Putting your affairs in order, carefully.

A will can technically be written without professional involvement, provided it meets the formal requirements of the Wills Act 1959 — two witnesses, no beneficiary among them, and a clear expression of intent. In practice, wills drafted without guidance frequently contain ambiguities that create difficulties for executors and beneficiaries later. A considered engagement at the outset tends to cost considerably less than resolving those difficulties after the fact.

Timeline varies significantly depending on whether a valid will exists, the size and nature of the estate, and how promptly the relevant institutions respond. A straightforward estate with a clear will and modest assets might be resolved in four to eight months. Larger or more complex estates, or those requiring letters of administration where no will exists, often take twelve months or more. We provide written updates at each stage so the family is not left wondering where matters stand.

EPF savings are governed by nomination, not by the will — which is why reviewing your nomination regularly matters. If no nomination is in place, EPF distributes savings according to its own rules, which may differ from your intentions. Life insurance proceeds similarly pass to the named nominee rather than the estate. We review these arrangements as part of both our will drafting and comprehensive programme engagements, so the various instruments in a client's estate work together rather than at cross-purposes.

Joint property passes by survivorship rather than through the will, so it requires separate consideration. Shares in a private company are generally subject to the will and to the company's own articles of association, which may contain restrictions on transfer. The comprehensive estate planning programme specifically addresses these overlapping frameworks and helps clients understand how each layer interacts.

Grant of probate is issued when the deceased left a valid will naming an executor. Letters of administration are issued where there is no valid will, or where the named executor is unable to act. Both authorise the holder to deal with the deceased's assets, but the process for obtaining them differs somewhat. We work through both routes depending on the circumstances of the estate.

Our three engagements are priced at fixed fee points — RM 700 for will drafting and personal advisory, RM 1,300 for the probate and estate distribution engagement, and RM 2,100 for the comprehensive estate planning and family wealth programme. Where a matter is unusually complex or requires coordination across borders, we discuss the scope and any additional considerations before proceeding. There are no hidden fees.