Plan for decisions during your lifetime
A financial plan often covers income, debt, savings and investments, but it should also consider who could help if illness or an accident left you unable to make certain decisions. In Singapore, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets a person—called the donor—appoint one or more donees to make decisions and act on the donor’s behalf if the donor loses mental capacity.
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), part of the Ministry of Social and Family Development, says a donor must be at least 21 and have mental capacity when making the LPA. It is a choice made in advance, while the donor can decide who to trust and what powers to grant.
Choose which decisions the donee may make
OPG describes two broad areas of authority: personal welfare and property and affairs. Depending on the powers granted, a donee may help with decisions about care and living arrangements, or financial matters such as operating bank accounts and managing property. The donee can only act within the authority given in the LPA and must act in the donor’s best interests under the Mental Capacity Act framework.
An LPA is not a blank cheque. Decide whether the donee should have personal-welfare powers, property-and-affairs powers, or both. Consider whether one person has the right skills for both roles, whether more than one donee is appropriate, and whether the LPA should include restrictions or instructions. OPG says Form 1 provides general powers with basic restrictions; Form 2 allows customised powers and must be drafted by a lawyer.
Pick a person you trust
The role can affect access to savings, bills and property. Choose someone reliable who understands your preferences and is willing to take on the responsibility. Discuss your intentions before appointing them. If you appoint multiple donees, specify how they should act; the rules may otherwise presume joint action in relevant cases.
The donee’s authority relates to the donor’s loss of capacity. This is distinct from a will, which deals with estate distribution after death. It is also different from a CPF nomination, which is a separate instruction for the CPF savings covered by CPF rules. A complete plan may need each document for its own purpose.
How to make and review an LPA
OPG says an LPA can be made online through OPG Online (OPGO). The donor appoints donee(s), selects powers and the donee(s) accept the appointment. A Certificate Issuer must witness and certify the application, and the professional fee for that service is separate from the OPG application fee. As of 2026, Singapore Citizens can apply for Form 1 without an OPG application fee; other application fees are set out in the current OPG fee table.
Review the LPA if your trusted relationships or circumstances change. If you are unsure about the breadth of the powers, a customised form or interaction with a trust or overseas asset, obtain legal advice before submitting it.
Sources
- MSF Office of the Public Guardian: What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? — donor, donee and authority areas; verified 15 Oct 2026.
- MSF OPG: How to make an LPA — online process and current fee information; verified 15 Oct 2026.