MOD Disclosure for Deceased Persons

Supporting guides

• Which Records Does the MOD Hold?
  The Ministry of Defence holds service records for more recent service, while older records have transferred to The National Archives over time. The boundary moves as transfers proceed, so check the current holder guidance for the dates in question.
• Why Might the MOD Ask for Proof of Death?
  Proof of death helps the holder confirm that a record concerns a deceased person and that the request falls under the deceased persons rules. What counts as proof is stated in the holder's own guidance, so follow that guidance rather than a general account.
• What Does Next of Kin Mean for MOD Requests?
  Next of kin has a specific meaning in disclosure rules, and it affects what can be released and to whom. The holder's guidance defines the term for its own process, so check that definition before assuming a family relationship qualifies.
• How Does an MOD Request Work in General?
  In general, a request goes to the holder with identifying details for the person, the service and the dates, and the holder applies its disclosure rules before releasing anything. This site does not submit requests; it explains the shape of the process so you can approach the holder directly.
• What Might Be Released, and What Might Not?
  What is released depends on the record, the dates, and the disclosure rules, including protections for third parties named in a record. Expect a record to be released with some material withheld where the rules require it, rather than expecting a complete file.
• How Long Might an MOD Request Take?
  Timescales vary with the record, the holder's workload and whether further checks are needed, and the holder's own pages give the current picture. Treat any timescale as general guidance, not a promise for one request.
• What If the MOD Does Not Hold the Record?
  If the holder does not hold the record, it may have transferred to The National Archives, it may sit with another service, or the identifying details may need correction. Check the transfer position and the details before repeating a request.
• Do Officer and Other Ranks Requests Differ?
  The process is broadly the same, but the papers that survive and the places they sit can differ by rank and by service. The identifying details that matter, name, number, service and dates, are the same in both cases.
• How Is Privacy Handled for Deceased Persons?
  Privacy rules for deceased persons balance family research against protections for living people named in a record and against other disclosure limits. That balance is why some material is withheld even when the subject of the record has died.
• What Should I Do With a Released Record?
  Read a released record against the rest of your timeline, note what was withheld, and do not publish material about living people named in it. A released record is research material, not material for publication about others.