Who Can Legally Request a Veteran's Military Records?

Military personnel records can contain information about a Veteran's service history, assignments, awards, discharge, and other details maintained in the Official Military Personnel File, commonly called the OMPF.

Access to those records is governed by federal record-access and privacy rules. The National Archives and National Personnel Records Center distinguish between records that are still considered non-archival and older records that have become archival.

This distinction is important because the rules are very different. A family member who cannot freely obtain a recent Veteran's complete personnel file may be able to access the same file once it becomes archival.

Can Veterans Request Their Own Military Records?

Yes. Veterans can generally request their own military personnel records, including DD214 separation documents and other records contained in their Official Military Personnel File.

Veterans requesting non-archival military records must provide enough identifying information for the record to be located, and written requests must be signed and dated.

Useful identifying information includes the Veteran's complete name used during service, branch of service, dates of service, date and place of birth, Social Security number, and service number when applicable.

Veterans specifically looking for their discharge document can review our guide to requesting a DD214 online .

Can Someone Request Records for a Living Veteran?

Yes, but simply being related to a living Veteran does not automatically give someone unrestricted access to the Veteran's non-archival military personnel file.

An authorized third party may request information when the Veteran provides signed and dated authorization. According to the National Archives, the authorization should specify exactly what information or records the Veteran authorizes the third party to receive.

Authorized third-party requesters can include family members, attorneys, doctors, historians, or other individuals acting with the Veteran's permission.

NARA states that these authorizations are valid for one year from the date of signature.

Can a Spouse Request a Veteran's Military Records?

If the Veteran is living, marriage by itself does not give a spouse unrestricted access to the Veteran's non-archival military personnel records. The Veteran may authorize the spouse to receive the requested records.

If the Veteran has died, the rules change. The National Archives recognizes an un-remarried surviving spouse as next of kin for purposes of accessing a deceased Veteran's non-archival military personnel records.

The distinction matters because NARA's definition specifically refers to an un-remarried surviving widow or widower.

We cover spouse requests in more detail in Can a Spouse Request a DD214? .

Can Children Request a Parent's Military Records?

If the Veteran is living, an adult son or daughter does not receive unrestricted access to the Veteran's non-archival file simply because of the parent-child relationship. Authorization from the Veteran may be needed.

After the Veteran dies, however, NARA includes both sons and daughters within its definition of next of kin.

This makes adult children common requesters when a DD214 is needed for burial arrangements, family records, survivor matters, or other purposes after a parent's death.

If you're helping a parent with their records, see How to Get a DD214 for a Parent .

Can Parents Request a Deceased Veteran's Records?

Yes. NARA includes both the father and mother of a deceased Veteran within its definition of next of kin for non-archival military personnel records.

As with other next-of-kin requests, the Veteran's death must be documented before the request can receive the level of access available to qualifying next of kin.

Can Brothers and Sisters Request Military Records?

Yes. A brother or sister is also included in NARA's definition of next of kin when the Veteran is deceased.

This is an important distinction from the rules that apply while the Veteran is living. A sibling of a living Veteran does not automatically receive unrestricted access to the Veteran's non-archival personnel file.

Who Does the National Archives Consider Next of Kin?

For a deceased Veteran whose military personnel records have not yet become archival, the National Archives defines next of kin as:

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

This is a specific records-access definition. It should not be assumed that every relative—including grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, or other extended family members—automatically receives the same access rights.

Someone who falls outside NARA's next-of-kin definition may still have options through authorization, public-record access, or archival access depending on the circumstances.

What Proof Is Needed When the Veteran Is Deceased?

Qualifying next of kin requesting a deceased Veteran's non-archival records must provide proof of the Veteran's death.

The National Archives identifies several forms of acceptable proof, including:

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

The request must also contain sufficient identifying information for the National Personnel Records Center to locate the correct military record.

Families handling a deceased Veteran's discharge paperwork should also read How to Get a DD214 for a Deceased Veteran .

What If You're Not the Veteran or Next of Kin?

You may still be able to obtain some information, but your access to a recent non-archival military personnel file will generally be more limited.

Without authorization from the Veteran—or qualifying next of kin when the Veteran is deceased—the National Personnel Records Center can release only certain information permitted under the Freedom of Information Act and applicable privacy protections.

Information that may be releasable can include items such as branch of service, dates of service, final rank, assignments, military education, awards and decorations eligibility, and certain other basic service information.

That does not mean a member of the public has unrestricted access to the Veteran's complete personnel file.

What Happens After 62 Years?

Military personnel files become archival 62 years after the service member's separation from military service.

This is a rolling period. Once an Official Military Personnel File becomes archival, it is generally open to the public and the privacy restrictions that apply to newer non-archival personnel files no longer apply in the same way.

Anyone may order an archival military personnel file, although National Archives copying fees apply to these requests.

This 62-year rule is particularly important for historians, genealogists, descendants, and other people researching older military service records.

Can an Authorized Representative Request the Records?

Yes. A Veteran—or qualifying next of kin when the Veteran is deceased—can authorize a third party to request information from a non-archival personnel file.

NARA requires the authorization to be signed and dated and to specify what information or documents may be released to the third party.

When the Veteran is deceased, the qualifying next of kin must also provide proof of death.

This is the mechanism that allows an authorized representative to assist with a military records request without claiming independent ownership of or unrestricted access to the Veteran's records.

Why Do Families Request a Veteran's Military Records?

DD214s and other military records can become important many years after someone leaves the service.

Families may need records for burial and memorial arrangements, survivor matters, replacement medals, family history, estate administration, or simply to preserve a Veteran's service history for future generations.

If the immediate issue involves funeral or cemetery arrangements, review how a DD214 is used for burial benefits .

And if the DD214 itself cannot be found, our guide to proving military service without a DD214 explains other records that may be useful.

Know Which Access Rule Applies Before You Request Records

The key questions are straightforward:

Is the Veteran living or deceased? Are you the Veteran, qualifying next of kin, or an authorized representative? And did the Veteran separate from military service less than or more than 62 years ago?

Those factors largely determine which National Archives access rules apply and what documentation may be required.

Identifying the correct requester and providing accurate service information at the beginning can reduce avoidable problems during the records request process.