How to request records for a veteran who has died

Last checked 2026-10-18. Written in plain English by Veteran Records Finder; not legal advice.

Short answer: If you are the veteran's next of kin, you can request the DD-214 and the full personnel file from the National Personnel Records Center, free if the veteran left service less than 62 years ago (older, archival files carry a $25 or $70 copy fee for everyone). Send proof of death with the request. If you are not next of kin, you can still get basic facts now, and the whole file once it is 62 years old.

Veteran Records Finder is independent and not affiliated with the VA, the National Archives or the Department of Defense.

First: who counts as next of kin

For military records, next of kin means:

• A surviving spouse who has not remarried
• Father or mother
• Son or daughter
• Sister or brother

Grandchildren, nieces, nephews and in-laws are not on the list. If that's you, ask a relative who is on the list to sign the request, or use the options in "If you are not next of kin" below.

What to send

1. The request. Use eVetRecs online (it asks you to verify your identity with ID.me) or a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) by mail or fax.
2. Proof of death. A copy of the death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary.
3. What you know about the veteran. Full name used in service, branch, dates of service, date and place of birth, and the service number if you have it.
4. Your signature and the date.

Mail: National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. Fax: 314-801-9195.

Ask for what you actually want. "Separation documents" gets you the DD-214 (or a WWII-era equivalent). "The complete personnel file" gets you more: assignments, training, awards, and sometimes photos and evaluations.

If you are not next of kin

If the veteran left the service 62 or more years ago (in 2026, roughly 1964 or earlier), the file is "archival" and open to anyone. NARA charges a copy fee: $25 for 5 pages or fewer, $70 for 6 or more.

If it has been less than 62 years, anyone can still ask for limited facts about a deceased veteran under the Freedom of Information Act. This generally includes name, service number, dates of service, rank, assignments and places, military schooling, awards, a photo, and place of entry and separation, and for a deceased veteran, place of birth, date and place of death, and place of burial. Use the SF-180, explain in the purpose section that the veteran has died and that you are asking under FOIA, and include proof of death.

Needed for a funeral this week?

• Burial in a VA national cemetery: the funeral home or family calls the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. They verify service with NPRC directly.
• Other burials: fax the signed SF-180 (or eVetRecs signature page) with proof of death to NPRC's customer service team at 314-801-0764 and mark it urgent.

Please use the emergency path only for real emergencies. It keeps it fast for families who need it.

Honors the family can ask for

These come from the VA, are free, and are often missed:

• Burial flag (VA Form 27-2008), usually through the funeral director.
• Headstone, marker or medallion (VA Form 40-1330), for graves in private cemeteries too.
• Presidential Memorial Certificate (VA Form 40-0247), an engraved certificate signed by the President. Families can request more than one.
• Military funeral honors at the service, arranged through the funeral director.
• Replacement medals. Next of kin can request medals the veteran earned. NPRC verifies the awards and sends the request to the branch. Rules differ by branch.

If records are missing

If the veteran was Army (discharged 1912 to 1960) or Air Force (discharged 1947 to 1964), the file may have been damaged in the 1973 fire. NPRC can often rebuild the basic facts from other records. See What the 1973 fire means for your family.

Also check:

• The county clerk where the veteran lived after discharge. Many recorded their discharge there.
• The VA, if the veteran ever filed a claim; the claim file may hold a copy.
• The family's papers: footlockers, Bibles, scrapbooks and safe deposit boxes.

Telling their story

Records give facts. Families usually want the story: where he trained, what ship she served on, what was happening where they were. You can search for your veteran free and get a private, illustrated report with a timeline and map, with every fact cited to a public source. Many families print it for the memorial service or share it with grandchildren.

Be careful with paid services

Some companies charge for records the government gives families free. NARA says it does not certify any third party. You never need to pay to request a DD-214.

Common questions

Sources

More guides

• How to get a DD-214, free
• What the 1973 fire means for your family
• How to find which unit Grandpa was in
• How to find a ship's crew list

Veteran Records Finder is independent: not part of the VA, the National Archives or the Department of Defense.