Power of Attorney in Singapore 2025 – Complete Legal Guide

Power of Attorney (POA) in Singapore is a legal instrument that allows a person — the “donor” — to appoint another person — the “donee” or “attorney” — to act on their behalf. The donee can handle a variety of legal or financial matters, such as signing documents, managing property, dealing with banking or investments, or even handling certain personal affairs.

In Singapore, the most common form of enduring authority is the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). LPA ensures that your affairs can be managed by someone you trust if you lose mental capacity at some point in the future.

Unlike a normal personal will—which typically takes effect only after death—an LPA works during your lifetime when you are alive but no longer able to make decisions.

Why You Need a Power of Attorney in Singapore

Appointing a Power of Attorney or LPA in Singapore provides significant advantages and protection:

• Peace of mind for you and your loved ones: By appointing a trusted donee, you secure a clear, legally recognized plan for who makes decisions if you lose mental capacity.
• Avoid court-appointed deputies: If you do not have an LPA and later lose capacity, your family will need to apply to court for a deputyship order. That process can be long, expensive, and unpredictable.
• Smooth management of assets and affairs: The donee can manage your financial assets, bank accounts, property, investments, and everyday bills on your behalf — avoiding delays, disputes, or legal complications.
• Clarity over personal welfare decisions: If you wish, your donee can also make personal welfare decisions — including healthcare, living arrangements, and daily care — if you become incapacitated.
• Flexibility and control: You decide who you trust. You can appoint more than one donee, set how they act (together or individually), and limit or customize the powers granted.

Given these benefits, having a Power of Attorney or LPA is an essential part of responsible personal legal planning in Singapore.

How to Set Up a Power of Attorney / Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore

If you want to create an LPA or another POA in Singapore, here is a step-by-step overview:

Choose Your Donee(s)

You should pick a person (or persons) you trust completely — usually a spouse, adult child, close relative, or a trusted friend. Donee(s) must be at least 21 years old.

You may appoint more than one donee and even designate replacement donee(s) in case the first-choice donee becomes unable or unwilling to act.

Decide whether the donees will act jointly (together) or “jointly & severally” (i.e., independently if you allow it).

Select the Appropriate Form

In Singapore, LPA is the preferred route for long-term planning:

• Form 1: Standard, simplified form that grants general powers over personal welfare and property/financial affairs. Suitable for most people.
• Form 2: Customized form allowing for detailed, specific instructions. Used when you require tailored terms — for instance, restricting certain powers or adding special conditions. Form 2 must be drafted by a qualified lawyer.

If you prefer a more limited or short-term Power of Attorney (rather than a full LPA), you can also draft a General or Specific/Temporary POA for particular transactions — for example, selling property or signing documents while abroad.

Certification by an Approved Certificate Issuer

Before submitting, the LPA or POA must be certified by a qualified “certificate issuer” to ensure that:

• The donor understands the document and its consequences,
• The donor is not under undue pressure or influence,
• The donor has mental capacity at the time of signing.

Qualified certificate issuers can be:

• A practising lawyer in Singapore,
• A registered psychiatrist, or
• An accredited medical practitioner.

For a simple Form 1 LPA, certification can be done by doctor, psychiatrist or lawyer. For Form 2 custom LPAs, you need a lawyer to draft and certify.

Submission / Registration

After certification, submit the LPA via the digital platform of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) — referred to as OPGO.

Once submitted, an official waiting period (often three weeks) is observed to allow any objections. If there are none, the LPA is registered and becomes valid — to take effect only when the donor loses mental capacity.

The entire process, from registration application, typically takes 6–8 weeks.

Costs to Consider

• For LPA Form 1: For Singapore citizens, the official registration fee is currently waived (valid till at least March 2026).
• Certificate issuer fees: Generally ranges from SGD 50–200 for doctors or psychiatrists; for lawyers the fees are higher (often SGD 200–500).
• For Form 2 (custom LPA), additional drafting fees apply (depending on complexity and detail).

Common Mistakes and Risks Without a Proper POA

Failing to set up a valid Power of Attorney or LPA can lead to serious complications:

• No automatic power for family members: Even close relatives do not automatically have the right to control your affairs if you become incapacitated. Without an LPA, they would need to apply to the court for deputyship — a time‑consuming, expensive, and uncertain process.
• Delay and cost: Court‑appointed deputyship can lead to significant delays, bureaucratic red tape, and higher legal costs compared to the simplicity of an LPA.
• Family disputes: Without a legally binding LPA, family members may disagree over who makes decisions, leading to conflicts and possible legal battles.
• Lack of clarity about wishes: Without clear instructions, there is no guarantee that decisions made on behalf of an incapacitated person will reflect their true wishes regarding welfare, health, or property.

