Six years together. Zero legal rights.
In Singapore, an unmarried partner has no automatic inheritance rights — no matter how long the relationship, how much she contributed, or what Darren intended.
The situation
Darren
36, Singaporean software engineer, Clementi condo
Darren bought a 2-bedroom condo in Clementi in 2021 for S$850,000, with a S$520,000 bank loan and S$140,000 from his CPF OA. He lives there with his girlfriend Sarah (35), his partner of six years. She pays half the monthly expenses but is not on the mortgage or title.
His assets: the condo (net equity ~S$330,000), CPF (S$180,000), DBS savings (S$35,000), an investment portfolio on Syfe (S$22,000), and a Prudential life insurance policy (S$300,000, no beneficiary named).
Darren has no will and has never made a CPF nomination. He knows he should — 'when things calm down.' Sarah has renovated the second bedroom into a home office, spending S$25,000 of her own money.
What happened
Darren dies in a cycling accident
Sarah is contacted by the hospital as she is listed as his emergency contact on his phone. She is not his next of kin.
Parents informed — they are legal heirs
Under ISA, with no spouse or children, the estate goes to Darren's parents equally. His father in Penang engages a Singapore lawyer immediately.
CPF — no nomination
CPF Board confirms no nomination was made. S$180,000 goes to the Public Trustee's Office.
Sarah told to vacate
Parents' lawyer sends a letter asking Sarah to vacate within 30 days. She has no legal right to remain. Her name is not on the lease or title.
Sarah moves out
Sarah moves in with a friend. The S$25,000 she spent on renovation is not recoverable — it is a betterment to an asset she has no claim on.
Insurance has no beneficiary — enters estate
The Prudential policy (S$300,000) has no nominated beneficiary. It enters the estate and goes through probate, delaying payment by 4–6 months.
Probate and sale
PTO handles CPF (charges ~S$8,000 in fees). Parents decide to sell the condo. Net proceeds after mortgage: ~S$330,000. Sarah receives nothing.
The damage
Total financial impact
~S$610,000
Time lost
6 months
How Keepsafe changes this
The legal procedures still take time. What changes is how quickly they start — and how much damage is prevented.
Without a plan
What actually happened
- 1No will — unmarried partner has zero legal rights under Singapore law
- 2No CPF nomination — S$180,000 goes to PTO, S$8,000 in fees, months of delay
- 3Life insurance has no beneficiary — enters estate
- 4Sarah loses S$25,000 in renovation with no legal recourse
- 56 years of partnership, legally invisible
With Keepsafe
How it could have gone
- 1Simple will names Sarah as primary beneficiary of the condo and estate — she is protected legally, regardless of marital status
- 2CPF nomination names Sarah — S$180,000 paid directly to her within 60 days, no PTO
- 3Beneficiary nomination updated — S$300,000 paid to Sarah within 60 days, not 6 months
- 4Will records Sarah's contributions — a declaration of trust protects her financial interest in the property
- 530 minutes in Keepsafe's will wizard names Sarah as the person Darren intended to protect
“Singapore law does not recognise unmarried partnerships for inheritance purposes. No matter how long together, how committed, or what was intended — without a will, the partner gets nothing. A will takes one hour. The absence of one can cost six years.”
If you're a condo owner, unmarried partner, your plan starts here.
It takes less than 10 minutes to start. No credit card required.
Get started freeMore scenarios