Servicemen and women who wish to make a Will before they are deployed on active service are given the opportunity to fill in a Ministry of Defence Will form which is then placed in a sealed envelope.
Corporal Rob Deering was killed by Taliban in Devember 2008. His fiance is now battling to save the house they shared after the MoD lost a Will he produced just weeks before being deployed. While preparing to leave, Corporal Deering was asked to produce the document twice after the first copy was lost. Now the second copy cannot be found and a previous Will made in 2006 is being used for probate, this Will differs from the later Will which had been drawn up. Relationships with his family have broken down over the missing Will and his grieving finace is now taking legal action to delay the distribution of the estate to allow the MoD more time to find the missing document.
There are many other cases of missing Wills within the Military. There has been calls for a full enquiry and one MP has accused the Government of 'bureaucratic incompetence bordering on cruelty' and failing in its duty to soldiers even after they have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Stories like this act as a stark reminder of how important it is for clients in the military to have their documents drawn up and stored securely. This ensure their loved ones are protected and their wishes are carried out.
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