One estate plan, separate instructions
Many people write a will and assume it directs where all their assets go. CPF savings follow a separate process. The CPF Board states that CPF savings do not form part of your estate and cannot be distributed through your will. A CPF nomination lets you specify who should receive covered CPF savings and the share each nominee gets.
This distinction is practical, not just legal wording. A will can address assets that form part of your estate, while a CPF nomination handles the CPF savings covered by CPF’s scheme. Completing one does not automatically complete the other.
What a CPF nomination covers
According to CPF Board, a nomination covers savings in your Ordinary, Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts, the balance of your CPF LIFE premium, and certain discounted Singtel shares. CPF says the savings are distributed to nominees in cash.
Some assets sit outside the nomination. CPF lists property bought using CPF savings, payouts under the Dependants’ Protection Scheme, and investments made under the CPF Investment Scheme as not covered. Their treatment may depend on how the asset is legally held or the relevant insurance and estate documents. Do not assume that naming someone for CPF automatically names them for these other assets.
Without a nomination, CPF savings are distributed by the Public Trustee’s Office to eligible family members under the applicable intestacy laws or Muslim inheritance certificate. CPF says the identification process can take up to six months. A nomination is free, and CPF says nominees do not pay a charge to claim savings distributed under a valid nomination.
The life-event rule to remember
CPF says you can make a nomination from age 16. It also says marriage revokes an existing CPF nomination. Divorce does not revoke it. That makes a review after marriage especially important; a divorce or a change in family circumstances is also a reason to check whether the nomination still reflects your wishes.
For an online nomination, CPF asks for your Singpass, nominee details, and two witnesses. CPF says witnesses cannot be nominees or organisations. The nomination is a deliberate instruction: decide who should receive the savings and the percentage share each person should get before starting the application.
A short review checklist
- Log in to CPF and check whether a nomination exists and whether the details match your current intentions.
- Confirm that each nominee’s identity and allocated share are correct.
- Review it after major life events, especially marriage, the birth of a child, divorce, or a nominee’s death.
- Make a separate plan for assets not covered by CPF nomination, including property, CPFIS investments and relevant insurance benefits.
- Keep your will and other estate instructions aligned with your overall intentions, while recognising that a will does not replace the CPF nomination.
This is a financial-planning explainer, not a substitute for advice on a complicated estate or family situation. If your circumstances involve a blended family, overseas assets, trusts or a dispute risk, check the current CPF guidance and get qualified legal advice before relying on a general article.
Sources
- CPF Board: Making a CPF nomination — last updated 25 May 2026; verified 5 Oct 2026.
- CPF Board: What does your CPF nomination cover? — verified 5 Oct 2026.