What to Do When Someone Dies in Singapore: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical verification and official certification of death

   A registered medical practitioner or the State Coroner must certify the cause of death before a funeral or cremation can take place [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital or nursing facility: The attending ward doctor examines the person and digitally certifies the Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD) online [1][2].
   • Expected natural death at home: Contact the deceased's regular family doctor or a house-call doctor to visit the home, verify the death, and submit the digital CCOD online (bring the deceased's NRIC or passport and medical records) [2].
   • Sudden, unnatural, or unattended death outside a hospital: If the doctor cannot determine the cause of death or the death was sudden or accidental, call the Singapore Police Force at 999 (or emergency ambulance 995). The police will arrange for the Police Hearse to transfer the body to the Health Sciences Authority Forensic Medicine Division (Mortuary@HSA, located at Block 9, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, phone +65 6222 1712) [2][3]. Next of kin attend Mortuary@HSA the following morning with the deceased's and their own identification so the State Coroner can review the case, determine whether an autopsy is needed, and issue the CCOD and release order [2][3].
2. 2

   Checking pre-arrangements and appointing a licensed funeral director

   Check whether your family member made pre-planned funeral wishes or held a funeral/life insurance policy, then appoint a licensed funeral director:

   • Appointing a funeral director: You can locate a licensed provider through the Association of Funeral Directors Singapore directory [4]. Once engaged, the funeral director collects the body from the home, hospital mortuary, or Mortuary@HSA, arranges embalming (if desired) and coffining, and coordinates wake venues (such as an HDB void deck via the Town Council, a funeral parlour, or landed property with applicable road permits) [2][4].
   • Booking cremation or burial with the NEA: Using the digital CCOD or Death Certificate, you or your appointed funeral director apply online through the National Environment Agency ePortal (contact centre +65 6225 5632) for a Permit to Bury/Cremate and book a cremation slot at Mandai Crematorium or a burial plot at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery [2].
3. 3

   Downloading the Digital Death Certificate via MyLegacy@LifeSG

   In Singapore, physical registration at an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority counter or police post is no longer required for domestic deaths [1][2]:

   • Automatic registration within 24 hours: As soon as the doctor or Coroner submits the CCOD online, the death is automatically registered with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority [1][3].
   • 30-day download deadline on MyLegacy: The next of kin must visit the MyLegacy@LifeSG portal within 30 days of the certification of death to download and save the official Digital Death Certificate (using the Death Document Number, the deceased's NRIC/FIN or passport number, and date of death) [1][3]. Download and store multiple digital and printed copies immediately; after 30 days, retrieving a Death Extract from ICA requires a formal application and fee [1][3].
   • Automatic agency notification: Once registered with ICA, the death is automatically shared with core Singapore government agencies (including the CPF Board, IRAS, HDB, and the Public Trustee's Office), invalidating the deceased's NRIC and Singpass [1][5][7].
4. 4

   Claiming CPF nomination payouts and small-estate funds

   Statutory retirement and social security balances in Singapore are settled through the Central Provident Fund and the Ministry of Law:

   • Central Provident Fund (CPF) balances and Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS): Because the Central Provident Fund Board (helpline +65 6227 1188) is notified automatically of the death, you do not need to register the death with CPF if the deceased held a Singapore NRIC [5]. If the deceased made a valid CPF Nomination, the CPF Board contacts the nominated beneficiaries directly within about 10 working days and automatically disburses the savings to eligible adult SC/PR nominees' bank accounts [5]. If the deceased was insured under the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS), contact the designated insurer (Great Eastern Life) to claim the term life payout.
   • Un-nominated CPF monies and small estates (up to SGD 50,000): If the deceased did not make a valid CPF nomination, CPF transfers the remaining savings to the Public Trustee's Office (under the Ministry of Law, helpline 1800-225-5529) for distribution under Singapore's Intestate Succession Act (or the Administration of Muslim Law Act for Muslim estates) [5][6]. The Public Trustee's Office can also administer other un-nominated estate assets (such as bank accounts, shares, or insurance policies) without a court order if the total value of the non-CPF estate does not exceed SGD 50,000 and no court grant has been filed [6].
5. 5

   Completing court probate, tax clearance, and bank notifications

   For estates exceeding SGD 50,000 or involving real property (such as an HDB flat or private property):

   • Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration: If the deceased left a valid will, the named executor applies to the Family Justice Courts (or the Syariah Court for Muslim inheritance certificates) for a Grant of Probate; if there is no will, the eligible next of kin applies for Letters of Administration via the Singapore Courts Probate eService [7].
   • Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS): Although Singapore abolished estate duty for deaths on or after 15 February 2008, the executor or legal personal representative remains responsible for settling the deceased's income tax up to the date of death (and any estate income tax if assets continue generating income during administration) with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (helpline 1800-356-8300) [8].
   • Banks, insurers, and HDB: Present the Digital Death Certificate (and the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration once issued) to each commercial bank, private insurer, and the Housing & Development Board (HDB) to close or transfer accounts and update flat ownership [2][7].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death Certificate and Post-Death Registration Process — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
2. [2]
   When Death Occurs: Certification, Registration, and Funeral Arrangements — National Environment Agency (NEA)
3. [3]
   Download a Death or Stillbirth Certificate (MyLegacy@LifeSG) — Government of Singapore (LifeSG)
4. [4]
   What to Do When Death Occurs in Singapore — Association of Funeral Directors Singapore (AFD)
5. [5]
   On Your Passing Away: How CPF Savings Are Distributed — Central Provident Fund Board (CPF)
6. [6]
   Information for Next-of-Kin: Deceased's Estate Monies (Up to $50,000) — Public Trustee's Office, Ministry of Law
7. [7]
   How to File for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration — Singapore Courts (Family Justice Courts)
8. [8]
   Tax Obligations When a Family Member Has Passed Away — Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)