SAL’s New Wills Repository Service: Its Impact on Probate Applications
DOT Chambers LLC is pleased to be a Participating Law Firm in the Wills Repository Service.
A new service launched by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) provides an important additional safeguard for anyone making a Will, and for the families who may one day need to apply for a grant of probate in Singapore. This article explains what the Wills Repository Service is, why it is useful, and how it can help a probate application when the original Will cannot be found.
What Is SAL’s Wills Repository Service?
Since 9 September 2026, individuals can deposit a digital copy of their Will with SAL’s new Wills Repository Service through participating law firms.
The service builds on SAL’s existing Wills Registry. The Wills Registry records whether a Will exists, who prepared it and where the original signed Will is kept, but it does not store the Will itself. The new Wills Repository goes a step further by securely retaining a digital copy.
| |
Wills Registry |
Wills Repository (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Records that a Will exists |
Yes |
Yes |
| Records who prepared it and where the original is kept |
Yes |
Yes |
| Keeps a secure digital copy of the Will |
No |
Yes |
Why Is the Wills Repository Useful?
The practical problem is simple. After someone dies, their family may know that a Will exists but be unable to locate the original or a copy. The Will may have been misplaced or stored somewhere unexpected, or its whereabouts may simply be unknown.
The Wills Repository provides an additional source of information about the existence, location and, most importantly, the contents of a Will. A digital copy deposited through the service is encrypted and subject to access controls, and it may only be accessed by persons authorised by the testator.
Key point:
Depositing a digital copy does not replace the original signed Will, and it does not determine whether the Will is legally valid. The original Will should therefore still be kept safely.
What If the Original Will Cannot Be Found During Probate?
This is where the service may be particularly helpful in the context of probate.
Under Section 9 of the Probate and Administration Act 1934, where a Will has been lost, mislaid, or cannot for sufficient reason be produced, the Court may grant probate of a copy of the Will.
A securely stored digital copy, such as one retrieved from the Wills Repository, may therefore become very valuable to the executor when applying for a grant of probate where the original Will cannot be located. If no Will can be found at all, the family would instead need to apply for Letters of Administration. You can read more about the difference in our guide to Grant of Probate vs Letters of Administration in Singapore.
A Will is intended to express your wishes when you no longer can. Making sure that it can be found, and that an accurate copy can be accessed when needed, is vital to effective estate planning.
Depositing Your Will Through DOT Chambers LLC
Currently, only Participating Law Firms are able to deposit a digital copy of your Will with SAL. DOT Chambers LLC is a Participating Law Firm.
When we prepare your Will
We will explore whether depositing a digital copy with SAL is appropriate for your circumstances. If it is, we will arrange the deposit through the Wills Repository as part of our will writing service.If you already have a Will
This is a good opportunity to review where your original is kept and to consider whether a digital copy should also be securely deposited with SAL.
Complimentary deposits
Deposits made through Participating Law Firms will be complimentary from 9 September 2026 until 31 March 2027.
Wills Repository Service: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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It is a service launched by the Singapore Academy of Law that securely retains a digital copy of your Will. It builds on SAL’s existing Wills Registry, which records that a Will exists and where the original is kept.
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No. Depositing a digital copy does not replace the original signed Will or determine whether the Will is legally valid, so the original should still be kept safely.
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A digital copy deposited through the service is encrypted and subject to access controls. It may only be accessed by persons authorised by the testator.
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Under Section 9 of the Probate and Administration Act 1934, the Court may grant probate of a copy of the Will where the original has been lost, mislaid, or cannot for sufficient reason be produced. A copy held in the Wills Repository may be very valuable in this situation.
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Deposits can currently only be made through a Participating Law Firm such as DOT Chambers LLC. Aside from legal fees charged by the Law Firms for assisting in making the deposits, the deposits made through Participating Law Firms are complimentary from 9 September 2026 until 31 March 2027.
Speak to a Lawyer About Your Will
Whether you are preparing a new Will or reviewing an existing one, our Wills & Estates team can advise you on whether a digital deposit with SAL is right for you, and arrange it on your behalf.
Talk to us today to arrange a confidential consultation.
