Why You Need a Will in Malaysia 为什么在马来西亚你需要立遗嘱
Discover the legal reasons why a will is the foundation of family security and asset distribution. 探讨遗嘱为何是保障家庭安全和进行资产分配的法律基石。
By TrusteeMalaysia.com Editorial Team | Published: June 10, 2026 作者：TrusteeMalaysia.com 编辑团队 | 发布时间：2026年6月10日
1. The Wills Act 1959 Framework 1. 《1959年遗嘱法令》法律框架
In Malaysia, the legal foundation for will writing is established under the Wills Act 1959 (applicable to non-Muslims). A will is a declaration in writing of the intentions of a testator regarding the disposition of their property after death. To be legally valid under Section 5 of the Wills Act, the will must satisfy several criteria. The testator must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind at the time of execution. The will must be in writing and signed by the testator at the foot or end. Crucially, the signing must be witnessed by two or more witnesses present at the same time, who must also sign the will in the presence of the testator. It is important to note that a witness or their spouse cannot inherit any assets under that will; if a beneficiary acts as a witness, their gift is legally void. 在马来西亚，撰写遗嘱的法律基础依据《1959年遗嘱法令》（适用于非穆斯林）。遗嘱是立遗嘱人关于其死后财产处置意愿的书面声明。根据《遗嘱法令》第5条，要使遗嘱具有法律效力，必须满足几项标准。立遗嘱人在签署遗嘱时必须年满18岁且神志清醒。遗嘱必须采用书面形式，并由立遗嘱人在底部或末尾处签字。至关重要的一点是，签署过程必须由两名或两名以上同时在场的证人见证，且证人也必须在立遗嘱人面前签字。需要特别注意的是，证人或其配偶不能作为该遗嘱的受益人继承任何资产；如果受益人担任证人，其获得遗产的条款在法律上将归于无效。
2. Appointing Trusted Guardians for Minor Children 2. 为未成年子女指定信赖的监护人
For parents with young children, a will is the only legal document where you can nominate a guardian of your choice to care for your children if both parents pass away prematurely. Under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1961, if you do not specify a guardian, the decision falls to the High Court. The court will appoint a guardian based on the best interest of the child, which may result in a relative you would not have preferred taking custody, or worse, family disputes over custody. Nominating a guardian in your will gives you peace of mind that your children will be raised by someone who shares your values, lifestyle, and parenting philosophy. 对于育有年幼子女的父母而言，遗嘱是唯一一份允许您在父母双方不幸过早离世时指定心仪监护人来照顾子女的法律文件。根据《1961年婴儿监护法令》，如果您没有指定监护人，这一决定权将移交给高等法院。法院将基于孩子的最大利益来指定监护人，这可能会导致您不属意的亲属获得监护权，甚至引发家庭内部的监护权争夺战。在遗嘱中指定监护人可以让您高枕无忧，确保您的孩子由与您有着共同价值观、生活方式和抚育理念的人抚养成人。
3. Appointing the Right Executor 3. 指定合适的遗嘱执行人
The executor is the individual or corporation you appoint in your will to manage your estate, settle your debts, apply for probate, and distribute your remaining assets to the beneficiaries. The duties of an executor are demanding and include filing tax returns, clearing bank loans, valuation of properties, and communicating with lawyers and courts. You can appoint an individual (such as a trusted friend or family member) or a professional corporate trustee company. Appointing a corporate executor ensures that the estate is administered objectively, professionally, and without family bias, avoiding delays if an individual executor passes away or relocates. 遗嘱执行人是您在遗嘱中指定的负责管理您遗产、清偿您的债务、申请遗嘱认证并向受益人分配剩余资产的个人或公司。执行人的职责非常繁重，包括报税、清偿银行贷款、房产估值以及与律师及法院接洽。您可以指定个人（例如值得信赖的朋友或家人）或专业的法人受托机构。指定法人执行人可以确保遗产得到客观、专业且不带家庭偏见的管理，避免个人执行人去世或搬迁时造成的行政延误。
4. Preventing Lengthy Legal and Probate Delays 4. 避免漫长的法律与认证延误
One of the most immediate benefits of having a will is the speed of estate administration. When you leave a valid will, your executor can apply directly to the High Court for a Grant of Probate (GP). The GP is typically granted within three to six months. With the GP, the executor can immediately withdraw funds from bank accounts, transfer property titles, and distribute inheritance. In contrast, dying without a will requires the family to apply for Letters of Administration (LA), which involves locating administrators and securing administration bonds. This process routinely takes one to three years, during which your family has no legal access to your frozen bank accounts and assets. 立有遗嘱最直接的好处之一是能加快遗产管理的速度。当您留有有效遗嘱时，您的执行人可以直接向高等法院申请遗嘱认证书（Grant of Probate - GP）。GP通常在三至六个月内便可批下来。凭借GP，执行人可以立即从银行账户中提取资金、转让房产所有权并分配继承权。相比之下，无遗嘱死亡则需要家属申请遗产管理书（LA），这涉及确定管理人和寻找遗产管理担保人，该程序通常需要一到三年的时间，在此期间您的家人将无法合法动用您被冻结的银行账户和资产。
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. 免责声明：本内容仅供学习参考之用，并不构成任何法律或财务建议。
Ready to draft your will? 准备好起草您的遗嘱了吗？
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