Written Answer · 2026-07-07 · Parliament 15
Intestate Deaths Data and Integration of AI Tools to Improve Will-writing Accessibility
Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam filed a written question to the Ministry of Law: (a) whether the Ministry has data on Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who died intestate in each of the last five years; and (b) whether it plans to integrate AI tools to improve the accessibility of will-writing services. Minister for Law Edwin Tong replied that the Ministry does not track intestate deaths. He encouraged the public to make a will, noting that AI tools exist today that might assist in preparing one — but that the public must exercise care, whether using AI or not, and should seek professional legal advice. The Government has made resources more accessible, recently launching a Will Learning Tool on MyLegacy@LifeSG to help people understand the considerations before seeking legal advice, which generates a Will Preparation Template for reference — though this is an education tool, not a substitute for legal advice. The Government will keep improving legacy-planning resources, including information on the responsible use of AI in will-making.
Key Points
- • The Ministry of Law does not track intestate deaths
- • It acknowledges AI tools can help draft a will, but stresses care and professional legal advice whether or not AI is used
- • A Will Learning Tool is live on MyLegacy@LifeSG, framed as an education tool, not a substitute for legal advice
The Ministry of Law welcomes AI as an aid to legal services while holding a firm line: it acknowledges AI can help draft a will and has launched an official digital tool to lower the barrier, but repeatedly stresses these are education and reference only — not a substitute for professional legal advice — and calls for the "responsible use of AI."
Using the data gap on intestate deaths, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam pushed the Ministry of Law to apply AI to lower the barrier to will-writing and improve accessibility — tying AI adoption to ordinary citizens' real legal needs.
As Singapore brings AI into public legal services, it holds to "tool assists, human decides": the state itself builds a digital tool to lower the barrier, yet repeatedly caps it — an AI-generated will is reference only, not a lawyer. It reflects the Government's consistent measure when promoting AI in citizen-facing domains: raise productivity without overstepping, encourage while stressing responsibility.
"There are artificial intelligence (AI) tools today that might be used to assist in preparing a will. However, the public must exercise care in making their wills, whether using AI or not, and should seek professional legal advice."
Participants (2)
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-07-20
59 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Law (a) whether the Ministry has data on the number of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who have died intestate in each of the last five years and if so, what is the number; and (b) whether the Ministry plans to integrate artificial intelligence tools to enhance the accessibility of will-writing services.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The Ministry does not track the number of Singapore citizens and permanent residents who pass away intestate.
We encourage members of the public to make a will. Doing so provides greater assurance that their affairs will be taken care of in accordance with their wishes after their passing. A person who is at least 21 years old and of sound mind may write his or her own will or engage a third party to assist with its preparation.
There are artificial intelligence (AI) tools today that might be used to assist in preparing a will. However, the public must exercise care in making their wills, whether using AI or not, and should seek professional legal advice.
The Government has taken steps to make information on wills and probate more accessible. For example, we recently launched a Will Learning Tool on MyLegacy@LifeSG to help members of the public better understand the considerations in making a will before seeking legal advice. The tool generates a Will Preparation Template that can be used as a reference for legacy planning, which we hope will encourage more to go on to make wills. To be clear, this should be used as an education tool and it is not a substitute for legal advice.
We will continue to improve legacy planning resources, including information on the responsible use of AI in will-making, to ensure that they remain relevant and useful, and encourage the making of wills.