Articles
Guidance for families
Plain-English answers to the questions families ask when arranging a funeral in Singapore.
Bereavement leave in Singapore: what you're entitled to and how to ask
Whether employers in Singapore must give bereavement or compassionate leave, what many companies offer, your options if your contract says nothing, and how to ask for time off.
Read the article →Condolence money (pek kim or bai jin): how much to give at a wake in Singapore
What condolence money is, how much people in Singapore usually give, why odd amounts and white envelopes are used, how to hand it over, and customs in other communities.
Read the article →Funeral flowers and wreaths in Singapore: what to send, and when
Flower stands and wreaths for a wake in Singapore: which colours suit different traditions, what to write on the ribbon, typical prices, how delivery works, and when flowers are not expected.
Read the article →Condolence messages: what to write, with examples for every situation
Simple condolence messages for a friend, colleague or client, short messages for a card or WhatsApp, what to write on a wreath ribbon, and phrases used in Chinese, Malay, Christian and Hindu traditions.
Read the article →CPF nomination: what happens to CPF savings when someone dies
How CPF savings are paid out after a death, with or without a nomination, and how to make or update your own CPF nomination online.
Read the article →Probate or letters of administration: which one does the family need?
After a death, someone needs the court's permission to deal with the estate. Here is how to tell which grant applies and what the process involves.
Read the article →What a funeral package includes, and what to check before you sign
A plain guide to the parts of a typical funeral package in Singapore, what is often extra, and how to ask for a quote you can compare.
Read the article →Do you need a will in Singapore? What happens if you don't have one
What a will does, who inherits if there is none, what a will cannot cover, and the rules for making a valid will in Singapore.
Read the article →Buddhist and Taoist funerals in Singapore: what's different
How Buddhist and Taoist funeral rites commonly differ in Singapore, why many families mix the two, and what to ask before the wake begins.
Read the article →Cremation or burial in Singapore: how families decide
Why most funerals in Singapore end in cremation, how burial and the 15-year burial period work, and what to ask your funeral director.
Read the article →Holding a wake at an HDB void deck: what families need to know
How void deck wakes are booked, what your funeral director sets up, how to be considerate to neighbours, and other places to hold a wake.
Read the article →What to do when someone dies at home in Singapore
The first steps after a death at home: getting the death certified, downloading the death certificate, and arranging a funeral director.
Read the article →How to choose a funeral director in Singapore
A calm checklist for calling funeral directors, often late at night: what to ask, what to watch out for, and what NEA licensing means.
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