If a single 37-year-old Singaporean who bought an HDB flat under the singles scheme dies, and she is married to a foreigner with an LTVP but not registered as an occupier in the HDB, will her family in Singapore be entitled to a claim on the estate? Will there be any payout under the below 65 years single estate scheme, and who will be entitled to it? How can claims against the estate be made?

In the event of a single Singapore citizen's death, the distribution of their estate, including their HDB flat, is governed by the Intestate Succession Act if there is no will.

Distribution of Estate

Since the deceased was married but not to a Singapore citizen, and the marriage was not registered in Singapore, the foreign spouse may not be automatically entitled to the estate under Singapore's intestacy laws. Here is how the estate would typically be distributed:

- If the deceased has no spouse or children, the estate would be distributed among the parents and siblings. Specifically, if there are parents and siblings, the estate would be divided equally among the surviving parents and siblings.

HDB Flat

For the HDB flat, the rules are more specific:

- Since the foreign spouse is not a registered occupier and not a Singapore citizen, they would not have automatic rights to the flat.
- The HDB flat would be part of the deceased's estate and would be distributed according to the intestacy laws mentioned above.
- The family members (parents and siblings) who are entitled to the estate can make claims against the estate, including the HDB flat.

Claims Against the Estate

To make claims against the estate, the family members would need to go through the process of administering the deceased's estate. Here are the general steps:

- The next of kin or the executor of the will (if there is one) would need to apply to the Public Trustee's Office or engage a private administrator to manage the estate.
- The application would involve disclosing all assets, including the HDB flat, and following the rules of distribution as per the Intestate Succession Act.
- Funeral expenses can also be claimed from the estate, but this would need to be done through the proper channels and with supporting documents.

HDB's Role

HDB would not confiscate the asset but would require the estate to be administered according to the law. The family members or the administrator of the estate would need to inform HDB about the change in ownership and follow the necessary procedures to transfer the flat.

In summary, the deceased's family members, specifically the parents and siblings, would be entitled to claim the estate, including the HDB flat, under the intestacy laws. There would be no payout under a "below 65 years single estate scheme" as such a scheme does not exist. The estate would be distributed according to the rules of intestate succession.