This is one of the most important things to understand about CPF. And one of the most commonly misunderstood.
Your CPF does not follow your Will.
Most people assume that their Will covers everything they own. It does not. CPF savings sit outside your estate entirely, which means your Will has no power over them. It does not matter how clearly your Will is written or who you have named as beneficiaries. Your CPF goes to whoever you have nominated through the CPF nomination system. If you have not made a nomination, it goes through the Public Trustee's Office, not directly to your family.
What is a CPF nomination?
A CPF nomination is a separate, specific instruction you make directly with the CPF Board. It tells CPF exactly who should receive your savings and in what proportions when you pass. It is completely independent of your Will.
You can nominate anyone: a spouse, children, siblings, parents, or even someone outside your immediate family. You can split it across multiple people in whatever proportions you choose.
What happens if you have no nomination?
If you pass away without a CPF nomination, your CPF savings are transferred to the Public Trustee's Office. The Public Trustee then distributes the money according to the Intestate Succession Act, a fixed legal formula that may not reflect your actual wishes.
Beyond not reflecting your wishes, this process also takes significantly longer and involves administrative fees charged to the estate. It is an entirely avoidable complication.
Nominations need to be reviewed
Making a CPF nomination is not a one-time task. Life changes. Marriages, divorces, the birth of children, the passing of a nominated person. A nomination made 15 years ago may no longer reflect who you actually want to benefit from your CPF savings.
It is worth checking your current CPF nomination status through the CPF Board's website or app, and updating it whenever your circumstances change.
The bigger picture
Your CPF nomination, your Will, and your LPA are three separate documents that together form a complete picture of your wishes. Getting one right without the others leaves gaps. If you have not reviewed all three together, that is a conversation worth having.
Worth checking
If you are not sure whether your CPF nomination is still current, it is worth a quick look. We are happy to help you think through the broader picture.
Worth a conversation