Understanding the Scope of Powers in Singapore POA

A key decision when setting up a Power of Attorney or Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore is determining the scope of powers you grant to your donee(s). Powers can be broad or limited depending on your needs:

• Property and Financial Powers: Your donee can manage your bank accounts, pay bills, invest in securities, buy or sell property, and handle business transactions.
• Personal Welfare Powers: Donees can make decisions about your healthcare, residential care, nutrition, or daily activities if you lose mental capacity.
• Custom Powers: You may include specific powers such as managing overseas assets, authorizing transactions on your behalf, or making particular investments.

By clearly defining the powers, you protect your interests and avoid potential disputes. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP provides expert guidance to draft precise, enforceable powers that reflect your intentions.

Choosing the Right Donee(s) for Maximum Security

Selecting your donee(s) is one of the most important steps in a Singapore POA or LPA. A carefully chosen donee ensures your affairs are handled responsibly and ethically:

• Trust and Reliability: Choose someone you trust to act in your best interests without conflict of interest.
• Understanding of Responsibilities: Donees should be able to make decisions, manage financial matters, and follow your instructions accurately.
• Multiple Donees: You can appoint more than one donee to act together (jointly) or independently (jointly and severally) depending on your preference.
• Replacement Donees: You can designate replacement donees to ensure continuity in case your first-choice donee is unavailable or unwilling.

With professional guidance from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, you can structure donee appointments to maximize legal security and minimize future disputes.

Registration Process and Legal Formalities

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) oversees the registration of LPAs in Singapore. Understanding the registration process ensures your POA is valid and enforceable:

• Submission: After certification by an approved certificate issuer, the LPA is submitted digitally through OPGO.
• Waiting Period: A standard three-week waiting period allows any objections to be raised.
• Registration: Once confirmed, the LPA is officially registered. It will only take effect if you lose mental capacity.
• Legal Compliance: Ensures your LPA meets all statutory requirements under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) of Singapore.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP ensures your registration is completed efficiently and in full compliance with Singapore law, avoiding delays or errors that could invalidate your document.

Cross-Border Considerations and International Assets

For individuals with assets or interests outside Singapore, creating a POA requires additional care:

• Recognition Abroad: Some countries may require additional notarization or legalization to recognize your Singapore POA.
• Foreign Property Management: Donees must understand international laws, tax implications, and banking rules.
• Estate Planning Integration: Your LPA should be coordinated with wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents to avoid conflicts.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s international expertise ensures that your Power of Attorney is enforceable worldwide, providing seamless management of cross-border assets and legal compliance.

Regular Review and Updating of Your POA

A Power of Attorney is not a “set and forget” document. Life circumstances, laws, or relationships may change, so regular review is critical:

• Change of Donee: You may need to update the donee if your chosen person becomes unavailable or circumstances change.
• Expansion or Limitation of Powers: Adjust the powers granted to reflect your current financial, personal, or health needs.
• Legislative Updates: Singapore law may evolve, affecting the legal validity or requirements for your POA or LPA.
• Periodic Review: Annual or bi-annual reviews help ensure that your LPA reflects your current wishes and remains legally enforceable.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP offers ongoing legal support to update, amend, or re-register your LPA, ensuring it always meets your objectives and remains fully valid under Singapore law.

Why You Should Work with a Reputable International Law Firm

Given the implications of a POA or LPA — particularly where property, cross-border assets, health decisions, or complex financing are concerned — proper drafting, certification, and registration become critical. Errors, ambiguity, or improper registration can render your POA ineffective or vulnerable to challenge.

Working with a reputable law firm helps ensure:

• Your LPA or POA is drafted in compliance with Singapore legislation and registered correctly.
• The chosen Donee(s) meet all legal requirements and the document is properly certified by an approved Certificate Issuer.
• Any customized instructions, cross-border issues, or estate‑planning needs are addressed carefully and comprehensively.
• Future conflicts, risk of misuse, or legal challenges are minimized.

That is where Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP comes in. As an experienced international law firm with cross‑border legal expertise, we provide tailored legal solutions and guide you through the entire process of setting up a Power of Attorney or LPA in Singapore.

Why Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is Your Best Partner for POA Needs

• We have deep knowledge of Singapore law and procedural intricacies — ensuring your LPA is valid, enforceable, and robust.
• We help you choose the right form (Form 1 or Form 2) depending on your needs — standard estate planning or customized arrangements.
• We act as your legal counsel: drafting, reviewing, and certifying documents when required, or coordinating with certified issuers on your behalf.
• We handle cross-border elements gracefully — especially useful for clients with international assets or overseas residencies.
• We provide clarity, peace of mind and integrity — ensuring that your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected.

FAQs

Take Action Today for Peace of Mind

If you are based in Singapore, or have assets or interests in Singapore, setting up a well-prepared Power of Attorney or Lasting Power of Attorney is essential. Don’t wait until circumstances force a rushed, uncertain, or legally weak arrangement.

At Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP we specialize in cross-border legal services and asset protection. We will guide you step-by-step: from choosing the right form and drafting the document, to certifying and registering your LPA, and making sure your loved ones are safeguarded.

Contact Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP today to schedule a consultation. Let us help you secure your future, protect your assets, and provide clarity and confidence for you and your family.