FAQ
General Enquiries
How many lawyers do you have in your firm?
Bhavini is the sole-proprietor and the only advocate & solicitor of the firm.
Do you charge an hourly or a fixed fee?
We charge a fixed fee for a defined scope of work.
When must I pay the agreed fee and what are the available modes of payment?
The agreed fee is paid on engagement of our services, after the letter of engagement and warrant to act is signed by you.
The available modes of payment is imprinted on the invoice which are bank transfer, paynow, cheque or cash.
Do you consider installment payments?
Not for clients residing overseas. For local clients, strictly on a case to case basis.
Why are your fees lower than other law firms?
We are able to keep our overhead costs low to benefit our clients an affordable fee scale.
Do you arrange in-person meetings at your office or virtual meetings?
All meetings are held virtually via WhatsApp video call / Zoom or Google meet unless an in-person meeting is necessary (e.g. handing over original and sensitive documents) or mandatory (e.g. signing of a Will or witnessing the signing of a document).
Can I walk-in or must I make a prior appointment to have a meeting with you?
A prior appointment must be made by phone / text message or email. No walk-ins are allowed as we work remotely by default.
Do you arrange meetings on weekends / public holidays and/or after office hours?
On a case to case basis, if necessary.
Why does Centennial Business Suites appear as the tenant of Unit No. 13-01 at the Octagon Building and not Bhavini S Law Practice?
Centennial Business Suites is a business service operator and the tenant of Unit no. 13-00. There are various offices in the unit with private suites and shared common facilities. We have leased Suite No. 31.
Do you provide free consultation?
No. We offer a free case assessment as per the terms on our website.
How can I engage your services?
You may drop us an enquiry for a free case assessment on our website, leave us a WhatsApp text message, email us or call us and we will advise you appropriately.
Probate & Administration
What is the difference between a grant of probate and a grant of letters of administration?
If a deceased person made a Will in his lifetime, an application for a grant of probate must be filed to administer and distribute the deceased’s assets to the beneficiaries.
If a deceased person died without making a Will or if the deceased person’s Will is challenged and declared null and void by a Court, an application for a grant of letters of administration must be filed to administer and distribute the deceased’s assets to the beneficiaries.
Why must I apply for a grant of probate when I am appointed as the Executor in the Will?
An application for a grant of probate is the legal procedure of validating a deceased person’s Will and appointing the executor(s) named in the Will to administer the estate.
What is a grant of Letters of administration with Will annexed?
Where —
a. no executor is appointed by a Will;
b. the executor or all the executors appointed by Will are legally incapable of acting as such (e.g. below 21 years old or an undischarged bankrupt), or have renounced;
c. no executor survives the testator;
d. all the executors die before obtaining probate or before having administered all the estate of the deceased; or
e. the executors appointed by any Will do not appear and extract probate, a grant of letters of administration with the Will annexed may be granted to such person or persons as the court considers the fittest to administer the estate.
This can be a complicated process and it is highly recommended that you seek legal representation. Contact us if you are facing a similar situation.
I was born out of wedlock and am an illegitimate child of my late mother. She married John when I was in my teens. They did not have any children from their marriage nor was I legally adopted after their marriage. John died in 2018. My mother died in 2024 without making a Will. Am I entitled to inherit my mother’s HDB flat?
You may be entitled to inherit your late mother’s HDB flat as a beneficiary under Section 10 of the Legitimacy Act 1934. This can be a challenging process, and it is highly recommended that you seek legal representation. Contact us if you are facing a similar situation. We can help.
The Supreme Court of Victoria in Australia has issued a Grant of Probate in my name for my late mother’s estate. I would like to apply to Reseal the Grant of Probate in Singapore to administer the bank accounts she maintained in Singapore. I reside in the United States. Do I have to be physically present in Singapore during the Resealing proceedings?
No. You can be represented by a lawyer throughout the process of obtaining the Memorandum of Resealing from the Singapore court. Contact us if you are facing a similar situation. We can help.
My father was domiciled in Indonesia at the time of his death. He died without making a Will. He has a bank account in his sole name with Citibank Singapore. I am advised that I need an AFFIDAVIT OF FOREIGN LAW when I file the application for a grant of letters of administration in Singapore. I cannot reseal the grant of letters of administration I have obtained from Indonesia. Can you help?
Yes, as Indonesia is not part of the Commonwealth you will not be able to Reseal the grant you have obtained in Indonesia. We can guide your foreign lawyer and advise him when he drafts the Affidavit of Foreign Law.
We have experience in assisting guiding and reviewing the Affidavit of Foreign Law deposed by foreign estate lawyers from Phillippines Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Italy, Paraguay, the United States of America, Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Contact us if you are facing a similar situation. We can help.
