Does divorce automatically cancel my CPF nomination?

CPF Nomination and Divorce

No, divorce does not automatically cancel your CPF nomination in Singapore. This is a crucial point to remember for estate planning involving your Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.

CPF Nomination Overrides Other Documents

According to CPF Board rules, a valid CPF nomination overrides both a Will and a Trust regarding the distribution of your CPF savings upon your demise. However, the nomination itself is only automatically revoked upon marriage.

Action Required After Divorce

Since divorce does not automatically revoke the existing nomination, if you wish to change who inherits your CPF savings after a divorce, you must manually update or revoke your existing CPF nomination with the CPF Board. If you fail to update it, the CPF savings will be distributed according to the last valid nomination made, even if that nominee is your ex-spouse.

Scope of CPF Nomination

It is important to note that the CPF nomination only covers the funds held in your CPF accounts (OA, SA, RA, MA). It does not cover:

• CPF investments (which are covered by your Will).
• Directly nominated policies under the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS).
• Properties bought using CPF (which are governed by your Will or intestacy laws).

If you have made a nomination and subsequently divorce, you should review your nomination immediately to ensure your CPF savings are distributed as you intend. You can nominate up to 100 people, including foreigners and organisations, and it is always advisable to have a backup nominee (the 99:1 tip) in case your primary nominee predeceases you (CPF Board guidance).

Key Takeaway: Divorce requires proactive action from you to change your CPF nomination; it is not handled automatically by the courts or the CPF Board.