How to Get a DD214 for a Deceased Veteran

Families often begin looking for a Veteran's DD214 after the Veteran has died. The record may be needed for military funeral honors, burial arrangements, memorial benefits, survivor matters, estate records, or simply to preserve an accurate history of the Veteran's military service.

If the family cannot locate the Veteran's personal copy, the record may still be available through the National Personnel Records Center, a military service department, or another federal records custodian.

For non-archival records, the National Archives gives qualifying next of kin access to a deceased Veteran's military personnel records, including DD214 separation documents.

Can You Request a DD214 for a Deceased Veteran?

Yes.

The National Archives allows qualifying next of kin of a deceased former service member to request military service records, including the DD214.

The requester must provide enough identifying information to locate the Veteran's record and, for non-archival records, provide proof that the Veteran has died.

Requests can generally be started online through the National Archives' eVetRecs system or submitted using Standard Form 180 by mail or fax.

Who Is Considered Next of Kin?

For access to a deceased Veteran's non-archival military personnel records, the National Archives defines next of kin as:

An un-remarried surviving spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

This is a specific National Archives records-access definition. Other relatives such as grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, or other extended family members do not automatically receive the same level of access simply because they are related to the Veteran.

If you are unsure which access category applies to you, read Who Can Legally Request a Veteran's Military Records? .

Surviving spouses should also review Can a Spouse Request a DD214? .

What Proof of Death Is Required?

For a qualifying next-of-kin request involving non-archival military records, the National Archives requires proof that the Veteran has died.

NARA identifies several acceptable forms of proof, including:

A death certificate, a letter from a funeral home, or a published obituary.

The requester must also identify their relationship to the deceased Veteran when completing the request.

Written requests for federal non-archival records must be signed and dated. Standard Form 180 includes a section where the requester identifies their relationship to the Veteran and certifies the request.

What Information Do You Need About the Veteran?

The more accurately the Veteran can be identified, the easier it is for records personnel to search for the correct military file.

The National Archives asks requesters to provide information including:

The Veteran's complete name used during military service, service number, Social Security number, branch of service, dates of service, and date and place of birth.

Not every family will know every detail. A missing service number does not automatically prevent a request, but providing as much accurate information as possible can help identify the correct record.

If you believe the Veteran's personnel file may have been affected by the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire, NARA also recommends providing the place of discharge, last unit of assignment, and place of entry into service when known.

How Do You Request the DD214 Online?

Qualifying next of kin can begin a military records request through the National Archives' eVetRecs system.

The system asks who is making the request, the requester's relationship to the Veteran, information about the Veteran's military service, and which records are being requested.

Users are currently required to verify their identity through ID.me when submitting new requests and retrieving electronic responses.

The National Archives states that it provides digital responses whenever possible, although submitting a request online does not mean the DD214 will be instantly available.

For a broader walkthrough of online military record requests, see How to Get a DD214 Online .

Can You Request the DD214 by Mail or Fax?

Yes.

Families who do not want to use the online system can complete Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records.

The correct mailing address or fax number depends on the Veteran's branch of service, separation date, and type of record requested.

The routing table included with SF-180 helps determine where the request should be sent.

For non-archival next-of-kin requests, remember to include the requester's signature and acceptable proof of the Veteran's death.

What If You Need the DD214 for a Funeral or Burial?

Burial-related requests can be time-sensitive, and special procedures are available.

If the Veteran is being buried in a VA national cemetery, the family generally does not need to obtain the DD214 independently if the record cannot be found.

VA instructs families to contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. The Scheduling Office can work with the National Personnel Records Center to locate the military records needed to determine burial eligibility.

If the Veteran will not be buried in a VA national cemetery and military records are urgently needed for burial purposes, NARA provides an emergency request process.

Qualifying next of kin can submit the SF-180 with the required signature and proof of death through the emergency procedure.

Families dealing with funeral arrangements should also read How to Use a DD214 for Burial Benefits .

Is a DD214 Required for Military Funeral Honors?

Military funeral honors require evidence showing qualifying military service.

