How to file a deputyship application (standard process)

In the Originating Summons (Form 217, FJC Practice Directions), you will need to state clearly what sort of powers you are seeking.

• If you are applying for powers related to P's Central Provident Fund (CPF) matters, refer to these sample CPF orders (PDF, 66 KB).

In the applicant's affidavit (Form 218, FJC Practice Directions), you need to list the personal particulars of all relevant persons to P.

You may need to include additional information in the following situations:

• If there are no relevant persons other than P's immediate family members, you must state so in the affidavit.
• If there are relevant persons whom you regard should not be notified of the application, you need to provide the reasons in your affidavit. For example, certain members of P's family have had little or no involvement in P's life and show no inclination to do so. In such cases, you need not serve your application on these persons.
  

Note: You must swear or affirm the affidavit before a Commissioner for Oaths.

You will need a medical report from a doctor to certify that the patient for whom you are applying to be a deputy lacks mental capacity. The report must be dated within the last 6 months of your application.

The doctor must provide the report by signing an affidavit, prepared according to Form 224 of the FJC Practice Directions. A hard copy of the medical report must be attached to the affidavit.

Note: The doctor must appear before a Commissioner for Oaths to swear or affirm the affidavit.

Relevant persons are people who have an involvement in P’s life and are likely to have an interest in your deputyship application. They are usually P's immediate family members. Find out more about relevant persons.

You should inform the relevant persons of your application. If they consent to your application, you must file their written consent according to Form 221 of the FJC Practice Directions with your application.

Note: The relevant person must swear or affirm the consent form before a Commissioner for Oaths.

If a relevant person does not consent, you will need to serve your application on them after filing.

Visit the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau to file all your prepared documents through eLitigation.

The Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your application.

If the court accepts your application documents, you will be asked to return to the Service Bureau to collect an endorsed version of the documents, which will contain the date and time of a court hearing for your application.

If there are relevant persons who have not consented to your application, you will need to serve a copy of your application documents on them. This informs them of your application.

In addition to the documents you have filed, you will need to include a Notice to Relevant Person (Form 222, FJC Practice Directions).

You may serve the documents in any of the following ways:

• By leaving the document at the proper address of the person to be served.
• By post.
• By fax, in accordance with Paragraph 4 of Rule 902 of the Family Justice Rules.
• In any other manner as agreed between the parties or as directed by the court.

Within 8 days after you serve, you must file an affidavit of service through eLitigation. ⁽¹⁾

Refer to the deputyship brochure: 

• English (PDF, 346 KB)
• Chinese (PDF, 416 KB)
• Malay (PDF, 244 KB)
• Tamil (PDF, 867 KB)

Legislation associated with this topic includes:

• The Mental Capacity Act.
• The Family Justice Act.
• Part 11 of the Family Justice Rules.
• Part 2 of the Fifth Schedule of the Family Justice Rules for the court fees.
  

Refer to Part XI of the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions.

If you wish to name someone to take over from you as the deputy in the event that you are no longer able to serve as the deputy, you will need to file the Successor Deputies' Affidavits (Form 220 of the FJC Practice Directions).