Data on Intestate Deaths among Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents and AI Tools Integration to Improve Will-writing Services Accessibility
Ministry of LawSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the tracking of intestate deaths and the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance the accessibility of will-writing services. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the number of citizens and permanent residents who died intestate over the last five years and plans for AI-assisted legacy planning. Minister for Law Edwin Tong Chun Fai replied that the Ministry does not track such data and emphasized that AI tools should not replace professional legal advice. He highlighted government efforts like the MyLegacy@LifeSG Will Learning Tool, which provides a Will Preparation Template to help the public understand key considerations before consulting lawyers. The Government will continue to update legacy planning resources and provide information on the responsible use of AI to encourage more people to complete their wills.
Transcript
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.