Finding Information on a Deceased Person in Singapore

Last updated on September 3, 2025

In Singapore, every death must be formally registered. However, families are not legally required to publish obituaries or hold public funeral services. This means it can sometimes be difficult for relatives or acquaintances to confirm if someone has passed away, especially if the family kept matters private, or in cases where the spouses have divorced or separated, and their children or loved ones are estranged from or no longer in contact with them.

This article sets out the practical steps to take if you wish to find information on a deceased family member or acquaintance in Singapore, including:

Confirming if Someone has Passed Away

Generally, the most reliable way to establish whether an individual has passed away in Singapore is by checking official government records. These include:

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)

All deaths in Singapore are automatically registered online with the ICA once a doctor certifies the death online, and the death certificate will be issued to the next-of-kin in digital format once registered.

If you do not have a copy of the death certificate, or if it might have been lost or damaged, you may apply for a digital death extract, so long as the deceased had passed on in Singapore. An application for a death extract can be made online using ICA’s e-Service. However, do note that only the following persons are eligible to apply for a death extract:

Parent of the deceased
Child of the deceased
Grandparent of the deceased
Grandchild of the deceased
Spouse of the deceased
Legal guardian of the deceased
Sibling of the deceased
Solicitor who is acting on behalf of the above-listed eligible person(s)

More information on the application procedure can be found here. It is also important to note that the Death Certificate or Death Extract is a key document required for estate administration, including bank accounts, property transfers, and court applications.

Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board

The CPF Board verifies deaths directly with the ICA. If you receive a CPF nomination letter, this means that you were nominated by the deceased as a beneficiary of their CPF savings (i.e. their nominee) and the CPF Board has sent you the letter after being notified of the death by ICA.

You can contact the CPF Board if you need any help or assistance, such as finding out more information regarding your role as a nominee and next steps, or refer to our detailed guide on CPF nominations.

National Environment Agency (NEA)

The NEA issues permits before a burial or cremation can take place in Singapore. Therefore, records of cremations and burials are likely to be maintained by the NEA and may be accessed by next-of-kin.

Locating Obituaries or Funeral Notices

There is no legal requirement to publish an obituary in Singapore. Some families may also prefer to keep the passing of a loved one in private, or there may be cases of deceased persons who were estranged from their families and loved ones prior to their passing. Nevertheless, some common sources of information about the passing of a family member or loved one include:

Newspapers and online obituary platforms (e.g. The Straits Times obituary section, obits.sg, an online obituary service).
Funeral service providers: Larger funeral directors may post online notices or livestreams of funeral services
Religious institutions: Churches, temples, and mosques may announce members’ funerals.
Social media (e.g. Facebook): In this digital age, it is not uncommon for the passing of a loved one to be shared on social media.

Steps to Take If No Funeral was Conducted

If you were not informed of a funeral or suspect that there might not have been a formal funeral that took place for the deceased person, you can consider taking the following steps:

Check NEA’s Records: As mentioned above, a permit for cremation or burial needs to be obtained from the NEA before proceeding with the application for cremation or burial at government-managed after-death facilities or private crematoria. The NEA would be able to provide these records to the next-of-kin of a deceased.
Contact the Public Trustee’s Office – Where a deceased person has no next-of-kin managing their affairs, the Public Trustee may administer the estate. Enquiries can be made to the Public Trustee’s Office to confirm if a file exists. However, do note that the Public Trustee’s remit is subject to certain requirements being met – for example, the Public Trustee cannot assist in administering a deceased person’s estate if it is worth more than $50,000, excluding any debts owed by the deceased. You can refer to our other article for a more detailed guide on the role of a Public Trustee and when they can step in to administer a loved one’s estate.

Key Things to Note:

If you have received correspondence from the CPF Board, this confirms that a death has occurred.
If no information is available publicly, start with the ICA and NEA’s records.
Keep the Death Certificate or extract safely; it is required for all subsequent probate and/or inheritance matters, especially if you were the deceased’s next-of-kin (e.g. a spouse, or child).

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Every death in Singapore is registered with the ICA, and a cremation or burial requires the NEA’s approval. Even if no obituary or funeral notice was published, there will always be official records. The next-of-kin of a deceased would usually have the right to obtain these records and pursue probate matters pertaining to the deceased.

If you do require further legal guidance or advice on such matters, you should consult an experienced probate lawyer.