of the date of this article, the Bill has not yet received Presidential assent and is therefore not yet law. Testators should continue to follow existing Wills Act requirements until the Bill is formally enacted. Readers are advised to check the Ministry of Law website for the latest status updates.

Who Would Be Able to Use Electronic and Virtual Execution?

Based on publicly available commentary from the Ministry of Law and reporting in the Business Times, the Bill is expected to apply to testators who meet the existing age and capacity requirements (aged 21 and above, of sound mind). Early indications suggest the proposed framework would require identity-verification procedures for both the testator and remote witnesses, and would exclude certain categories of interested parties, such as beneficiaries and their spouses, from acting as virtual witnesses, mirroring current restrictions. Whether witnesses located overseas would qualify remains one of the details expected to be clarified in subsidiary legislation or practice directions.

Is an Online Will Legally Valid in Singapore Today?

Under the Wills Act (Cap. 352), a will is valid only if it satisfies the formalities set out in section 6. The testator must be at least 21 years of age, must have testamentary capacity (understanding the nature and effect of making a will), and must act voluntarily, free from undue influence. These requirements apply to every will, regardless of how the document was initially prepared, including online wills in Singapore drafted through vendor platforms.

The statutory execution requirements are precise: the will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by someone in the testator’s presence and at the testator’s direction), and attested by two or more witnesses who are each present at the same time and who each sign the will in the testator’s presence. Witnesses must not be beneficiaries under the will, nor the spouses of beneficiaries, if they are, the gift to that beneficiary is void, although the will itself remains valid (Wills Act, s 6; MyLegacy@LifeSG).

Drafting Online Versus Executing Online, A Critical Distinction

The phrase “online will” is frequently used to describe two very different things. Most vendor services, such as those offered by example vendors like WillMaker, WillCraft, NobleWills and SimplyWills, allow you to draft a will online by answering guided questions and generating a document. However, the generated document must then be printed on paper, physically signed by the testator and attested by two witnesses present in person. Purely electronic signing, a click or typed name on a screen, does not satisfy the Wills Act today.

Some banks also offer will-writing templates or guided drafting services (for example, DBS and OCBC have provided such tools). These follow the same principle: the bank’s platform helps you draft the document, but execution must happen offline, in compliance with the Wills Act.

Bank and Online Vendor Templates, Legal Status and Limits

Template-based wills are legally valid provided they are properly executed and the contents accurately reflect the testator’s wishes. The risk lies in what templates cannot do: they typically do not account for complex family structures, foreign assets, trust arrangements or tax-efficient planning. They rarely include an attestation clause that records the circumstances of execution, a provision that, while not strictly required, is highly recommended because it creates a presumption of due execution if the will is later challenged.

How the Wills Bill Would Change Execution, Virtual Witnessing and Online Wills in Singapore

The most significant innovation in the proposed Wills Bill is the introduction of virtual witnessing. Under the proposed framework, witnesses would no longer need to be physically present with the testator at the moment of signing. Instead, they could observe the signing and attest the will via a live audio-visual link, provided specific safeguards are met.

The proposed safeguards, based on Ministry of Law commentary and Business Times reporting, are designed to address the elevated fraud risk inherent in remote execution. The likely practical effect will be to require identity verification of all parties, contemporaneous audio-visual recording of the entire execution ceremony, and secure digital storage of the recording alongside the will itself. The Bill is also expected to update admissibility rules so that courts can consider electronic records, metadata and recordings as evidence of proper execution.

Practical Examples, Allowed and Disallowed Scenarios

To illustrate the practical boundaries of virtual witnessing singapore rules as proposed:

• Likely permitted: Testator signs the will at home while two independent witnesses observe via a recorded video call, with each participant verifying identity through a government-issued ID shown on camera. The recording is stored securely.
• Likely not permitted: A witness joins by phone call only (no video), or the witness is a beneficiary, or the identity-verification step is skipped. Similarly, a pre-recorded video of the signing would not satisfy the requirement for live observation.

Step-by-Step: How to Execute an Online Will (Practical Checklist)

Whether you are working under the current Wills Act or preparing for the Wills Bill regime, the following step-by-step process will help you execute a will online in Singapore correctly and create an evidence trail that minimises future challenge risk.

1. Choose your drafting method. Select a qualified solicitor, a reputable online vendor platform or a bank template. Ensure the service produces a document that includes an attestation clause and clearly identifies the testator, executors and beneficiaries.
2. Review the draft carefully. Read every clause. Confirm that the distribution of assets matches your intentions. If you hold assets in more than one country, consider whether you need a separate will coordinated across jurisdictions.
3. Arrange two independent witnesses. Witnesses must be at least 21 years old, mentally competent, and must not be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries under the will.
4. Prepare the execution ceremony. Under current law, print the will and gather all parties in the same room. Under the proposed Wills Bill (once enacted), set up a live, recorded video call and ensure each participant has government-issued photo identification ready.
5. Conduct the signing and attestation. The testator signs first, in the presence (physical or virtual) of both witnesses. Each witness then signs the will in the testator’s presence. Use the sample signing script below to create a clear contemporaneous record.
6. Record and store evidence. If using virtual witnessing, save the full unedited recording, note the date, time and time zone, and keep screenshots of each participant’s ID verification.
7. Deposit with the SAL Wills Registry. Complete the online deposit process at the SAL Wills Registry (wills.sal.sg), see the next section for details.
8. Notify your executor. Give your appointed executor the will’s storage location, the SAL registry reference number and instructions for accessing the document.

