Dealing with the loss of a loved one
Let us support you during this difficult time.
Losing a loved one is never easy. We understand that handling their banking matters may be overwhelming right now, but please know that you are not alone. We are here to guide you through every step – whenever you are ready.
Your deceased loved one’s privacy is of utmost importance to us. To protect their personal information and ensure that their banking matters are handled confidentially and correctly under the law, we can only work with individuals who have been legally appointed to manage their estate.
- Executor: Appointed by the deceased in a will, and with a Grant of Probate (GOP) issued; or
- Administrator: Appointed by a Grant of Letters of Administration (LOA) when there is no will
We will not be able to disclose customer information – including account details – to third parties (including next-of-kin) due to our Privacy of Customer Information obligations under the Banking Act 1970.
Whether you are starting from scratch or already have these documents, we will walk you through every step of the process.
If your loved one was a client of OCBC Premier Banking or Premier Private Client, you may also reach out directly to their Relationship Manager or Client Advisor for assistance.
Apply for a Grant of Probate (GOP) or a Grant of Letters of Administration (LOA)
To manage the bank accounts and investments of a loved one who has passed on, Singapore law requires you to obtain the right legal document first.
It will be one of these two documents:
A Grant of Probate (GOP)
If your loved one left a valid Will
The Grant of Probate gives executors rights to manage and distribute the deceased’s assets, according to prevailing inheritance law.
A Grant of Letters of Administration (LOA)
If there is no Will
A Grant of Letters of Administration gives administrators rights to manage and distribute the deceased’s assets, according to prevailing inheritance law.
You will need to apply for these through the Singapore Courts to manage the deceased’s accounts and investments.
Unsure about the process? Learn more here:
Reach out to us
Once you have obtained the court-issued legal documents, you may reach out to us for support in two main ways. Kindly note that we will only be able to act on accounts that are held in the deceased’s single name only.
- If you would like to open an OCBC estate account and/or provide instructions on the deceased’s bank accounts and investments, please refer to Step 3 and 4 below.
- If you would like to obtain details of the deceased’s bank accounts and investments only, you can request your lawyer (if you engaged one) to reach out to us, or visit any of our branches with the below documents. Our bank staff will be there to guide you through the process and assist with the necessary forms.
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Manage and close accounts
When you are ready to take care of your loved one's banking affairs, we want to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible. You may download and complete this Deceased Estate form* to submit multiple instructions at once, including:
- Closing accounts
- Withdrawing or transferring funds
- Selling investments (excluding CPF/SRS)
*This form is designed to support common savings, current, and investment account requests. Should you have any additional banking requests, our staff will be happy to guide you through the process and assist with the necessary forms.
Once completed, you may visit any of our branches with the form and the documents below:
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Regarding joint accounts
For joint accounts, instructions will need to be provided separately from the surviving account holders if they wish to close the accounts. We will need the surviving joint account holder to visit the branch with the following original documents (or certified true copies):
- Death certificate of the deceased (Singapore-issued Digital Death Certificates will be accepted from 29 May 2022)
- Your identification (surviving account holder)
Set up an OCBC Estate Account (EasiSave)
Consider opening an OCBC Estate Account to help with the management and distribution of estates.
About the EasiSave Estate Account
EasiSave is a current account that earns interest with the convenience and flexibility of issuing cheques and receiving monthly statements.
| Eligibility | Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and foreigners aged 18 and above and with minimum initial deposit of S$1,000 |
| Interest rate | 0.05% a year |
| Service charge | S$7.50 if average daily balance for the month falls below S$3,000 |
| Account fee | S$2 per month |
| Cheque book | S$10 per cheque book Cheque book is issued at account opening and automatically replenished |
Fees and charges apply.
To open an estate account, please make an appointment with us. Our team will get in touch with you within 3 working days to arrange a suitable date and time for your branch visit.
Kindly bring along the supporting documents and completed Deceased Estate Form listed in Step 3 during the same visit for added convenience.
Public Trustee
For an estate of less than S$50,000, the Public Trustee's Office may be able to help in administering the assets.
For an estate of less than S$50,000, the Public Trustee's Office may be able to help in administering the assets.
Family Justice Courts
You may obtain more information on applying for a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration on the Family Justice Courts website.
You may obtain more information on applying for a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration on the Family Justice Courts website.
Intestate Succession Act
The rules for distributing a deceased’s assets – which apply where there was no will – are set out in the Intestate Succession Act.
The rules for distributing a deceased’s assets – which apply where there was no will – are set out in the Intestate Succession Act.