Deputyship & Applications under Mental Capacity Act
Before my father was diagnosed with Dementia, he made an LPA (Form 1) in which he opted that in the event his HDB property had to be sold to support his medical expenses, his Donee (me) must obtain the Court’s approval to do so. How can you help me with this?
We certainly can. We will file an application under the relevant provisions of the Mental Capacity Act to seek the Court’s authorization for the sale of the flat and the manner in which the sale proceeds will be managed for the benefit and interest of your father.
Can I be appointed as Deputy?
Case Study 1:
My uncle has recently suffered a stroke and the doctor has confirmed that he can no longer make decisions for his personal welfare and property and affairs. He did not make an LPA. He is single. He has an insurance policy that has matured and the insurance company is asking him to sign some documents for the payment to be released to him. I informed the company about my uncle’s mental condition. They now insist that payment will only be made if there is a court order clearly stating who is the court- appointed deputy for my uncle and to which account name the payment be made to. His older siblings are not capable to look after his affairs and be appointed as his Deputy. Can I apply to be appointed as his Deputy?
You will need to file a deputyship application with the Court to obtain the necessary legal authority to act on behalf of your uncle. The application should seek all relevant powers to open a bank account in your uncle’s name, receive the insurance payment, sign the required documents, and manage the funds for your uncle’s benefit.
We can help you with this. Call us today.
Case Study 2
My son was diagnosed with the Norrie disease soon after his birth. He remains non- verbal till date and has a mind of a 2 year old. He will turn 21 years old next year. Can I apply to be his deputy to make personal welfare and financial decisions for him when he turns 21 years old as he will be an adult then?
Yes, you may. We can assist you with this and assure you that you will have a continuity in decision making for him when he becomes an adult. Speak to us today if you are in a similar situation.
Estate & Wealth Planning
I do not own many assets – do you recommend me to make Will?
Yes. It doesn’t matter if you do not have many assets. If you make a Will, you can decide who you want to give your assets to and the share you want your beneficiary to have. You can also exclude a person from benefitting from your assets. It is also easier for your appointed Executor to apply for a Grant of Probate instead of leaving it to your beneficiaries under the Intestate Succession Act to prove their relationship with you and to decide who will apply for the Grant of Letters of Administration.
I am 80 years old, of sound mind and not mobile due to poor health. I included my son as a joint account holder in my POSB Bank to facilitate the management of the account for my personal expenses. What can I do to ensure that my son does not claim the money in the account is his when I die and refuse to share equally with his siblings?
You may wish to make a Deed of Trust and/or a Declaration under oath to express that your son has been included as a joint account holder purely to assist you with the management of the account and that you want him to beneficially own the balance monies in the account when you pass on. You can also make a Will and make reference to the joint account expressing how you wish the monies in the account to be distributed on your death. We strongly advise you to obtain legal representation when drafting the relevant legal instruments.
I have drafted my Will. The beneficiaries in my Will are my wife and son. Can I get my son’s wife to be the 2nd witness to my Will?
No. Your son is a beneficiary in your will. The witnesses to you signing the Will cannot be a beneficiary named in your Will nor the spouse of a beneficiary.
My husband and I purchased a property on trust for the benefit of my only son who was a minor at the time of purchase. We executed a Declaration of Trust which included a clause that if the property was not sold before my son turned 21 years old, all the rights, title, estate and interest in the property shall be transferred to him when he turns 21. My son is now 22 years old. The property is not sold or transferred to him. He wants to sell the property.
Subject to the terms set out in the Declaration of Trust your son may be able to obtain a court order to terminate the trust if you do not transfer the property to him. We strongly advise you to seek legal advice.
My elderly mother is getting very forgetful, and I am worried she may suffer from dementia. Can I get her to make a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will?
You will need to get a medical doctor to assess your mother’s mental capacity and issue a medical memo to confirm if she is mentally capable of making a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will.
Personal Legal Procedures
What is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a legal document created by a person (“Donor”) who entrusts another person (“Donee”) to act on their behalf.
What are the most common types of Power of Attorney?
i. Sale, Purchase, Rental and/or General management of a private or HDB property.
ii. General power of attorney to manage day to day affairs.
iii. Specific Power of Attorney to carry out specific acts for a specific matter.
How do I know what type of Power of Attorney do I need?
Let us know what your situation is and why do you need to make a Power of Attorney. We will advise you on the most appropriate options based on your circumstances.
What does “depositing” a Power of Attorney mean?
Depositing a power of attorney means registering it with the court. It will be available on public records for inspection.
The General Division of the High Court only accepts powers of attorney that are created under Section 48 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act
What is a Statutory Declaration?
A Statutory Declaration is a written statement/declaration made voluntarily by virtue of the provisions of the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000, and subject to the penalties provided by that Act for the making of false statements in statutory declarations, conscientiously believing the statements contained in this declaration to be true in every particular.
