Many Singaporeans have made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). It is a sensible step. If you lose the ability to make decisions, the people you trust can manage your affairs in Singapore.
But if you also own a property in Melbourne, or hold Australian bank accounts or shares, there is an important question: will your Singapore LPA work in Australia?
Often, it will not work smoothly, or at all.
Why a Singapore LPA may not be enough
An LPA is made under Singapore law and registered with Singapore’s Office of the Public Guardian. In Victoria, powers of attorney are governed by Victorian law. Victoria recognises enduring powers of attorney made in other Australian states and territories, but there is no general automatic recognition of powers of attorney made overseas.
In practice, this means that the people dealing with your Australian assets may refuse to act on a Singapore LPA. That includes:
- the land registry, if your property needs to be sold, mortgaged or transferred,
- your Australian bank,
- the State Revenue Office, and
- your property manager or tenant arrangements.
What happens if there is no Australian power of attorney
If you lose capacity and no one has authority under Australian law, your family may need to apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an administrator to be appointed to manage your Victorian assets.
This can be:
- slow, at a time when bills, tenants and loans still need attention,
- costly,
- public, as it is a tribunal process, and
- outside your control, because the tribunal decides who is appointed and how they report.
We see families face this when a parent in Singapore has a stroke or develops dementia and a Melbourne apartment needs urgent decisions.
The solution: a Victorian enduring power of attorney
A Victorian enduring power of attorney can sit alongside your Singapore LPA. It allows the people you choose to manage your financial and property matters in Victoria if you can no longer do so, and, if you wish, while you still have capacity.
Points to consider:
- Choose the same people, or people who work well together. Your Singapore donees and your Australian attorneys should be able to cooperate.
- Think about where your attorneys live. An attorney in Singapore can act for your Melbourne property, but practical tasks may be easier for someone who can deal with Australian banks and agents.
- Limits and instructions. You can set conditions, for example requiring two attorneys to act together, or limiting what can be done with the property.
- Health and personal decisions. If you spend long periods in Australia, also consider appointing a medical treatment decision maker under Victorian law. Other states have their own documents.
Signing from Singapore
Victorian enduring powers of attorney must be signed and witnessed in a particular way, with formal requirements for the witnesses and the attorneys’ acceptance. Signing outside Australia needs care, because a document that is not properly witnessed may be rejected exactly when it is needed. We arrange signing for clients in Singapore and check the documents before they are relied on.
Keep your Singapore and Australian plans consistent
Your LPA, your Victorian power of attorney, your Singapore will and your Australian will should tell one consistent story. When they conflict, families end up in disputes. See also:
How Chua Tan Associates can help
Chua Tan Associates has acted for Singaporean and other overseas Chinese families with Australian assets since 1990. We prepare Victorian wills, enduring powers of attorney and related documents for clients living in Singapore, by video and courier, in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. We work alongside your Singapore lawyers so that your plans fit together.
Book a 30-minute paid consultation. If you go ahead, the consultation fee is credited to your first invoice.
Frequently asked questions
I already have a Singapore LPA. Is that enough for my Melbourne flat?
Often it is not. Australian institutions may not accept it. A Victorian enduring power of attorney avoids this problem.
Can I make a Victorian power of attorney while living in Singapore?
Yes, but the signing and witnessing requirements must be followed carefully.
What if my parent has already lost capacity?
It is usually too late to make a new power of attorney. An application to VCAT may be needed. Get advice quickly.
Does a power of attorney replace a will?
No. A power of attorney ends when you pass away. Your will deals with your property after death.
Important: This article is general information only and must not be relied on. It is not legal, tax, financial or migration advice, does not take your circumstances into account, and may not reflect changes in the law after publication. Laws of other countries may also apply. Do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of this article. Reading it or contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Please book a consultation for advice on your situation.
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Chua Tan Associates acts for families, executors, trustees and their professional advisers in estate planning, estate administration and estate disputes in Australia and across borders. To arrange a confidential consultation, please contact our Melbourne office on +61 3 9602 3988 or submit an enquiry. Advice is available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Justin Chua (蔡智勋), lawyer and mediator, Chua Tan Associates, Melbourne. General information only, not legal advice. Updated October 2026.
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