He made an LPA at 72 to protect his daughters. Here’s why he says you should, too

By appointing his daughters as joint decision-makers, this retiree hopes to spare his loved ones from legal hurdles and financial stress if he ever loses mental capacity

Rahim Mohamed Raus, seated fourth from left, with his wife, children and grandchildren. The 72-year-old made his LPA in March and appointed both his daughters as joint Donees, so they can make decisions on his behalf if he loses mental capacity.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAHIM MOHAMED RAUS

Published Oct 23, 2026, 04:00 AM

After he retired from a 35-year career with SMRT Corporation in 2021, Rahim Mohamed Raus was certain about one thing. He wanted to lessen the burden on his two daughters.

He stayed active and became a part-time customer service officer. The savvy 72-year-old also consulted a realtor about how he could unlock the value of his home in future.

But one of the most significant things he did was to find out about making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) .

In Singapore, an LPA allows a person to appoint one or more trusted persons, aged 21 or older, known as Donees, to make decisions on their behalf if they lose mental capacity. Depending on the powers granted, these can cover personal welfare as well as property and affairs matters.

But what an LPA covers is not always well understood. Shaun Lee, a lawyer at Nusa Chambers and co-vice chair of the Law Society Law Awareness Committee, says a common misconception is that it serves the same purpose as a will.

“A will deals with what happens after death and how the deceased’s estate is divided, while an LPA comes into effect during the Donor’s lifetime if they lose mental capacity,” he explains, pointing out that a Donee cannot make a will on the Donor’s behalf.

Another misconception is that an LPA takes effect as soon as it is certified. Lee explains that the Donor remains in control of their own affairs, and the Donees can step in only if the Donor is medically assessed to have lost mental capacity.

If a person loses mental capacity without having made their LPA, their family members will have to apply to the court for permission to make decisions on their loved one’s behalf. This process, known as deputyship, can be lengthy and costly.

“This can add stress, including financial stress at an already difficult time,” says Lee.

What you should know about making an LPA

Is an LPA still necessary if you already have a will or don’t have many assets? And when can someone you’ve appointed start making decisions for you? Lawyer Shaun Lee addresses four common questions about how LPAs work and why they matter.

Q: I’ve already made a will. Why do I need an LPA?

A: A will takes effect after death, while an LPA allows someone you trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity during your lifetime.

Q: I don’t have many assets. Is an LPA necessary?

A: An LPA covers more than financial matters. It can also cover personal welfare decisions, including living arrangements and care.

Q: Will I lose control of my affairs once I make an LPA?

A: No. An LPA takes effect only when the Donor loses mental capacity. Certification of the application does not mean the Donee can immediately start making decisions.

Q: What if I don’t have a suitable family member or friend to appoint?

A: A Donor can consider appointing a licensed professional Donee for property and affairs matters, subject to the relevant requirements.

According to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the court process can take up to one and a half years and cost $9,000 or more.

But an LPA is more than an administrative or legal process. It provides clarity on who can make decisions about matters such as care arrangements and finances if a person loses mental capacity, easing uncertainty and stress for those involved.

Rahim’s decision to make an LPA was also influenced by his mother’s example. Before she died in 2018 at the age of 80, she had encouraged him and his siblings to take the first steps towards helping her with legacy planning.

“She wanted things to be easier for all of us,” he says. He hopes to do the same for his daughters. “For me, as daily life goes on, I need to plan.”

He admits that before he found out more about making an LPA, it was an “alien” idea.

But his younger daughter, a healthcare professional, helped him understand why an LPA mattered. She had encountered complicated situations at work involving patients who did not have an LPA, and shared those experiences with him.

Talking about these helped Rahim better understand the importance of having an LPA and prompted further discussions with his family.

Rahim got his LPA done to be prepared for the future and make things easier for his wife and daughters. PHOTO: COURTESY OF RAHIM MOHAMED RAUS

Rahim got his LPA done to be prepared for the future and make things easier for his wife and daughters.

Such discussions are particularly important when deciding whom to appoint as Donees and how they should make decisions. Lee says these conversations should cover whether a Donee will act alone or how joint Donees can work together.

He eventually made his LPA in March this year, appointing both daughters as joint Donees who must act together and agree unanimously on every decision.

Beyond deciding how Donees should make decisions, it is important to consider whether they are suited to the role. Lee says they should be reliable, trustworthy and have good judgment.

“A Donee should understand the Donor’s core values and wishes, and they should be able to cope with the very practical responsibilities such as dealing with banks, hospitals, care providers and government agencies,” Lee explains.

Planning ahead for peace of mind

For Rahim, the entire process of making his LPA was fuss-free involving just three steps.

The first was to complete an application. Most Donors like him use the standardised LPA Form 1, where the application is free of charge for Singapore citizens. The form explains what an LPA is, how it works and the responsibilities of the Donors and Donees. It takes about 10 minutes to complete.

