Final Act
Will, LPA, ACP, AMD — what each one does, why each one matters, and how to get each one done in Singapore.
There are four documents that every adult in Singapore should have in place. Not because anything is wrong, and not because death is imminent — but because these documents only work if they exist before you need them. By the time the need becomes urgent, it is often too late to put them in place.
Each document covers different ground. Together, they form a complete picture: what happens to your assets, who makes decisions if you can’t, what medical treatment you want, and how you want to be cared for at the end. None of them is complicated. All of them are worth doing.
This is not a legal guide. It is a plain-language orientation to help you understand what each document is and how to get started. For specific legal advice, please consult a qualified lawyer.
The Will
What it is
A legal document that specifies how your assets are to be distributed after your death, names your executor (the person responsible for carrying out your wishes), and can also include guardianship wishes for minor children.
Why it matters
Without a will, Singapore’s Intestate Succession Act determines how your estate is distributed — in a fixed formula that may not reflect your wishes. Your family will also need to go through a longer legal process to administer the estate. Assets you intended for specific people may go elsewhere entirely.
How to do it in Singapore
A simple will can be drafted through a lawyer, or some financial advisers offer will-writing as part of their service — worth asking yours. Note that a will does not automatically cover CPF savings — CPF nominations are separate and must be made directly with CPF Board.
For Muslim estates: Distribution follows Faraid (Islamic inheritance law), not the Intestate Succession Act. Consult MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) or a lawyer familiar with Syariah law for guidance specific to your situation.
The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
What it is
A legal document that authorises one or more people you trust (your “donee”) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. It covers two areas: personal welfare (healthcare, living arrangements, daily decisions) and property and affairs (finances, property transactions). You can grant one or both.
Why it matters — and the urgency
This is the one document where timing is critical. You must make an LPA while you still have mental capacity. Once cognitive decline sets in — through dementia, stroke, or sudden accident — it is legally too late. Without an LPA, your family has no legal authority to manage your affairs, even for straightforward things like accessing your bank account to pay your bills. They would need to apply to the court for a Deputyship Order, which is costly, slow, and emotionally draining.
How to do it in Singapore
LPA registration is free for Singaporeans and can be done through the MyLegacy portal. The form requires a certificate issuer — a doctor, lawyer, or psychiatrist — to confirm you are making the LPA voluntarily and with capacity. Once registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, it is valid until revoked.
The Advance Care Plan (ACP)
What it is
A documented record of your values, goals, and preferences for medical care — for use in situations where you cannot speak for yourself. It covers questions like: what quality of life matters most to you? What treatment would you want in various scenarios? Who should be involved in decisions? It can be updated at any time.
Why it matters
Unlike the AMD (below), the ACP is not legally binding — but it is a powerful guide for your family and your healthcare team. It reduces the guesswork for the people who love you, and means that medical decisions are made in the spirit of what you actually want, not what others assume you would want. It is especially useful for capturing preferences that don’t fit neatly into a legal document.
How to do it in Singapore
The ACP can be completed through the MyLegacy portal, which also distributes the completed document to your nominated persons directly. The process is supported by AIC (Agency for Integrated Care). It does not require a doctor or lawyer — you can do it yourself, online, and update it whenever your wishes change.
One important step after completing your ACP: share your preferences with your donee and have a conversation about them. If your donee disagrees with or doesn’t fully understand your wishes, it is far better to work through that now — while you can explain your thinking — than to leave them in the difficult position of having to exercise their own judgement at the moment your ACP is activated. The document sets out what you want. The conversation is what makes sure the person acting on it truly understands why.
The Advance Medical Directive (AMD)
What it is
A legally binding document that instructs doctors not to use extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to prolong your life if you are terminally ill, unconscious, and have no reasonable prospect of recovery. It covers situations like being on a ventilator or resuscitation when there is no hope of meaningful recovery — not routine medical care.
Why it matters
Without an AMD, doctors are legally obligated to take all measures to sustain life — even when you, if conscious, might not want that. An AMD removes that decision from your family at the most distressing possible moment, and ensures your wishes are respected. Unlike the ACP, the AMD is legally binding and accessible to doctors across Singapore’s healthcare system.
How to do it in Singapore
The AMD form is available from the Ministry of Health and any restructured hospital. It must be signed in the presence of your doctor, who certifies that you are making it voluntarily and with capacity. It is then lodged with MOH and stored in a central registry accessible to healthcare providers. There is no cost.
Your checklist
Will — drafted, signed, witnessed, and your executor knows where to find it.
LPA — registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, donee informed and aware of your wishes.
ACP — completed through MyLegacy, nominated persons notified.
AMD — signed with your doctor and lodged with MOH.
Also useful
The documents are one half. The other half is making sure the people who need to act on them know what you have, where it is, and what you want. Our Final Act Planner is a free downloadable workbook that covers your schedule of assets, digital accounts, collections and distribution wishes, letters of wishes, and personal notes.
⇓ Download the Final Act PlannerFinal Act guides
→ The Four Documents Everyone Needs
→ The Conversations Nobody Wants to Have
→ Planning Your Final Act Alone
→ Beyond the Will: What Do You Want to Leave?
Second Act SG is a life design and coaching platform. We are not lawyers or legal advisers. This guide is for general information only. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified legal professional.
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