Sample Signing Script for Virtual Witnessing

The following script is designed for use on a recorded video call once virtual witnessing is permitted under enacted legislation. It aims to establish a clear, contemporaneous record of the execution ceremony:

• Testator: “My name is [full name]. Today’s date is [date]. I am about to sign my last will and testament voluntarily and of my own free will. I confirm that I am of sound mind. I ask [Witness 1 name] and [Witness 2 name] to witness my signature.”
• Each witness (in turn): “My name is [full name]. I can clearly see [Testator’s name] on screen. I have verified my identity by showing my [NRIC/passport]. I now witness [Testator’s name] signing the will.” [Witness then signs.]
• Testator (after both witnesses have signed): “I confirm that both witnesses have now signed the will in my presence. This recording may be used as evidence of proper execution.”

Verification checklist for virtual execution:

• Government-issued photo ID shown on camera by each participant
• Date and time stamp visible on the recording
• All participants confirm recording consent verbally
• Unedited recording saved in at least two secure locations
• Signed will scanned and stored alongside the recording

Registering and Storing Your Will, SAL Wills Registry and Safekeeping

The will registry singapore system is administered by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL). The SAL Wills Registry does not store the will document itself; rather, it records information about the will, including the testator’s details, the date of the will and where the original is kept. This allows authorised searchers (typically next-of-kin or appointed solicitors after the testator’s death) to locate the will quickly.

Step-by-Step Deposit Process

1. Visit the SAL Wills Registry portal at wills.sal.sg.
2. Complete the online deposit form, entering the testator’s full name, NRIC/passport number, date of the will and the physical location where the original will is stored.
3. Pay the applicable deposit fee.
4. Receive and retain the registry reference number.
5. Inform your executor of the reference number and the SAL Wills Registry contact details.

Industry observers expect the Wills Bill, once enacted, to enhance the SAL Wills Registry’s digital capabilities, potentially allowing direct deposit of electronic wills and more robust authentication for retrieval. This aligns with SAL’s stated aim of enabling Singaporeans to “secure your wills digitally” in the near future.

Costs, When to Use a Lawyer and Sample Clauses

The cost of making a will singapore varies significantly depending on the method and complexity involved:

Do You Need a Lawyer to Make a Will?

There is no strict legal requirement to use a lawyer when making a will in Singapore. However, professional advice is strongly recommended, and may be essential, in the following situations:

• Foreign property or cross-border assets. Different jurisdictions have different forced-heirship rules and recognition standards.
• Trusts or complex structures. Discretionary trusts, life-interest gifts and conditional bequests require precise drafting.
• Blended families. Provisions for stepchildren, former spouses or dependants from prior relationships need careful legal treatment.
• Testamentary capacity concerns. Where the testator’s mental capacity may be questioned, a solicitor’s file note and contemporaneous medical assessment create vital protective evidence.
• High-value or contentious estates. Where disputes are anticipated, a solicitor-supervised execution ceremony significantly reduces challenge risk.

Sample attestation clause (for illustrative use, verify applicability after Wills Bill enactment):

“Signed by the Testator in our joint presence via live audio-visual link on [date], each of us having verified the Testator’s identity by reference to [NRIC/Passport number], the execution having been recorded in an unedited audio-visual file stored at [location].”

Risks, Challenges and How Courts Treat Electronic Evidence

A will can be contested on several grounds under Singapore law: lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, improper execution, fraud, forgery or the existence of suspicious circumstances. The validity of electronic wills, and wills executed with virtual witnesses, is likely to attract heightened scrutiny, at least in the early years after any legislative change, as courts develop jurisprudence on the new procedures.

Courts already have experience assessing electronic evidence in other contexts. Metadata, digital timestamps and video recordings can all be powerful tools for establishing when and how a will was executed. The related discipline of handwriting and signature examination on wills remains relevant for paper-based documents and hybrid execution scenarios.

Practical mitigation measures:

• Use independent witnesses who have no financial interest in the estate.
• Record the entire execution ceremony in an unedited audio-visual file.
• Ask witnesses to provide signed affidavits confirming the circumstances of execution.
• If capacity is a concern, arrange a medical assessment on the same day as execution and retain the doctor’s report with the will.
• Store copies of the recording, the signed will and all supporting documents in at least two separate secure locations.

Early indications suggest that wills executed with meticulous recording and verification protocols will be significantly harder to challenge than those executed informally, regardless of whether the ceremony was physical or virtual.

Quick Decisions Checklist

1. Is your estate straightforward? If yes, an online will platform may be sufficient, but ensure proper execution.
2. Do you hold assets overseas? Consult a solicitor experienced in coordinating wills across multiple countries.
3. Do you want virtual witnessing? Wait for the Wills Bill to be enacted, or follow strict ID, recording and storage protocols now for future evidential protection.
4. Have you deposited your will information? Use the SAL Wills Registry at wills.sal.sg.
5. Is there any risk of disputes or capacity challenges? Instruct a solicitor and arrange a contemporaneous medical assessment.
6. Ready to speak to a specialist? Find a Singapore wills lawyer through the Global Law Experts directory for a consultation on online wills in Singapore.

Sources

1. Singapore Statutes Online, Wills Act (Cap. 352)
2. SAL Wills Registry, Getting Started
3. SAL, You Can Secure Your Wills Digitally Soon (PDF)
4. Ministry of Law, Singapore
5. Business Times, Modernising Wills for a Smart Nation
6. MyLegacy@LifeSG, Write a Will
7. NobleWills, Online Wills Service
8. SingaporeLegalAdvice, Making a Will Online in Singapore
9. SingSaver, Will Writing in Singapore