How do I request someone else’s records?
If you’re a family member planning a burial for a Veteran in a VA national cemetery
If you don’t have the Veteran’s records to provide to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, they will try to locate the records they need to determine eligibility for burial benefits. You don’t need to request the Veteran’s military service records yourself.
Call our National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711). We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
Get more information about planning a burial
If you’re the next of kin of a Veteran who has died
You may be considered the next of kin if you’re related to the Veteran in any of these ways:
- You’re the Veteran’s surviving spouse and you haven’t remarried, or
- You’re the Veteran’s parent, or
- You’re the Veteran’s child, or
- You’re the Veteran’s sibling
You can request a copy of the Veteran’s military records from the National Archives online, by mail, or fax.
Learn more about how to request military service records from the National Archives
You can also request their military records in any of these ways:
- Visit the NPRC in person
- Contact your state or county Veterans agency
- Hire an independent researcher
When you request the Veteran’s records, you’ll need to provide a copy of one of these documents:
- Death certificate or other public record of the Veteran’s death, or
- A letter from a funeral home
If you’re not the Veteran’s next of kin
If the Veteran was discharged more than 62 years ago, you can order a copy of their military records. The National Archives opens all records to the public 62 years after discharge.
Learn how to access archived records
If the Veteran was discharged less than 62 years ago, you may be able to request limited information from their Military Personnel File. You’ll need authorization from the Veteran’s next of kin to request their full military service record.
