Wills Registry Sees Doubling over Five Years | More Enquiries from Younger People

This article was first published on 11 January 2026 in the Singapore Mandarin broadsheet, Lianhe Zaobao.

SLW obtained permission to reproduce the article to give the legal community a broader view of legal reports for various news syndicates.

Awareness in legacy planning and financial arrangement among the general public has been growing, and the level of social acceptance for making wills is also changing gradually. Over the past five years, the number of people logging their wills with the Wills Registry has been rising.

According to data from the Wills Registry, the number of wills registered as of December 31, 2025 has reached 158,714; last year alone, the Registry received 6,179 registrations, more than twice of 2020 when the number of wills registered stood at 2,004.

In addition, a high level of registration is found both among the general public and legal practitioners, showing the increasing attention on legacy planning across the whole of society.

As the only searchable central repository of wills in Singapore, the Wills Registry was set up 25 years ago, and its management was handed over to the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) in 2020. The Wills Registry does not actually store the original will, instead, it logs the basic information of the testator, the date it was made, the name of the person who drafted the will, where it is stored, and other essential information to enable family members or lawyers to access the will quickly when the need arises.

In response to enquiries from Lianhe Zaobao, a spokesperson for SAL said, “We are seeing more people make wills as public education and awareness around estate and legacy planning continue to grow, alongside increasing recognition of the importance of ensuring that a will can be easily retrieved when it is needed. Improved financial literacy has also encouraged individuals to take a more proactive approach to planning for the future.”

The spokesperson added that the trend has also benefited from initiatives by the Wills Registry. The search mechanism set up by the Wills Registry serves as important assurance for testators: while still alive, they are the only ones who have access to the registry; after their death, access is restricted only to close relatives.

“This gives testators peace of mind that their wills will be found when required, without the need to disclose the contents of their wills to family members during their lifetime.”

Growing awareness of legacy planning among the young

Data from the Wills Registry also showed that most testators are middle age or older: 94% of the testators are aged 40 and above, and 78% are 50 and above.

But the latest figures also reveal a noteworthy trend: although the younger age groups still make up a small proportion of those who used the Wills Registry, their numbers are growing.

Data shows that the number of people aged 30 to 39 who have registered their wills rose from 54 in 2020 to 415 in 2025; and among those aged 20 to 29, the increase was from seven to 50.

One practical question facing anyone making will is how to keep it safe. If it is left at home, there will be concerns of misplacement, damage, or information leakage; but placing it with a law firm for safeguarding will incur costs.

These concerns have led some to suggest that SAL should look into a more comprehensive mechanism for the safeguarding of wills, which will allow testators to store and access an electronic version of their wills.

SAL has been actively exploring the setting up of a wills database, where wills can be stored.

The SAL spokesperson said, as the demand for the storage of information on wills continues to rise, “In response to these developments, we are working to further enhance the Wills Registry service, with more details to be shared in due course.”

Cindia Ho (retiree, 59), has already made her will, but has only stored the original at home. She said her will was very straightforward, with all inheritance to be divided equally among the beneficiaries, and it is unlikely to be the cause of any disagreement. She also said the witnesses were two of her friends who are working in law firms, and she did not feel it was necessary to store the information anywhere else.

“The information that can be stored is very basic, so there’s no need. If it’s possible to store the hardcopy or a complete electronic copy for free, it may then be worth reconsidering whether to do so.”

Information on a total of 26,100 wills stored at the Wills Registry over the past six years

The Wills Registry was established in January 2001, and has a history of 25 years now. Initially managed by the Public Trustee’s Office, a fee of $50 was levied from 2014.

In May 2020, management of the Wills Registry was handed over to SAL, and services were further improved. Over the past six years, information on a total of 26,101 wills has been registered.

Currently, information relating to wills may be retained for 120 years, starting from the testator’s date of birth. The registry also provides access services to help heirs and lawyers locate quickly where the actual wills are stored so that matters of inheritance can be dealt with.

Applications on accessing the following information can be submitted: immediate family, representing lawyer, executor, the donee in a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or court-appointed deputy.

The access fee is $10, and applicants are required to submit a valid identification document as well as other legal documents including death certificate, proof of relationship, the LPA, or court order. 

Source: Lianhe Zaobao © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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