ESTATE PLANNING
Will. LPA. Both.
OPG-registered LPAs
Specialist-matched
An Otter-ly Simple Way to Plan Your Will
Two documents, two jobs.
A common confusion: “If I have a will, do I need an LPA?” Yes. They cover completely different scenarios. A will doesn’t help you while you’re alive but incapacitated, and an LPA doesn’t distribute your estate after death.
A will is a legal document under the Wills Act 1838. It distributes your estate when you die, appoints an executor to administer it, and can name a guardian for minor children ¹. To be valid, the testator must be 21 or older, the will must be in writing, signed at the foot, and witnessed by two people present together (witnesses cannot be beneficiaries) ¹.
An LPA is governed by the Mental Capacity Act 2008. It’s a legal document where you (the “donor”), aged 21 or above, voluntarily appoint one or more people (the “donee”) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity in the future ² ³. The LPA only takes effect once mental capacity is lost — until then, you retain full control. It’s effectively dormant until needed.
An LPA covers two domains. Personal welfare includes decisions about healthcare, living arrangements, and personal care. Property and affairs covers financial matters — bank accounts, property, investments ². You can grant your donee authority over one or both. There are two LPA forms: Form 1 grants standard powers and can be completed without a lawyer drafting it; Form 2 grants custom or restricted powers and must be drafted by a lawyer ³ ⁵.
The registration is also different. A will isn’t registered anywhere — it’s stored privately (often with the law firm that drafted it, or in a Will Custody service). An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) through the OPGO online platform to be effective ³. The OPG sits within the Ministry of Social and Family Development and maintains the central register of all LPAs in Singapore.
Both documents need a witness or certifier. A will needs two witnesses present together. An LPA needs an LPA Certificate Issuer — a practising lawyer, accredited medical practitioner, or psychiatrist — to witness and certify that you understand what you’re signing ⁵.
QUICK COMPARISON
Will vs LPA.
When it activates — Will: after death · LPA: on loss of mental capacity
Governing law — Will: Wills Act 1838 · LPA: Mental Capacity Act 2008
Witnesses — Will: 2 lay witnesses · LPA: 1 Certificate Issuer (lawyer / doctor / psychiatrist)
Registration — Will: none, kept private · LPA: registered with OPG
Revocation— Will: replace any time (and automatically on marriage) · LPA: revoke any time while you have capacity ²
Why "either/or" is the wrong question.
A will and an LPA don’t substitute for each other. They cover separate scenarios. Each handles a problem the other can’t.
01 / DIFFERENT PERIODS OF LIFE
One during, one after.
A will is useless while you’re alive — it has no effect until you die. An LPA is useless after you die — it terminates on death. Without an LPA, if you lose mental capacity (stroke, dementia, accident), your family must apply to court for a deputyship order, which is expensive and slow ³.
02 / WITHOUT AN LPA, THE COURT DECIDES
Deputyship is the fallback.
If you lose mental capacity without an LPA, your loved ones must apply to the Family Justice Court to be appointed as deputies. The process can take months and costs significantly more than making an LPA. The court chooses — not you ³.
03 / THEY COST FAR LESS TOGETHER
One conversation, two documents.
Most law firms and estate planning services in Singapore offer packages that bundle a will and LPA in a single consultation. Combined, the cost is significantly less than building both separately — and avoids the gap where you have one but not the other.
500+
wills compared through Finspire each month
15+
Will writing providers Finspire considers when matching
4 types
Will types covered — Simple, Mirror, Muslim, with LPA
60s
Average time to complete the Finspire Eligibility Check
Start with the right will type.
Different family situations need different will structures. Pick the one that fits and we’ll match you.
For Couples
Mirror & Mutual Wills.
Married couples and partners often write reciprocal wills — each leaving everything to the other, then to the same beneficiaries.
For Muslims
Muslim Will (Wasiat).
Muslims domiciled in Singapore follow AMLA and Faraid. A Wasiat covers up to one-third of the estate to non-Faraid beneficiaries.
For Non-Muslims
Simple Will.
For non-Muslim individuals, governed by the Wills Act 1838 and the Intestate Succession Act, not by AMLA.
Will first, LPA coming.
Finspire currently arranges free consultations with will writing providers in Singapore. Our LPA product is launching soon — same comparison approach. For now, start with the will writing check — many providers can advise on both during the free consultation. Free for you, always.
Sources & citations
Every numbered citation on this page links to a primary source. Click through to verify. Last reviewed: 16 May 2026.
1. Wills Act 1838 — formal validity, witness rules, marriage revocation
Singapore Statutes Online — Wills Act 1838 (primary source)
2. Mental Capacity Act 2008 — LPA framework
Singapore Statutes Online — Mental Capacity Act 2008 (primary source)
3. Office of the Public Guardian — LPA registration, donee rules
Ministry of Social and Family Development — Office of the Public Guardian (primary source)
4. Estate planning tools — will, CPF, insurance, LPA, AMD, trust
SingaporeLegalAdvice — 8 Tools You Must Know for Estate Planning in Singapore
5. LPA Form 1 vs Form 2, Certificate Issuer requirements
OPG — Guide to the Lasting Power of Attorney (primary source PDF)
6. Muslim wills, AMLA, one-third rule
SingaporeLegalAdvice — Muslim Inheritance Law in Singapore
This page is general information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a SG-qualified lawyer. Finspire does not provide legal advice.