How do I add a substitute beneficiary in my Will?
Substitute beneficiaries are also considered beneficiaries of the Will. Hence, they and their spouse CANNOT be witnesses to the Will.
The wordings provided in this article redistribute everything that the "primary beneficiary" is entitled to receive to your indicated substitute beneficiary(s).
If you want to redistribute only a specific asset that the "primary beneficiary" is entitled to receive [e.g. this specific asset(s) shall be redistributed to your substitute beneficiary(s) ], check out this article instead.
To indicate in your Will that you wish to redistribute the share of your estate that is given to a "primary beneficiary" should he/her dies before you, please go to the " Select Clauses" tab, toggle on "Other Instructions" and key in the substitute beneficiary(s) accordingly. Here's one example:
Provided in the sections below are a few possible variations for substitute beneficiary(s). You can go to the "Select Clauses" page, toggle on the "Other Instructions" section and key in the provided wordings (please do fill in the relevant details accordingly).
ONE primary beneficiary to substitute beneficiary(s)
If you want to redistribute to another beneficiary if a particular "primary beneficiary" is dead, you can use the following clause:
If my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}, dies before me, the share of my estate which he/she would otherwise be entitled to receive under this Will shall be redistributed to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}.
If you want to redistribute to multiple substitute beneficiaries, you can use the following clause instead:
If my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}, dies before me, the share of my estate which he/she would otherwise be entitled to receive under this Will shall be redistributed in the following manner:
- XX% to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- XX% to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}.
Multiple primary beneficiaries to substitute beneficiary(s)
If you want to redistribute to a substitute beneficiary if multiple "primary beneficiaries" are dead, you can use the following clause instead:
If ALL of the following beneficiaries:
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
die before me, the share of my estate which they would otherwise be entitled to receive under this Will shall be redistributed to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}.
If you want to redistribute to multiple substitute beneficiaries if multiple "primary beneficiaries" are dead, you can use the following clause instead:
If ALL of the following beneficiaries:
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
die before me, the share of my estate which they would otherwise be entitled to receive under this Will shall be redistributed in the following manner:
- XX% to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details};
- XX% to my {Relationship}, {Name}, {Identification Number/details}.
Redistribute equally amongst surviving beneficiaries within a group
If you want to redistribute EQUALLY amongst the surviving beneficiaries within a group if any of the beneficiaries in the said group are dead, you can use the following clause instead:
If ANY of the following beneficiary(s):
- my {Relationship}, {Name 1}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name 2}, {Identification Number/details};
- my {Relationship}, {Name 3}, {Identification Number/details};
dies before me, the share of my estate which he/she/they would otherwise be entitled to receive under this Will shall be redistributed EQUALLY to the SURVIVING beneficiary(s) stated in this sentence [i.e. Name 1; Name 2; Name 3].