CPF nomination vs. your will: the one thing every Singaporean misses
Your will doesn't cover your CPF savings. Here's what does, and how to make sure both are aligned.
Leong Jun Jie, Founder & Estate Planner · View credentials
Published 4 May 2026, last updated 6 July 2026· 5 min read
In Singapore, your will does not decide who receives your CPF savings, that's the job of a separate CPF nomination, made directly with the CPF Board. This catches a lot of people out: they write a careful will leaving 'everything' to their spouse, and assume CPF is part of 'everything'. It's not.
Key takeaways
- Your will doesn't cover CPF. Only a CPF nomination, made with the CPF Board, decides who receives your CPF savings.
- Without a nomination, your CPF goes to the Public Trustee and is distributed under the Intestate Succession Act (or Faraid for Muslims), with fees and delay.
- A nomination is free, done online with Singpass, and can be updated any time.
| Your will | Your CPF nomination | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | The rest of your estate, CPF sits outside it | Your CPF savings: Ordinary, Special, MediSave, and Retirement Account balances |
| How it's made | Written and signed as part of your estate plan | Free, online at the CPF website using Singpass |
| If it's missing | Your will still can't direct your CPF | CPF goes to the Public Trustee, then the Intestate Succession Act (or Faraid) decides |
What happens to your CPF if you die without a nomination?
If you die without a CPF nomination, your CPF savings (Ordinary, Special, MediSave, and Retirement Account balances) are transferred to the Public Trustee. They're then distributed under the Intestate Succession Act for non-Muslims, or Faraid for Muslims, regardless of what your will says.
The Public Trustee charges fees, and the process takes longer than a nomination would have.
How do you make a CPF nomination?
It's free and you can do it online via the CPF website using Singpass. You can name multiple beneficiaries and assign percentages. You can update it any time.
When you write your will with Raintree, we'll remind you to do this, they take 10 minutes together.
Should your CPF nomination match your will?
In most cases, yes, your CPF nomination and your will should reflect the same intent (e.g. 'everything to my spouse'). Where they differ is when you want CPF to skip a generation directly to your kids while your spouse handles other assets. Those choices are up to you; the important thing is to make them consciously. If you'd like a hand thinking it through, our pricing is here.
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