For Donors who require more customised arrangements, the LPA Form 2 must be drafted by a Singapore-qualified lawyer.

Once the forms are completed, Donees and the Replacement Donee (if any) are notified. After they have accepted the appointment, the Donor visits a Certificate Issuer who is an accredited medical practitioner, a practising lawyer or a psychiatrist.

Rahim spoke with his niece, a financial advisor, who helped him to set up an appointment with a general practitioner at a private clinic.

Lee points out that an LPA is not just about managing money or property.

“An LPA is incredibly useful even if a person has few assets or even has a will made because an LPA deals with very different things.

“It does not just cover a person’s assets but also personal welfare decisions including living and care arrangements, and medical decisions,” he explains. “An LPA is also fundamentally different from a will in that a will deals with what happens after death and how the deceased’s estate is divided.”

With his LPA in order, Rahim feels assured that he has made the right decision for his future by making things easier for his children in advance.

“I have always liked to be well-prepared so my LPA can come in when I can no longer make decisions for myself. I would urge those around my age to start looking into LPAs and make the decision.”

How to get started on your LPA

Talk to your family Discuss who you would trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity.

Complete the LPA application online Visit go.gov.sg/planlegacytoday-lpa to submit an LPA application. Appoint one or more Donees, as well as replacement Donees (if any), and decide what powers you wish to grant them.

Donees accept the appointment All appointed Donees and replacement Donees (if any) must log in to the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) system using Singpass to review the LPA and accept their appointment.

Meet with a Certificate Issuer After all Donees and replacement Donees (if any) have accepted their appointments, the applicant must meet a Certificate Issuer in person.

For more information about LPA and other legacy planning tools, visit the Plan Well Zone at the National Celebration of Seniors happening on Oct 30 & 31, 2026 located at HDB Hub.

Ministry of Social and Family Development

LPA/Lasting Power of Attorney

这位退休人士指定女儿们为共同决策人，希望在他丧失行为能力时，能避免家人面临法律纠纷和经济压力。

拉希姆·穆罕默德·劳斯（左起第四位）与妻子、子女和孙辈合影。这位72岁的老人于今年3月签署了持久授权书，并指定他的两个女儿为共同受托人，以便在他丧失行为能力时，她们可以代表他做出决定。

照片：由拉希姆·穆罕默德·劳斯提供

发布于 2026 年 10 月 23 日 上午 4:00

2021年，拉希姆·穆罕默德·劳斯从SMRT公司退休，结束了长达35年的职业生涯。退休后，他非常清楚一件事：他想减轻两个女儿的负担。

他保持活跃，并成为了一名兼职客服人员。这位精明的72岁老人还咨询了一位房地产经纪人，了解如何才能在未来提升自己房子的价值。

但他做的最重要的事情之一是了解了如何制作持久授权书（LPA）。

在新加坡，持久授权书允许个人指定一位或多位年满21周岁的受托人（称为受托人）在自己丧失行为能力时代表其做出决定。根据授予的权限，这些决定可以涵盖个人福利、财产和事务等。

但持久授权书的具体内容并非总是为人所熟知。努沙律师事务所的律师、律师协会法律意识委员会副主席肖恩·李表示，一个常见的误解是持久授权书与遗嘱的作用相同。

“遗嘱处理的是死后的事情以及如何分配死者的遗产，而持久授权书则是在委托人丧失行为能力时生效的，”他解释说，并指出受托人不能代表委托人立遗嘱。

另一个误解是，持久授权书一经认证即生效。李解释说，委托人仍然掌控着自己的事务，只有当委托人经医学评估丧失行为能力时，受托人才能介入。

如果一个人在未签署持久授权书（LPA）的情况下丧失了行为能力，其家人必须向法院申请授权，才能代表其亲人做出决定。这一过程被称为监护权，可能耗时且费用高昂。

李说：“这会加剧压力，包括在原本就困难的时期带来的经济压力。”

