Should I upload my Will in My Legacy Vault?
TLDR version: Yes, on the principle that something is better than nothing, provided that you keep the information updated and do not intend to engage any other paid physical storage services such as our gA-Vault. Also, it's FREE!
MyLegacy@LifeSG is an initiative under the Smart Nation "LifeSG" Strategic National Project. It has been developed by an inter-agency taskforce focused on end-of-life matters, led by the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Division, with the support of several government agencies.
My Legacy Vault allows you to upload digital copies of important documents, such as your Will, along with information on where the original hard copy is stored. The information can be set to be shared with Trusted Person(s) only upon your death.
Deciding whether or not to upload your Will to the Vault is a personal choice. However, here are some factors to consider:
- The service is completely free of charge.
- Similar to the Singapore Wills Registry, uploading your Will is NOT compulsory, nor does it affect its legal validity. The service is simply a means to share your Will, with access granted to your loved ones based on the settings and configurations you choose.
- Sensitive information can be set to be shared only upon your death, but you will need to designate your loved ones as "Trusted Persons," and they will need to accept this designation beforehand.
- The accuracy and relevance of the information stored is entirely dependent on how up-to-date it is. For instance, if you upload an old Will but fail to update it when a new Will is created (which revokes the earlier Will), the latest Will remains legally valid. However, My Legacy would still share the outdated Will, which would be revoked and unusable.
- The original hard copy of the Will is still required for the Grant of Probate. If the original hard copy is lost or destroyed, any other version, such as a digital copy, would be subject to court approval.
In conclusion, while My Legacy Vault offers a convenient and free way to store and share important documents, it is crucial to keep your information accurate and up to date. It should also be used as a complementary service, not a substitute for maintaining and safeguarding original hard copies of your Will and other essential documents. For safekeeping of physical documents, you should consider professional custody services such as our gA-Vault.
If you would like to find out more on how to do so, do check out these 3 articles: