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document & record replacement
A number of my personal records and identification cards (Social Security card, tax returns, passport, driver’s license, etc.) were destroyed as a result of the fire. What should I do?
Social Security
You should apply to the Social Security Administration for a replacement Social Security card. To apply, mail or bring the following documents to your local Social Security office:
- Form SS-5, which is available at your local Social Security office, online at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html, or can be mailed to you upon request by calling (800) 772-1213;
- evidence of your identity, such as your U.S. driver’s license, U.S. State-issued non-driver identity card, U.S. passport, U.S. military identity card, Certificate of Naturalization, or employee identity card, marriage or divorce record, military record, school record, final adoption decree, or life insurance policy (but not a birth certificate); and
- if you were born outside of the U.S., evidence of your U.S. citizenship or current lawful immigration status, such as a U.S. passport or unexpired document issued to you by the Department of Homeland Security showing your current immigration status.
The documents presented as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Uncertified or notarized photocopies will not be accepted. Requests usually take two weeks to process.
To find your local Social Security office, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/locator or call (800) 772-1213.
Medicare Card
If your Medicare card was destroyed, you should also apply to the Social Security Administration for a replacement card. There is no charge for this service. You can request a replacement card at your local Social Security office, online at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard, or by telephone at (800) 772-1213. Requests usually take 30 days to process. If you need proof right away that you have Medicare, contact your local Social Security office or call the toll-free number noted above, and the office can provide you with proof that you can use until you receive your replacement Medicare card.
Federal Income Tax Returns
Copies of your federal income tax returns may be obtained from your tax preparer or the IRS. Alternatively, transcripts of your federal income tax returns may also be obtained from the IRS. (Transcripts are computer-created records of returns which include most of the line-items as filed with the IRS, including any accompanying forms and schedules.)
To apply for a copy of a tax return from the IRS, complete Form 4506, “Request for Copy of Tax Form,” write “Southern CA Wildfires 2007” in red ink at the top of the form, and send it to the address indicated on the instructions to the form. To apply for a transcript of a tax return from the IRS, complete Form 4506-T, “Request for Transcript of Tax Return,” write “Southern CA Wildfires 2007” in red ink at the top of the form, and send it to the address indicated on the instructions to the form. Both forms may be obtained online at www.irs.gov or by calling (866) 562-5227 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. local time). Copies and transcripts of tax returns from the IRS are free and expedited for affected taxpayers.
State Income Tax Returns
To get a free copy of your lost or damaged California state returns, you should complete Form FTB 3516, “Request for Copy of Tax Return.” Write “Southern CA Wildfires 2007” in red ink at the top of the request. You may download the form at the Franchise Tax Board’s website at www.ftb.ca.gov or order one by calling (800) 852-5711.
Passport
Information and forms about replacing a U.S. passport are available online at http://travel.state.gov or through the U.S. Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778. If your passport was issued by a country other than the United States, you should contact that country’s consulate and make an application for a replacement passport.
Visa/Resident Alien (Green) Cards
For information on how to replace your visa/resident alien (green) card, please see the “Immigration” section of this handbook.
California Drivers License/ID Card
To replace your California driver’s license and/or identification card, you should make an appointment to visit your local DMV office either online at http://www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling (800) 777-0133. You must submit application form DL 44 (available at your local DMV), give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and pay the application fee ($21.00 for license, $22.00 for ID card, or free for a senior citizen ID card). You will be issued an interim license and/or receipt for your ID card until you receive your new card in the mail.
Certificate of Title (Cars, Boats/Vessels)
To obtain a replacement certificate of title, you must complete an Application for Duplicate Title form (Reg 227), attach the damaged title if mutilated, and pay the duplicate title fee of $17.00 ($15.00 for boats/vessels). Reg 277 may be obtained online at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms or at your local DMV. You may submit the application either in person at your local DMV office or mail it to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Registration Operations
P.O. Box 942869 Mail Station E-254
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001
Instructions are available at http://www.dmv.ca.gov.
Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Death Certificates
Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates may be obtained from the County Recorder’s office in the county where the birth, death, or marriage occurred. You must fill out an application with information such as the full name of the person, date of event, and place of event. A fee in the amount of $17.00 for a birth certificate, $13.00 for a marriage certificate, or $12.00 for a death certificate, is also required. If you need the documents quickly, you should go directly to the office to apply for the certificate. A list of the recorders’ offices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties is at the end of this section.
Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates may also be obtained from the Office of Vital Records by mailing your request to:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Health Services
MS: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Instructions and forms for requesting such certified copies are available at www.cdph.ca.gov. The Office of Vital Records has announced that it will expedite applications from fire victims that are directed from local assistance centers. For the assistance center nearest you, see the “FEMA/State Local Assistance Centers” section of this handbook.
To replace a divorce decree or judgment, contact the clerk of the court in the county where the judgment was issued. Procedures vary from court to court. To find the location, phone number, and website of the superior court, visit www.courtinfo.ca.gov.
As a result of the fires, records related to real property I own (such as the deed to my house) were destroyed. What should I do?
Certified copies of deeds to real property may be obtained from the County Recorder’s office in the county where the property is located. To apply, you will need the name of the owner of the deed, property address, recorded year of the deed, and the title of the document or document number. Copy fees vary from $1.25 to $6.00 for the first page, and from $1.00 to $3.00 for each page thereafter.
As a result of the fires, my credit cards, debit cards, and/or checks and related statements were destroyed. What should I do?
To replace credit cards, debit cards, and/or checkbooks, contact your financial institution. Most banks and credit card companies have toll-free numbers to report lost or stolen cards. If you need replacement checks or bank statements but have no identification, you should go to the branch where you opened the account which has your original signature card on file.
As a result of the fires, my will and/or family trust document was destroyed. What should I do?
If the will and/or family trust was prepared by an attorney, you may be able to obtain a copy of the document by contacting the attorney who drafted it. If you do not have the attorney’s current address, contact the State Bar of California at (415) 538-2577 or search for the attorney’s contact information online at http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member.aspx. If the attorney does not have a copy of the document, you should have a new will or other document drafted.
As a result of the fires, my insurance policy, premium notice, or other insurance-related document was destroyed. What should I do?
If insurance documents are destroyed, contact your insurance agent or insurance company to obtain a copy of the policy.
County Recorder Office Contact Information
| Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder www.lavote.net |
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| 12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650 (562) 462-2137 |
1028 W. Avenue J2 Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 945-6446 |
14340 West Sylvan Street Van Nuys, CA 91401 (818) 374-7176 |
| 7807 South Compton Avenue Room 215 Los Angeles, CA 90001 (323) 586-6192 |
11701 South La Cienega Blvd. Sixth Floor LAX Courthouse Los Angeles, CA 90045 (310) 727-6142 |
4716 East Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90022 (323) 260-2991 |
| Orange County Clerk-Recorder www.oc.ca.gov/recorder |
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| Old Orange County Courthouse 211 West Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 834-2500 |
South County Branch Office Laguna Hills Civic Center 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 (714) 834-2500 |
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| Hall of Records and Finance12 Civic Center PlazaRooms 101 and 106Santa Ana, CA 92701(714) 834-2500 | ||
| Riverside County County-Clerk/Recorder http://riverside.asrclkrec.com |
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| 2720 and 2724 Gateway Drive Riverside, CA 92507 (951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144 |
4080 Lemon Street 1st Floor Riverside, CA 92502-2204 (951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144 |
880 North State Street Suite B-6 Hemet, CA 92543-1496 (951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144 |
| 82675 Highway 111 Room 113 Indio, CA 92201-5994 (760) 863-8732 or (800) 696-9144 |
41002 County Center Dr., #230 Temecula, CA 92591-6027 (951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144 |
270 N. Broadway Blythe, CA 92225 (760) 921-5050 or (800) 696-9144 |
| 3255 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Room 114 Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 778-2400 or (800) 696-9144 |
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| San Bernardino County Recorder www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/acr |
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| 222 West Hospitality Lane San Bernardino, CA 92415 (909) 387-8314 |
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| Marriage licenses/birth certificates since 1979 only: | ||
| Fontana Library 16860 Valencia Ave. Fontana, CA 92335 (909) 854-6397 |
Apple Valley Library 14901 Dale Evans Parkway Apple Valley, CA 92307 (760) 240-7710 |
Montclair Library 9955 Fremont Avenue Montclair, CA 91763 (909) 624-7247 |
| San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us |
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| County Administration Center 1600 Pacific Highway Room 260 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 237-0502 |
590 Third Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 498-2200 |
9225 Claremont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 505-6262 |
| 200 South Magnolia Avenue El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 401-5700 |
141 East Carmel St. San Marcos, CA 92078 (760) 940-6868 |
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| Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder www.sbcvote.com/clerkrecorder.aspx |
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| Hall of Records 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93102 (805) 568-2250 |
401 E. Cypress St. Room 102 Lompoc, CA 93436 (805) 737-7705 |
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| 511 E. Lakeside Parkway Suite 115 Santa Maria, CA 93455-1341 (805) 346-8370 |
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| Ventura County Recorder http://recorder.countyofventura.org |
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| County Recorder’s Office Hall of Admin., Main Plaza 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009-1260 (805) 654-2290 |
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