Proportion of Legal Aid Bureau Assistance in Deputyship Applications for Low-income Families in Past Three Years
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns barriers faced by low-income families in deputyship applications under the Mental Capacity Act and the extent of Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) assistance. Mr Cai Yinzhou inquired about legal costs and the proportion of LAB-assisted cases, to which Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that simplified applications cost approximately $540. The Minister noted that LAB assisted about 750 individuals from 2023 to 2025 and highlighted a 2025 legislative amendment that applies the legal aid means test to the incapacitated person for certain applications to increase eligibility. He further encouraged the use of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to avoid deputyship complexities, noting that LPA Form 1 applications are now permanently free for Citizens.
Transcript
26 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has assessed barriers faced by low-income families in the deputyship process under the Mental Capacity Act, including legal costs, medical report requirements and the simplified track's consent requirement; (b) what proportion of deputyship applications were assisted by the Legal Aid Bureau in each of the past three years; and (c) what steps are being taken to improve access.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Currently, an application for deputyship under the simplified track costs around $540, comprising a $40 Court filing fee and around $500 for mental capacity assessment, depending on the fees charged by public hospitals.
Lower-income families requiring financial assistance with the deputyship application may approach the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB), a department in the Ministry of Law, or charitable organisations, such as Pro Bono SG. From 2023 to 2025, the LAB provided legal advice and aid to about 750 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents for matters related to the Mental Capacity Act, including but not limited to deputyship applications.
In 2025, the Ministry of Law also amended the Legal Aid and Advice Act to apply the legal aid means test on the mentally incapacitated person when an altruistic non-next-of-kin deputy applies for deputyship. This will allow more cases to qualify for assistance by LAB.
The best way to avoid the hassle and cost of a deputyship application is to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). We recently made the LPA Form 1 application permanently free for Citizens and encourage everyone to make an LPA as soon as possible.