The core checklist
| Document | Needed for |
|---|---|
| Death certificate (indicating religion of the deceased) | Both Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration |
| The original will | Grant of Probate only |
| Confirmation no valid will exists | Letters of Administration only |
| Applicant's NRIC, full name, and contact number | Both |
| Full names, NRIC numbers, and dates of birth of all beneficiaries | Both |
| Schedule of Assets — everything the deceased owned, in Singapore and overseas, with value as of the date of death | Both |
This is the baseline list most law firms and probate services will ask for at the very first meeting. Having as much of it ready as possible before you engage anyone genuinely speeds things up — the Schedule of Assets especially, since it's usually the single slowest part of the whole application.
The Schedule of Assets — the part that actually takes time
This is a full inventory: bank accounts, property, shares, insurance policies without a named beneficiary, vehicles, and any other assets the deceased held solely in their own name, along with a reasonable value for each as of the date of death. It's rarely something a family has sitting ready, and locating everything, especially accounts the deceased never mentioned, or assets held overseas, is genuinely the step that most often adds weeks to an application. Starting this list early, even roughly, before formally engaging anyone, is the single most useful thing a family can do to move faster later.
⚠️ Important
If the Schedule of Assets isn't ready when you file, expect roughly an extra month added to the timeline. This is the most common and most avoidable delay in the entire process.
The two documents families forget exist
Within 14 days of filing the initial application, you'll need to submit an Administration Oath and a Supporting Affidavit (plus the Schedule of Assets, if it wasn't ready at filing). These aren't optional add-ons, they're a required second step in the process, and missing that 14-day window can delay things further. If you're working with a probate service or lawyer, they'll typically manage the timing of this for you, but it's worth knowing it exists rather than assuming the initial filing is the whole process.
If there's a competing claim or the will can't be found
A few situations add real complexity, and are worth flagging early rather than discovering partway through:
• The original will can't be located, but you believe one existed — a different, more involved process applies. • More than one person is claiming the right to administer the estate — the court generally allows only one valid grant at a time, and competing applications need to be resolved before anything proceeds. • The deceased held assets overseas, or a grant was already obtained in another country — a Resealed Grant may be needed to have that authority recognised in Singapore.
Any of these is a genuine reason to get proper guidance rather than trying to navigate the application alone.
How to apply, once the documents are ready
There are three practical routes: the Probate eService if you qualify to use it directly, engaging a lawyer or probate service to file via the court's electronic system, or visiting the Lawnet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau in person. Applicants need a Singapore address for any of these routes.
💡 Tip
Need help pulling the Schedule of Assets together, or unsure which route applies to your family's situation? Try Lexicraft — they can guide you through gathering the right documents and filing correctly the first time.
💡 Tip
Probate documents are just one piece of the wider admin that follows a death. For the fuller picture — accounts, records, and estate matters together — see the C.A.R.E. Guide.
