Why Every Veteran Should Have a Will – And How to Get Started

If you served, you already know how to prepare for the worst. Before deployment you sorted your next of kin. You made sure the right people knew what to do if something happened to you.

But most veterans don't have a will.

Not because they don't care about their family. Because it keeps getting pushed down the list, or it feels like something to sort when life settles down, or — and this one catches a lot of people out — they assume their pension nomination form has it covered.

It doesn't. And for veterans specifically, that gap matters more than most people realise.

This guide explains what's actually at stake, what your pension nomination form does and doesn't do, and how to get a will in place — including several routes that cost you nothing.

Why Veterans Need a Will More Than Most

Your Armed Forces pension nomination tells Veterans UK (the MOD's pension administrators) who you'd like to receive your pension death benefits. But it's a discretionary expression, not a legal instruction. Veterans UK are not legally bound to follow it. And it covers your pension only — not your savings, your property, your car, your personal possessions, or anything else you own.

Without a will, everything outside your pension is distributed according to the Rules of Intestacy — a rigid legal formula that takes no account of your actual wishes.

If you're not married to your partner, they inherit nothing, regardless of how long you've been together. Stepchildren you've raised may receive nothing. Close friends get no consideration at all. If you have no immediate family, your estate could pass to distant relatives you've never met.

That's before you account for the things that make military life genuinely different. Multiple postings mean veterans often have family in different parts of the country, or partners who don't fit the married couple model that intestacy rules assume. Medals, service photographs, regimental items — without a will, these pass like any other asset. With one, you decide exactly who gets them and why.

A will is how you take control of all of it.

Three Reasons to Write Yours Now

1. Protect the people who depend on you. A will is the only legally enforceable way to make sure your estate goes where you actually want it to go. It also lets you appoint guardians for any children under 18, so you choose who looks after them — not a court that doesn't know your family.
2. Keep what you've earned in the right hands. Your kit, your medals, your personal effects — a will lets you name exactly who receives them and why. For veterans, that specificity matters in a way it rarely does for civilians.
3. Give something back to the community. A gift in your will — however small — is one of the most powerful ways to support the organisations that support people like you. SSAFA, Help for Heroes, Combat Stress, and the Royal British Legion all rely on legacy gifts to fund the next generation of Armed Forces support. Without a will, that simply isn't possible.

How to Get a Will Written

The Armed Forces community has access to several strong routes — many at no cost.

1. Combat Stress — Free, nationwide, no obligation. The UK's leading veterans' mental health charity runs a free nationwide will-writing service through two partners: the National Free Wills Network, which connects you with a local participating solicitor, and Octopus Legacy, which lets you write your will online or by phone. Every will written through Octopus Legacy is checked by a solicitor before you sign. There is no obligation to leave a gift to Combat Stress to use the service, though one in five of the veterans they treat is funded through exactly this kind of legacy.
2. The Will Guys — Free for veterans and serving personnel. Built specifically for this community by someone from a military financial background. A basic will costs nothing beyond a small postage fee. One of the most straightforward starting points available.
3. Farewill — Free via SSAFA or the Royal British Legion. Farewill is the official will-writing partner of both SSAFA and the Royal British Legion. Contact either charity to access the service at no charge — no obligation to leave a gift to use it.
4. MyIntent (formerly Bequeathed) — Free, with legal advice included. One of SSAFA's three official free will-writing partners, available to anyone over 18 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Unlike basic DIY tools, it includes legal advice throughout.
5. Will Aid — Free every November. Solicitors across the UK write basic wills in exchange for a voluntary charitable donation. A solid option if your situation is straightforward and you can plan around the timing.
6. Will Associates — For more complex situations. One of the UK's largest estate planning companies, covering wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate. The right choice if your circumstances involve blended family arrangements, overseas property, or significant assets.

Not sure which route fits your situation? SSAFA and the Veterans Welfare Group on Troopr can help you work that out.

A Simple Guide to Writing Your Will

The process is more straightforward than most people expect. Here's what it involves.

1. List your assets. Property, savings, investments, your Armed Forces pension, personal possessions of value, vehicles — and your debts, which affect your net estate. Troopr's guide to benefits, grants and compensation for the Armed Forces community is a useful starting point for getting a full picture of what you hold.

2. Decide who inherits. Be specific — full names rather than "my partner." Think about what happens if someone you name dies before you do.

3. Choose an executor. The person responsible for carrying out your wishes. Choose someone you trust who can manage paperwork and, if needed, handle conflict. Tell them before you name them.

4. Appoint guardians. If you have children under 18, name the person you want to care for them. Have that conversation with them first.

5. Sign it properly and store it safely. A will is only legally valid if signed by you in front of two independent witnesses who also sign. Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries. Once done, store it somewhere it will be found — and make sure your executor knows exactly where that is.

When to Write a Will — and When to Update It

A will matters if you have a partner, children, property, savings, or personal possessions worth protecting. That covers most veterans at most points in their life.

Getting married automatically revokes any previous will in England and Wales — so if you've married since writing yours, you need a new one. Divorce, having children, buying a home, or any significant change in your financial situation are all reasons to review. As a baseline, revisit it every three to five years.

If you're currently serving and have completed MOD Form 106, that's a valid starting point for simple situations — but not adequate if your circumstances are more complex. Treat it as the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it.

Ready to get your will sorted? Find will-writing support and legal guidance from organisations that understand the Armed Forces community — all in one place on Troopr. Find support on Troopr →

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.

Related Reading

• Armed Forces Pension Schemes Explained — What your pension covers, what it doesn't, and how survivor benefits work
• Benefits, Grants and Compensation for the Armed Forces Community — Financial entitlements you may not know you're eligible for
• Financial Support and Debt Advice for Veterans — Practical guidance on managing money after service
• Health and Wellbeing Support for Veterans and Families — Mental and physical health support for the whole Armed Forces community