Claiming an estate
Updated 1 February 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unpaid-estates-of-deceased-service-personnel/claiming-an-estate
The Deceased Estates team within the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) is responsible for making payments from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to the estate of deceased service personnel.
This also relates to those who die in retirement whilst holding preserved pension rights from military service after 1975 but have no eligible dependant to whom the pension can be paid.
Sometimes we are unable to trace the appropriate relative, and the amounts due to the estate in such cases can vary. If an estate exceeds £5,000 in value and no blood relatives can be identified, the money will pass to the Crown as Bona Vacantia.
How to claim an estate
If you are the relative in the list of unclaimed estates, the executor of the estate, or believe that you are now the closest living relative of the deceased and can supply documentary evidence to this effect.
Please write to the Deceased Estates team in the JCCC at the ‘Contact us’ address below if you are:
- the relative in the list of unclaimed estates
- the executor of the estate
- the closest living relative (next of kin) of the deceased
Please note:
- next of kin is determined in the following sequence: spouse, children/grandchildren, parents, brothers and sisters, etc
- under intestacy rules, a partner (girlfriend, boyfriend, common law partner) is never considered the next of kin
- you must supply identifying documents to prove the relationship
Contact us
By post:
Deceased Estates
Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre
Room G35
Innsworth House
Imjin Barracks
Gloucester
GL3 1HW
By telephone: 01452 712612 ext 6323/6301
By email: DBS-JCCCGroupMailbox@mod.gov.uk