Will you assist me in drafting a Statutory Declaration if I am not provided with a standard form?
Yes, we can.
Can I sign a Statutory Declaration before an Advocate & Solicitor?
No. Pursuant to section 11of the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000, a Statutory Declaration made in Singapore must be made before a court, a person acting judicially, or a prescribed person.
A prescribed person includes a Commissioner for Oaths. Bhavini Shah is a licensed Commissioner for Oaths.
Notary Public & Commissioner for Oath Services
I am required to sign a document before a Notary Public. Will you explain and provide legal advice to me on the content of the document?
No. As a Notary Public we will only verify your Identification document (e.g passport) as indicated in the document to confirm that you are the person required to sign the document and witness you signing the document. We will not advise you on the content of the document.
Is it a legal requirement for all notarized documents to be authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL)?
Yes. The notarisation of a document by the notary public is but one step in the whole chain of authentication towards legalisation of documents for use abroad.
Authentication of the signature of the notary public by the Singapore Academy of Law is also part of the legalisation process. At SAL, an officer appointed by the Senate will verify the authority (stamp of appointment) and signature of the Singapore notary public as stated in Notaries Public Rules and ensure that the notarised document is in compliance with the Notaries Public Rules.
With effect from 16 September 2021, a Notarial Certificate shall be deemed to be validly authenticated by the affixing of an Apostille to the back of the Notarial Certificate.
Is a notarised document without an SAL authentication certificate/Apostille valid for use overseas if the receiving authority does not require an Authentication Certificate / Apostille?
A notarised document without an authentication certificate/Apostille is INVALID for use overseas. Mandating authentication will ensure that all notarised documents originate from properly appointed notaries and are in compliance with the Notaries Public Rules.
It will also bring about greater certainty and standardisation of the legalisation process.
Is it mandatory to notarise ALL private documents (non-government issued) for use overseas?
The need for notarisation is determined entirely by the party receiving the documents.
There is no need for notarisation if parties to the transaction can mutually agree to dispense with it. However, if notarisation is desired, then these documents must be authenticated by the Singapore Academy of Law.
How many Notarial Certificates must be issued if I have more than one document or duplicates of the same document to be signed in front of a Notary? Can I have all the documents bundled under one Notarial Certificate?
Each document to be signed and witnessed by the Notary Public (even if it’s a duplicate) must be separately notarised and a separate notarial certificate must be issued and attached to each document. as provided under Rule 8 of the Notaries Public Rules (Cap 208, R1). The only exception applies for Certified True Copies i.e. you can bundle certified true copies of multiple documents under one Notarial Certificate, subject to the requirements of the embassy and recipient country.
What is the processing time for the authentication of the signature of a Notary Public at the SAL?
The processing time will depend on the number of documents being submitted for Authentication. The documents will be processed on-the-spot, over the counter.
Do I have to bring the notarized documents for authentication to the SAL or will your firm handle this?
We will bring the documents for authentication to the SAL for you at no additional cost.
I need the embassy / consular office to apostille the notarized documents. Will you help me with this?
Yes, we will assist you with the apostille requirements of the country you need to submit the notarized documents to after we have authenticated the notarized documents with the SAL. You can contact us to enquire about the fees for this service.
What are the fees charged by a Notary Public?
The information on fees charged by a Notary Public can be found in the fees schedule in the Notaries Public Rules.
What is the authentication fee for a Notarial Certificate charged by the Singapore Academy of Law?
$87.20 including GST (as of 15 March 2025).
What is Legalisation of document?
Legalisation is a process of document authentication observed by some governments. If you intend to use a document overseas then local authorities may require it to be legalised before it can be considered valid.
Can the Singapore Academy of Law legalise documents and what type of documents can they legalise?
Yes. You can get official Singapore documents legalised by asking SAL to confirm that the signature, stamp or seal is from a Singapore public official. You might need to do this if an official in another country has asked you to provide a Singapore document and they have said it must be legalised.
Each country has its own legalisation requirements determined by the type of document being legalised and its intended use. Legalisation requirements are determined only by the country where the document is going, not by SAL. As such requirements often change from time to time, please check with the recipient/local authorities/embassy of the country where your documents are to be used.
What documents can be signed before a Commissioner for Oaths?
A Commissioner for Oaths is authorised to administer oaths and affirmations and can witness the signing of documents that are to be filed in a Singapore Court such as Affidavits, or Statutory Declarations made under the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000.
Can I sign a document which is to be used overseas before a Commissioner for Oaths?
No, unless the foreign country permits you to sign the document before a Commissioner for oaths.
Can I sign my Affidavit remotely through a video call with your Commissioner for oaths?
If you are physically present in Singapore, you may arrange with us to sign your document via a “live” video link e.g. Zoom, Teams, GoogleMeet, WhatsApp video.