关于制定持久授权书，您应该了解哪些内容？

如果您已经立有遗嘱或资产不多，是否还需要持久授权书？您指定的代理人何时才能开始代表您做出决定？律师肖恩·李解答了关于持久授权书运作方式及其重要性的四个常见问题。

问：我已经立了遗嘱，为什么还需要持久授权书？

答：遗嘱在死后生效，而持久授权书允许你信任的人在你生前丧失行为能力时为你做出决定。

问：我没有多少资产。有必要办理持久授权书吗？

答：持久授权书涵盖的范围不仅限于财务事项，还可以涵盖个人福利方面的决定，包括居住安排和照护事宜。

问：我签署持久授权书后，是否会失去对自身事务的控制权？

答：不。持久授权书只有在委托人丧失行为能力时才生效。申请获得认证并不意味着受托人可以立即开始做出决定。

问：如果我没有合适的家人或朋友可以指定怎么办？

答：捐赠人可以考虑指定一名有执照的专业受托人处理财产和事务，但须符合相关规定。

据新加坡社会及家庭发展部 (MSF) 称，法庭审理过程可能需要长达一年半的时间，费用可能高达 9,000 美元或更多。

但持久授权书不仅仅是一个行政或法律程序。它明确规定了在当事人丧失行为能力时，谁可以就照护安排和财务等事宜做出决定，从而减轻相关人员的不确定性和压力。

拉希姆决定设立持久授权书也受到了他母亲的影响。他母亲于2018年去世，享年80岁。在她去世前，她鼓励他和他的兄弟姐妹们开始着手帮助她进行遗产规划。

“她希望我们所有人都能过得更轻松一些，”他说。他也希望能够为自己的女儿们做到这一点。“对我来说，随着日常生活的继续，我需要做好计划。”

他承认，在了解更多关于制作持久授权书（LPA）的信息之前，这曾是一个“陌生的”想法。

但他的小女儿是一名医护人员，她帮助他理解了持久授权书的重要性。她在工作中遇到过一些复杂的情况，涉及没有持久授权书的病人，她把这些经历分享给了他。

谈论这些事情帮助拉希姆更好地理解了拥有持久授权书的重要性，并促使他与家人进行了进一步的讨论。

拉希姆办理了持久授权书，为未来做好准备，也为了方便妻子和女儿们的生活。照片：由拉希姆·穆罕默德·劳斯提供

拉希姆办理了持久授权书，为未来做好准备，也为了让他的妻子和女儿们生活更轻松。

在决定指定哪些人担任受托人以及他们应该如何做出决定时，此类讨论尤为重要。李表示，这些讨论应涵盖受托人是单独行事还是多个受托人如何合作等问题。

他最终于今年三月签署了持久授权书，指定两个女儿为共同受托人，她们必须共同行动，并在每一项决定上达成一致。

除了决定受托人应该如何做决定之外，还需要考虑他们是否适合这个角色。李说，他们应该可靠、值得信赖，并且具备良好的判断力。

李解释说：“受赠人应该了解捐赠人的核心价值观和愿望，并且能够应对与银行、医院、护理机构和政府机构打交道等非常实际的责任。”

提前计划，安心无忧

对于拉希姆来说，制作持久授权书的整个过程非常简单，只涉及三个步骤。

第一步是填写申请表。大多数像他一样的捐赠人使用标准化的持久授权书表格1，新加坡公民可免费申请。表格解释了什么是持久授权书、其运作方式以及捐赠人和受赠人的责任。填写大约需要10分钟。

对于需要更个性化安排的捐赠人，LPA 表格 2 必须由新加坡执业律师起草。

表格填写完毕后，受赠人和候补受赠人（如有）将收到通知。受赠人接受委托后，需前往由认可的执业医师、执业律师或精神科医生出具的证明机构办理相关手续。

拉希姆与他的侄女（一位财务顾问）交谈，侄女帮助他预约了一家私人诊所的全科医生。

李指出，持久授权书不仅仅是管理金钱或财产。

“即使一个人资产很少，或者已经立了遗嘱，持久授权书也非常有用，因为持久授权书处理的是非常不同的事情。

他解释说：“它不仅涵盖个人的资产，还包括个人福利方面的决定，例如生活和护理安排以及医疗决定。持久授权书与遗嘱的根本区别在于，遗嘱处理的是死后的事情以及如何分配死者的遗产。”

拉希姆的持久授权书办妥后，他感到很安心，因为他提前为孩子们做了安排，为自己的未来做出了正确的决定。

“我一直喜欢做好充分的准备，这样当我无法再为自己做决定时，我的持久授权书就能发挥作用。我建议和我年龄相仿的人开始了解持久授权书，并做出决定。”

如何开始撰写您的LPA

与家人谈谈，讨论一下如果你丧失了行为能力，你会信任谁来为你做决定。

在线完成持久授权书申请。访问 go.gov.sg/planlegacytoday-lpa 提交持久授权书申请。指定一名或多名受托人，以及候补受托人（如有），并决定您希望授予他们哪些权力。

受托人接受委任 所有指定的受托人和替换受托人（如有）必须使用 Singpass 登录公共监护人办公室在线 (OPGO) 系统，以查看持久授权书并接受委任。

在所有受赠人和替代受赠人（如有）接受任命后，申请人必须亲自与证书颁发机构会面。

有关 LPA 和其他遗产规划工具的更多信息，请前往 2026 年 10 月 30 日至 31 日在建屋发展局中心举行的全国老年人庆祝活动的“规划美好区”。

社会及家庭发展部

持久授权书/长期授权委托书