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How to organise important family documents in Singapore
Papers in folders, in Google Drive and in apps? Do not start by moving everything into one box. Start with one list that says where everything is. A missing paper has cost my family hours, days and sometimes weeks. A list would have saved most of that.
Used My Legacy to store information? On 4 January 2027, My Legacy permanently deletes personal information, will records and funeral plans that users stored there. You and your Trusted Persons will no longer be able to open them. Your Advance Care Plan, CPF nomination and Lasting Power of Attorney are not affected. Download what you want to keep before that date. Our My Legacy guide has the steps. For a will record, LifeSG suggests the SAL Wills Registry, where fees apply. Details are on the official LifeSG page.
1. Make one list
In a notebook or spreadsheet, make four columns:
- What it is. For example, home loan agreement.
- Where it is. For example, blue folder in the study, Google Drive folder “Home”, or the insurer’s app.
- Who else knows.
- Last checked. A date.
Fill it in room by room. Do not tidy as you go. The list takes an afternoon, and nothing is lost any more, even if the house is still messy. Our free family records spreadsheet is one place to keep it.
2. Put these on it first
Families For Life suggests a checklist in four groups. We added the last two.
- Personal information: NRIC, passport, birth, marriage and divorce certificates.
- Legal planning: Lasting Power of Attorney, Advance Care Plan, will, CPF nomination.
- Financial accounts: bank accounts, credit cards, insurance, loans, investments.
- Property and vehicles.
- Digital accounts your family would need to reach.
- Warranties and manuals.
Write where something is, not the secret itself. Never put passwords, full account or card numbers, or NRIC numbers on the list.
3. Give each type of paper one home
Papers kept in several places drift apart. Pick one home for each type, and write “copy” next to any duplicate. For an insurance policy, either keep the paper original in one folder or rely on the insurer’s app, and write down which. Scans help you find things. For a signed legal document such as a will, ask your lawyer which copy counts before you throw any paper away.
4. Tell one person
Families For Life advises keeping important documents organised in one place and telling a trusted family member, friend or lawyer where they are. Tell them where the list is, and show them how to open it.
5. Check that your papers agree
LifeSG says a will cannot cover property held under joint tenancy, joint bank accounts, irrevocable insurance nominations or CPF savings. To decide who receives your CPF savings, you must make a CPF nomination. Next to each of these on your list, write who it goes to and the date you last checked. If they disagree, speak to a lawyer. LifeSG itself advises legal advice on what a will can cover.
Also note where your Lasting Power of Attorney is. MoneySense says that without one, your family may have to apply to court to be appointed as your deputy. That takes longer and costs more than making an LPA.
6. Check it again
Review the list once a year. GovTech advises reviewing a legacy plan after big life events such as marriage, divorce or having children. Add a new policy, a house move or a new account to that.
Questions
Do I have to keep everything in one place?
No. You need one list that says where everything is. Moving papers into one box is optional and can wait.
Should I scan my documents?
Scans help you find and share things. For signed legal documents such as a will, ask your lawyer which copy counts before you throw any paper away.
Is it safe to keep the list in Google Drive?
The list holds locations, not passwords or account numbers, so it carries less risk than the papers themselves. Protect the account with a strong password and two-step verification, and make sure one trusted person can open it too.
Sources
Checked 21 October 2026. Government pages change, so if a link has moved, search for the page title.
- LifeSG: Wills (last updated 22 July 2026)
- MoneySense: Lasting Power of Attorney (last updated 22 April 2026)
- LifeSG on AskGov: changes to My Legacy on 4 January 2027
- Families For Life: The complete checklist for legacy planning
- GovTech TechNews: How to navigate legacy planning in Singapore (published 20 August 2025)
I’m the founder of FamilyHub SG, not a lawyer, a licensed financial adviser or an insurance adviser. This is general information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. The list-making steps are our own suggestions. Only the points that name a source come from official pages.
Want it all in one place your family can see?
FamilyHub SG is a free beta app for Singapore households. It keeps insurance, loans, property and family records together, and you can share it with your family as viewers or editors. You can export everything to Excel at any time.
Related: A free home inventory spreadsheet · If something happens to you: a checklist for your family · How to track insurance policies.