Dealing with Bereavement

Dealing with bereavement

If you recently experienced the loss of a cherished family member or friend, we acknowledge that this is a period of difficulty, and managing tasks like the closure of their financial accounts may present certain difficulties. We are here to help you.

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Dealing with bereavement

What to do when handling a deceased person account

We are sorry you have lost a loved one. It is a challenging period and we want to say that we are here to help you with any matters related to closing the bank account during this period.

Summary of steps

Step 1: Is there a will?
Step 2: Apply for Legal Documents
Step 3: Notify and close the bank account

Step 1: Is there a will?

Please check with your loved one's lawyer or the Wills Registry.

Step 2: Apply for Legal Documents

Apply for a grant of probate.

If your loved one left behind a will, the executor(s) named in it - will need to obtain a grant of probate issued by the Singapore courts to administer the deceased's assets.

The executor(s) may wish to engage a lawyer to assist with the application process. More information on the application process can also be found on the Family Justice Courts' website.

Apply for a grant of letters of administration.

If your loved one did not leave behind a will, the beneficiary(ies) that is/are entitled to a share of the deceased's estate may apply for a grant of letters of administration, which authorises the beneficiary(ies) to administer the estate.

The beneficiary(ies) may wish to engage a lawyer to assist with the application process. More information on the application process can also be found on the Family Justice Courts' website.

If you have a obtained a grant of probate or letters of administration in a foreign court, this must be resealed by the Singapore courts for it to be effective in Singapore. You may wish to seek advice from a Singapore lawyer regarding the resealing process.

Step 3: Notify and close the bank account

You can notify the bank by going down to the branch for Singapore-based customers, or contacting the hotline or your deceased family member’s Relationship Manager to arrange for a remote appointment.
To find out who your deceased family member’s relationship manager is if you do not already know, you can call the hotline directly for assistance.
Do note that the duration for account closure varies according to the type and number of accounts held by your loved one.
Once the account is closed, all existing GIRO and payment arrangements will be terminated.

Deceased's Death Certificate (Singapore-issued Digital Death Certificates will be accepted from 29 May 2022)
1. If death certificate is in a foreign language; please get the death certificate translated by an official translator/company and the translated copy to be notarized at the Singapore Embassy.
2. You should also contact the relevant embassy for more information on the documents required for your embassy visit.
Original or certified true copy of Proof of Relationship for all beneficiaries (such as Marriage or Birth Certificate)
Original or certified true copy of grant of probate or letters of administration issued by the Singapore courts, or if the grant of probate / letters of administration is issued by a foreign court, it should be resealed by the Singapore courts
Original or certified true copy Identity Documents of all Administrators/Executors:
1. Singaporean/PR: NRIC
2. Malaysian: Malaysian IC
3. Foreigner: Passport
Authorisation for closure of account form to be signed by all Administrators/Executors in the presence of our bank officers or duly verified by Singapore Embassy if you are unable to proceed to our branches.

Notes:

All submitted documents must be in English. Please ensure that all non-English documents are translated into English Language by an official translator.
Certification of true copy is to be done by the Singapore Embassy.

If your loved one held a joint account, the bank may determine whether the surviving joint accountholder(s) is/are entitled to the remaining balance in the account. Please refer to the HSBC Account User Agreement by clicking here for more information.

Public Trustee This link will open in a new window

For estates worth below $50,000, please refer to The Public Trustee's Office for assistance in the distribution of the assets.

Family Justice Courts This link will open in a new window

Please refer to the Family Justice Courts link for more information on applying for the legal documents required for account closure.

Wills Registry This link will open in a new window

This service allows you to search for any existing will records in Singapore.

Disclaimer

The contents of this webpage are for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal advice. You may wish to consult a professional legal advisor if you require legal advice on matters regarding the estate.

What to do when handling a deceased person account

Summary of steps

Step 1: Is there a will?

Step 2: Apply for Legal Documents

Yes, there is a will

No, there is no will

For grant of probate / letters of administration issued by a foreign court

Step 3: Notify and close the bank account

Documents required

Closing a Joint Account

Useful links

Public Trustee Public Trustee This link will open in a new window

Family Justice Courts Family Justice Courts This link will open in a new window

Wills Registry Wills Registry This link will open in a new window

Disclaimer

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Public Trustee This link will open in a new window

Family Justice Courts This link will open in a new window

Wills Registry This link will open in a new window