Department of Defense guidance states that a DD214 or another discharge document showing honorable service can be used to establish eligibility.

This is important if the family cannot immediately locate the DD214. Another qualifying discharge document may sometimes establish service for funeral-honors purposes.

What If You Need the DD214 for a VA National Cemetery?

VA asks families or funeral directors to provide the Veteran's DD214 or other discharge documents when those records are available.

If the family does not have the Veteran's records, however, VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office will attempt to locate the documentation needed to determine burial eligibility.

This means a family should not assume that a missing DD214 automatically prevents a national-cemetery burial from being scheduled.

What If You Need the DD214 for a Headstone or Memorial Item?

Military discharge documentation can also be relevant when applying for certain VA memorial benefits.

For example, VA asks applicants for a government headstone or grave marker to submit the Veteran's DD214 or another accepted discharge document with the application.

Families should submit copies rather than original military records because VA advises that original documents may not be returned.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Deceased Veteran's DD214?

There is no guaranteed processing time for every records request.

The National Archives says response time depends on the complexity of the request, availability of the records, and current workload.

NPRC currently receives approximately 4,000 to 5,000 requests per day, and NARA asks requesters not to submit a follow-up inquiry before 90 days have passed.

The 90-day guidance is not a promised processing time. Some requests may be completed sooner, while older or more complicated records searches can take longer.

For more detail, read How Long Does It Take to Get a DD214? .

What If the Veteran's Records Were Affected by the 1973 NPRC Fire?

Some older Army and Air Force personnel records were damaged or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.

NARA estimates that approximately 16 to 18 million military personnel files were affected.

That does not necessarily mean the Veteran's service can no longer be documented.

NPRC may be able to reconstruct basic service information using alternate records. In some cases, that can be done using records already held by NPRC. Other cases require obtaining information from additional agencies and may take longer.

Families should provide as much information as possible about the Veteran's service if they believe the file may have been affected.

What If You Are Not the Veteran's Next of Kin?

Your options depend heavily on how long ago the Veteran separated from military service.

If the Veteran separated less than 62 years ago, the Official Military Personnel File is considered non-archival and is subject to federal privacy restrictions.

A member of the general public may be able to obtain certain limited information, but access to the complete non-archival file generally requires authorization from qualifying next of kin.

Once the Veteran's military personnel file becomes archival, the access rules change substantially.

What Happens After 62 Years?

Military personnel records generally become archival 62 years after the service member separates from military service.

Once the record becomes archival, it is generally open to the public. The requester does not have to qualify as next of kin simply to order the archival personnel file.

Archival requests are subject to National Archives copying fees.

This rule is particularly relevant for descendants, historians, and genealogists researching Veterans who served many decades ago.

How Much Does It Cost to Request a Deceased Veteran's DD214?

For non-archival military records, the National Archives generally does not charge qualifying Veterans, next of kin, or authorized representatives for basic military personnel record information.

Archival personnel files that have passed the 62-year threshold are subject to NARA's public copying fee schedule.

Private records-request assistance companies may also charge their own separate service fees.

For a detailed explanation of government and private-service costs, read How Much Does It Cost to Get a DD214? .

What If You Cannot Find a DD214 at All?

A DD214 is not the only military record that may establish service.

Depending on why military service needs to be verified, other separation documents, military personnel records, orders, retirement documents, award records, or reconstructed service information may sometimes be useful.

The organization requesting proof of service determines which documentation it will accept.

See How to Prove Military Service Without a DD214 for more information.

Start With the Purpose of the Request

Before submitting a routine military records request, determine why you need the deceased Veteran's DD214.

If the record is needed for an ordinary family or administrative purpose, the standard eVetRecs or SF-180 process may be appropriate.

If the request involves a funeral or burial happening soon, use the applicable emergency or VA national-cemetery process instead of treating it like an ordinary records request.

If the Veteran separated more than 62 years ago, the file may already be archival and subject to a completely different public-access process.

Identifying the correct situation at the beginning can prevent the request from being routed through the wrong process.