A Will only works if your family can find it. In Singapore, the court needs the original signed Will for probate. If it cannot be found, the law presumes you destroyed it on purpose, and your estate may be shared under the Intestate Succession Act instead of your wishes.
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) runs two services that help prevent this: the Wills Registry, and since 9 September 2026, the Wills Repository. This guide explains what each one does, what it costs, and how Alps Wills® fits them into your estate plan.
What is the SAL Wills Registry?
The Wills Registry is a confidential, voluntary record of where a Will is. SAL has run it since 4 May 2020, when it took over from the Public Trustee's Office.
For each Will, the Registry records:
- Who made the Will (the testator)
- The date of the Will
- Who drew up the Will
- Where the original Will is kept
The Registry does not keep the Will itself. It tells your family that a Will exists, and where to find the original.
What is the new SAL Wills Repository?
The Wills Repository builds on the Registry. Launched on 9 September 2026, it lets you deposit a digital copy of your Will with SAL, alongside the record of where the original is kept.
Key points:
- Deposits go through a participating law firm. You engage one of the law firms that have partnered with SAL. The firm prepares or reviews your Will, records who you authorise to access the copy, and deposits it for you.
- Only the people you nominate can access it, after your passing.
- The copy is encrypted and held under strict access controls.
- It is kept for up to 120 years from your date of birth.
- It does not replace your original Will. The signed paper original is still what the court needs, and depositing a copy does not decide whether your Will is valid.
The value is in the worst case: if the original cannot be found, your family has a reliable record of what your Will said.
How much does it cost?
- Registering a Will record: S$50 per submission.
- Searching the Registry: S$10 per search.
- Wills Repository deposit: free from 9 September 2026 to 31 March 2027 when made through a participating law firm. A fee applies after that date, and the law firm may charge for arranging the deposit. Check wills.sal.sg for the current fees.
Who can search the Registry after a death?
Access is restricted. After the testator's death, a next-of-kin can search the Registry with the testator's death certificate and their own NRIC. Law firms can also search on a client's behalf.
Because registration is voluntary, a search can come back empty, and a record may be out of date if a newer Will was made later. That is why keeping the record current matters as much as making it.
Registry, Repository or both?
| Wills Registry | Wills Repository | |
|---|---|---|
| What SAL holds | Where your original Will is | A digital copy of your Will |
| Who submits | You or your solicitor | A participating law firm |
| Fee | S$50 per record | Free until 31 March 2027 |
| Helps when | Your family does not know a Will exists | The original cannot be found |
For most families, the Registry record is the first step. The Repository adds a second layer for anyone whose original could be lost, for example after a move, a renovation or a long hospital stay.
How Alps Wills® keeps your Will findable
Every Will we write is signed in two originals. You keep one, and as a goodwill gesture we keep the second safe, so a single loss is not the end.
We also:
- Record where both originals are kept, so your executor knows whom to call
- Guide you through registering your Will record with the SAL Wills Registry
- Replace the stored original when you update your Will, so your executor never finds two
- Refer you to a lawyer in our network if you want a digital copy deposited in the Wills Repository
Alps Wills® is not a law firm, so we do not deposit with the Wills Repository ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
Is registering my Will compulsory?
No. The Wills Registry is voluntary. Registering simply makes it far more likely your family learns that a Will exists and where it is.
Does SAL keep my original Will?
No. SAL does not keep original signed Wills. The Registry records where the original is, and the Repository holds a digital copy only.
If I make a new Will, what happens to the old record?
Update the record so it points to your latest Will. An outdated record can send your family to the wrong document.
Can my family use the digital copy for probate?
The original signed Will is what the court needs. A deposited digital copy helps prove what your Will said if the original is lost, but it does not replace it.
Need guidance? Speak to a Certified Will Writer about keeping your Will safe and easy to find.
Sources: Singapore Academy of Law, SAL Wills Registry (wills.sal.sg), announcement of 9 September 2026. Fees and rules can change; check with SAL before you register.