The Singapore Academy of Law has launched the Wills Repository Service, enabling individuals to securely deposit a digital copy of their Will with SAL’s Wills Registry through participating law firms.
To use the service, an individual must engage a participating law firm to prepare or review their Will and nominate the persons authorized to access the digital copy upon their passing. The law firm then deposits the digital copy with SAL on the individual’s behalf.
The Wills Repository Service builds on SAL’s Wills Registry, which since 2020 has recorded whether a Will exists, who prepared it and where the original signed paper Will is kept, without storing the Will itself.
Public education drive
Alongside the launch, SAL has released a short public education video, “The Last Sign,” to raise awareness of making practical arrangements to help authorized persons locate a Will when needed.
Produced with Cuckoo Films, the short film uses humour to explore a situation many people may recognise: the uncertainty of not knowing whether a loved one made a Will, or where it was kept.
“When we make a will, we make decisions to provide for the people we care about. On occasion, such good intentions can be frustrated; such as by missing wills or uncertainties over the latest version,” said Mr Yeong Zee Kin, Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law.
“When this happens during a time of bereavement, families face added uncertainty and stress at an already difficult time. The new Wills Repository Service builds on the SAL Wills Registry, which helps eligible persons establish whether a Will exists and where the original is kept. Now, a digital copy can be retrieved from the Wills Repository Service. This provides another source of information about both the location and content of wills. This helps to strengthen trust within Singapore’s estate planning ecosystem.”
“Through participating law firms, SAL provides a trusted framework for the secure deposit and retrieval of digital copies of Wills, accessible only to persons authorised by the individual,” he added. We believe this practical service will give individuals greater peace of mind and make a meaningful difference at unexpected life moments. We look forward to partnering with more law firms to make it available to their clients.”
