Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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Am I eligible for relief under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act? How I do a serve a Notification for Relief? Answer The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 (“the Act”) seeks to offer temporary relief to businesses and individuals who are unable to perform their contractual obligations due on or after 1 February 2020 because of COVID-19. The Act covers relevant contractual obligations that are to be performed on or after 1 February 2020, for contracts that were entered into before 25 March 2020. To check if you are eligible for relief and the type of relief that applies, please refer to our webpages on the Types of Contract Covered by the Act, FAQs, and online self-assessment tool. If you require relief for a contract that is covered by the Act, and you have been unable to come to an agreement with the other party or parties to the contract, you can serve a Notification for Relief. Information on other support measures and advisories can be found below: IRAS - Support measures and tax guidance (including property tax rebates) MAS - Support measures for individuals and SMEs (including property loans and credit card debts) MOM - Support programmes and schemes for employers and self-employed persons MSF - Support for Singaporeans affected by COVID-19 Support Go Where - Grants, funds and packages for individuals
How do I contact the Ministry of Law? Answer You can contact all our departments and officers (including the Insolvency Office, the Public Trustee's Office, the Legal Aid Bureau, the Community Mediation Centre and the Legal Services Regulatory Authority) via the Ministry of Law's online enquiry form (you can submit up to 30MB of documents in Step 4 of the form). Sending us your enquiry or documents via the online form will help us to better track your enquiry and ensure that it is dealt with promptly. Please be assured that we will forward your enquiry to the relevant case officer or team as necessary. We will reply within 3 to 14 working days, depending on the complexity of your enquiry. You can also visit us at: Ministry of Law Services Centre 45 Maxwell Road #07-11 The URA Centre (East Wing) Singapore 069118 (Nearest MRT stations: Tanjong Pagar (EW15) and Chinatown (NE4/DT19)) Tel: 1800 225 5529 or +65 6225 5529 (for overseas callers) Website: http://www.mlaw.gov.sg/ Opening Hours Monday to Friday: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)
How does a bankrupt apply for approval to travel overseas? Answer Bankrupts who wish to travel overseas should submit their travel application at least 14 days before their intended date of travel at our website (under 'Individual Insolvency' -> 'Insolvent Person's Portal').
How do I apply to the Public Trustee to administer a deceased person's estate, CPF monies, etc? Answer For the Public Trustee's Office to assist in the distribution of a deceased person's un-nominated CPF monies and/or estate (e.g. bank balances, shares, transfer of vehicle), please submit an online application via the eService : - For un-nominated CPF monies, please select Administration of CPF/ Baby Bonus / Edusave / PSEA Monies - For estate, please select Administration of Deceased Estate (Assets other than CPF / Baby Bonus / Edusave / PSEA Monies)
How do I apply for an Assessor's Determination for relief under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act? Answer The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 (“the Act”) seeks to offer temporary relief to businesses and individuals who are unable to perform their contractual obligations due on or after 1 February 2020 because of COVID-19. The Act covers relevant contractual obligations that are to be performed on or after 1 February 2020, for contracts that were entered into before 25 March 2020. Please refer to our webpages on the Types of Contract Covered by the Act, FAQs, and online self-assessment tool. If the contract is one that is covered under the Act, and the parties to the contract have been unable to come to an agreement, the party seeking relief will first need to serve a Notification for Relief on the other party or parties to the contract. After the Notification for Relief has been served, any party to the contract can submit an Application for an Assessor’s Determination. Currently, an Application for an Assessor's Determination can be submitted at no cost.

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How do we contact the LSRA? Can we request a meeting? Answer The answers to many of the enquiries that the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) receives can be found by referring to the relevant legislation, our webpages, FAQs, LSRA e-Services user guide, and sample application forms available on the LSRA e-Services. If you are unable to find the information you require, you can submit an enquiry via our enquiry form. It usually takes 3-5 working days for us to reply to simple queries, and up to 14 working days for more complex queries. Please note that LSRA does not give legal advice or generally accommodate meeting requests. We will assist you and respond to the issues you wish to discuss via our enquiry form. You may visit our website for more details.
How do I register as a foreign lawyer in Singapore? Which category should I choose? Answer Only licensed law practices in Singapore can apply to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (“LSRA”) to register foreign-qualified lawyers, who should be duly authorised or registered to practise law in a state or territory by an authority having the function conferred by law of authorising or registering persons to practise law in that state or territory. A foreign-qualified lawyer who wishes to practise law in or from Singapore will need to first be offered employment by a licensed law practice in Singapore, which will then submit an application to the LSRA to register them as a foreign lawyer under the Legal Profession Act. Please refer to the following links for more information: • Types of individual registration • Application process to register an individual • LSRA e-Services User Guide • LSRA FAQs
Who should I contact for queries about Singapore Practising Certificates and Admission Certificates? Answer For queries about Singapore Practising Certificates and Admission Certificates, please visit the Supreme Court's website, or contact them at SUPCOURT_PCEF_INQ@supcourt.gov.sg or 6332 4244.
Do I need to be registered with the LSRA if I am visiting Singapore on a temporary basis? Answer Foreign lawyers who are visiting Singapore on a temporary basis for ad-hoc arbitration proceedings, are not required to register with the LSRA as long as they are providing legal services in their own name or that of an overseas law practice, and not through a Singapore-based entity. Please note that such individuals will still need to comply with the Ministry of Manpower’s work pass requirements.
In what circumstances is an individual required to register as a foreign lawyer in Singapore? Answer Foreign-qualified lawyers who wish to provide legal services in or from a law practice in Singapore must be registered with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA). An individual is only eligible to register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) if s/he is a "foreign lawyer" as defined under the Legal Profession Act, i.e. "an individual who is duly authorised or registered to practise law in a state or territory other than Singapore by a foreign authority having the function conferred by law of authorising or registering persons to practise law in that state or territory". Individuals who will not be providing legal services in or from Singapore do not need to be registered with the LSRA. Please note that applications to register a foreign lawyer can only be submitted by a law practice licensed in Singapore. For more information on the registration process, please refer to the following webpage: Register an Individual.