As an Ordinary Trustee
Appointment of Public Trustee to be trustee, executor, etc.
7.—(1)  The Public Trustee may by that name, or any other sufficient description, be appointed to be trustee of any will or settlement or other instrument creating a trust or to perform any trust or duty belonging to a class which he is authorised by rules made under this Act to accept, and may be so appointed whether the will or settlement or instrument creating the trust or duty was made or came into operation before or after 27th May 1915 and either as an original or as a new trustee, or as an additional trustee, in the same cases, and in the same manner, and by the same persons or court, as if he was a private trustee, with this addition, that, though the trustees originally appointed were two or more, the Public Trustee may be appointed sole trustee.
Retirement
(2)  Where the Public Trustee has been appointed a trustee of any trust, a co-trustee may retire from the trust under and in accordance with section 43 of the Trustees Act [Cap. 337], notwithstanding that there are not more than two trustees, and without such consents as are required by that section.
Contrary provisions in trust instrument
(3)  The Public Trustee shall not be so appointed either as a new or additional trustee where the will, settlement or other instrument creating the trust or duty contains a direction to the contrary, unless the court otherwise orders.
Notice to beneficiaries
(4)  Notice of any proposed appointment of the Public Trustee, either as a new or additional trustee, shall, where practicable, be given in the prescribed manner to all persons beneficially interested who are resident in Singapore and whose addresses are known to the persons proposing to make the appointment, or, if the beneficiaries are infants, to their guardians.
(5)  If any person to whom such notice has been given within 21 days from the receipt of the notice applies to the court, the court may, if having regard to the interests of all the beneficiaries it considers it expedient to do so, make an order prohibiting the appointment being made:
Provided that a failure to give any such notice shall not invalidate any appointment made under this section.
Granting probate to Public Trustee
8.—(1)  If, in pursuance of any rule under this Act, the Public Trustee is authorised to accept by that name probates of wills or letters of administration, the court having jurisdiction to grant probate of a will or letters of administration may grant such probate or letters to the Public Trustee by that name.
(2)  For such purpose the court shall consider the Public Trustee as in law entitled equally with any other person or class of persons to obtain the grant of letters of administration save that the consent or citation of the Public Trustee shall not be required for the grant of letters of administration to any other person, and that, as between the Public Trustee and the widower, widow or next of kin of the deceased, the widower, widow or next of kin shall be preferred, unless for good cause shown to the contrary.
Transfer by executor after probate to Public Trustee
(3)  Any executor who has obtained probate or any administrator who has obtained letters of administration, and notwithstanding he has acted in the administration of the deceased’s estate, may, with the sanction of the court, and after such notice to the persons beneficially interested as the court directs, transfer the estate to the Public Trustee for administration either solely or jointly with the continuing executors or administrators, if any.
(4)  The order of the court sanctioning such transfer shall, subject to this Act, give to the Public Trustee all the powers of such executor and administrator.
(5)  Such executor and administrator shall not be in any way liable in respect of any act or default in reference to such estate subsequent to the date of such order, other than the act or default of himself or of persons other than himself for whose conduct he is in law responsible.
Appointment by court of Public Trustee in place of executor or administrator
9.  The court may, on the application of any person beneficially interested, appoint the Public Trustee, if sufficient cause is shown, in place of all or any existing executors or administrators.