Service Estates

The service estate of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who die while serving is composed of:

• service pay and allowances,
• other payments that, at the time of death, are due or payable,
• personal equipment that the deceased person is allowed to retain,
• personal or movable property, including cash, found on the deceased person or on defence property or in the care or custody of the CAF, and
• in the case of a member dying outside Canada, all personal or movable property belonging to that member and that is located outside Canada.

In the case of members who die with a will, their service estate is administered according to their will. In the case of members who die without a will, their service estate is administered according to the applicable provincial or territorial intestacy succession laws.

No service estate exists for former members who die after having released from the CAF.

Contact the CAF Service Estates Manager

The Judge Advocate General (JAG) is appointed by the Minister of National Defence to act as Director of Estates to administer the service estates of deceased CAF members. The CAF Service Estate Manager, working within the Directorate of Law of Compensation, Benefits, Pensions and Estates of the Office of the JAG, manages on behalf of the Director of Estates the service estates of deceased CAF members.

They can provide information only to individuals who are authorized by law to have access.

Contact the CAF Service Estates Manager:

By email: JAGEstates-SuccessionsJAG@forces.gc.ca

By mail:

JAG/Director of Estates
Attn: CAF Service Estates Manager
National Defence Headquarters
MGen George R. Pearkes Building
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa (ON) K1A 0K2 

Related links

• Department of National Defence
  • Military death benefits
  • Service Estates
  • QR&O Volume I, Chapter 25 (Service Estates and Personal Belongings)
  • DAOD 7011-0 (Service Estates and Personal Belongings)
  • DAOD 7011-1 (Responsibilities for Service Estates and Personal Belongings)
  • DAOD 7012-0 (Wills)
  • DAOD 7012-1 (Preparation and Administration of Wills)
• Section 42 of the National Defence Act (Justice Canada)
• Estates Regulations (Justice Canada)