Who inherits without a will in Singapore?

The spouse and the children inherit shares together

In Singapore non-Muslims follow the Intestate Succession Act: the spouse takes half and the children the other half.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

The default, not your case. This page describes what applies when there is no valid will. Succession law is reformed often, a will changes everything, and the rules for an estate with a foreign element are complex. This is general information, not legal advice.

A spouse and children survive

For non-Muslims the spouse takes one half and the children share the other half.

A spouse survives, but no children

With no children, the spouse takes a half and the parents share the other half; with no parents, the spouse takes everything.

No spouse: who comes next

Children first; then the parents; then the siblings; then more distant relatives. If none, the estate goes to the Government.

A partner who is not married

An unmarried partner does not inherit.

What a will cannot take away

There is no forced share, but dependants can ask the court for maintenance from the estate.

If the person or the property is abroad

Muslims in Singapore follow Islamic law of inheritance (faraid) under the Administration of Muslim Law Act, so the answer depends on the religion.

Understand the legal system first

Singapore belongs to the Common law family. Succession law grows out of the legal tradition, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Singapore legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Who owns what in a marriage in Singapore? →

Official sources

Singapore Statutes Online

TheLawToKnow Tools’s inheritance guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.