Singapore Wills Depository
Search for existing will records or to deposit new will records.
Search for existing will records or to deposit new will records.
Property Loan
Learn what happens to an existing property loan when the owner passes away and ownership of property is transferred.
Learn what happens to an existing property loan when the owner passes away and ownership of property is transferred.
My LegacyLife @SG
Access an easy-to-follow guide on what to do when a loss occurs – from registering a death to handling immediate arrangements.
Access an easy-to-follow guide on what to do when a loss occurs – from registering a death to handling immediate arrangements.
Please contact us if you require further assistance.
You may reach us at 1800 363 3333
or visit any OCBC branch at your convenience.
Important disclaimers
The information provided herein is intended for general information only and does not contain or convey any legal or other advice. You should seek advice from your professional advisors (including legal advisors) on matters relating to probate and administration.
OCBC Bank does not act as advisor to you and gives no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided herein. All information presented is subject to change without notice. OCBC is not responsible for or liable to any person for any loss or damage arising from any reliance on the information provided herein.
Important notices
Grant of Probate
When a person passes away but has written a will before death, the court gives effect to the will through an order (or grant) of the court, referred to as Grant of Probate. The Grant of Probate is a court order which empowers the executor(s) to carry out the instructions in the will, including the distribution of the deceased’s assets to the beneficiaries specified.
Letters of Administration
The Letters of Administration is a document issued by the Family Justice Courts, authorising persons named in the grant to act as administrators of the deceased’s estate. This document is issued where the deceased passed away without writing a will.
Where can I get more guidance?
You may find the following resources helpful:
- MyLegacy @ LifeSG
Visit this page for an overview of what to do when someone passes. It covers everything from immediate tasks like registering a death to a high-level overview of how assets are distributed in Singapore.
- How to apply for a Grant of Probate – Use this guide if your loved one left behind a valid Will and you need to confirm your legal role as the executor to carry out their wishes.
- How to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration – Use this guide if your loved one passed away without leaving a Will. This will take you through how the law determines the rightful administrators under the Intestate Succession Act.
- Singapore Courts Website - Visit this page for more information on matters relating to deceased estates
How do I get professional help with my application?
If you need professional support, you may consider the following options:
- Engage a lawyer - A lawyer can help prepare and submit applications, especially if the estate is complex.
- Public Trustee’s Office (PTO) – Family members may apply to the PTO to administer the estate for a fee. This option is available if the estate value does not exceed S$50,000. You can visit the Ministry of Law - Public Trustee’s Office site for more details and its requirements.
- Public legal assistance - You may explore legal aid options via the Singapore Courts website if you require additional support.
What if I don’t have a full list of the deceased’s assets yet?
Helpful tip – Some may feel that they are unable to begin the GOP/LOA application without first having a full list of the deceased’s assets and liabilities.
However, this is not the case. You can still begin the process, and the steps below provide a general guide:
- You may first file for an Originating Application (OA) with the Singapore Courts based on the information available to you.
- Once the OA is issued, you can use it to approach banks (including us) to request details of the deceased’s accounts and assets.
- After gathering the necessary information, you can prepare a Schedule of Assets and submit it to the Court to complete your application.
- The Court will then issue the Grant of Probate (GOP) or a Grant of Letters of Administration (LOA), giving you the legal authority to manage the estate.
- For the most up-to-date and detailed step-by-step guidance, we recommend referring to the official Singapore Courts website.
Helpful tip
- Settling outstanding credit card bills – You may settle the deceased’s credit card bills at any of our branches, or via AXS machines and applications. For more information, please visit: Cards | Help & Support | OCBC Singapore
- Loans and mortgage matters – As these may involve more complex administrative steps, please refer to our website for guidance: Change of property ownership | OCBC Singapore
What you need to know
Once you have completed and submitted the form to us, the Bank will proceed with processing your request. Please take note of the following key pointers:
- Market prices of investments fluctuate. Price applied on the processing date may differ from price on the day you submit instructions. The Bank is not responsible for any losses arising from the sale of investments.
- Our staff may contact you should further clarification or instructions be required.
- The Bank reserves the right to set off any amounts to be withdrawn against outstanding balances (if any), as well as applicable bank charges.
- The sale of investment holdings and the crediting of proceeds may take time, and processing timelines may vary depending on the type of asset.
- Once all investment holdings have been sold and all proceeds have been credited or transferred, the relevant investment account(s) will be closed.
| Service charge | S$7.50 if average daily balance for the month falls below S$3,000 |
| Account fee | S$2 per month |
| Cheque book | S$10 per cheque book |