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 fires. 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 driver’s license, marriage or divorce record, military record, adoption record, life insurance policy, or passport; and
• Evidence of your U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status, such as a U.S. passport or unexpired document issued to you by the Department of Homeland Security.

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 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 they 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. To apply for a copy from the IRS, complete Form 4506, “Request for Copy or Transcript of Tax Form,” and send it to the IRS address where you filed your return. Form 4506 may be obtained online at www.irs.gov or by calling (800) 829-3676. Copies of tax returns are free for disaster victims. Be sure to write “CA Wildfires” in red at the top of the form. The IRS will waive the usual fees and expedite requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers who need them to apply for benefits or to file amended returns claiming casualty losses.

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.” Print “CA Wildfires” in red 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 www.travel.gov or through the U.S. Passport Information Center at (900) 225-5674. 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 www.dmv.ca.gov or by calling (800) 777-0133. You must submit application form DL 44, give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and pay the application fee ($12.00 for license, $6.00 for ID card, or $3.00 for 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 $7.00 ($15.00 for boats/vessels). 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 and forms are available at 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 $18.00 for a birth certificate, and $13.00 for a marriage or 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, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, 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:

California Department of Health Services
Office of Vital Records
M.S. 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Instructions and forms for requesting such certified copies are available at www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/hisp/chs/OVR/Ordercert.htm. 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 “Local Assistance and Disaster Recovery 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 web site of the superior court, visit www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/trial.

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 property, the property address, the 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 www.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. For information on how to make a claim, see “Insurance."

County Recorder Office Contact Information

Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder
www.lavote.net/recorder/realestate.htm

12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650
(562) 462-2137 335

A East Avenue K-6
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 723-4494

9355 Burton Way, First Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 288-1261

7807 South Compton Avenue, Room 215
Los Angeles, CA 90001
(323) 586-6192

11701 South La Cienega Blvd., Sixth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 727-6142

4716 East Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90022
(323) 260-2991

14340 West Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818) 374-7176

Riverside County County-Clerk/Recorder
www.co.riverside.ca.us

2724 Gateway Drive
Riverside, CA 92502
(909) 486-7000 or (800)696-9144

4080 Lemon Street, 1st Floor
Riverside, CA 92502-2204
(909) 486-7000

880 North State StreetSuite B-6
Hemet, CA 92543-1496
(909) 486-7000

82675 Highway 111Room 113
Indio, CA 92201-5994
(760) 863-8732

41002 County Center Dr.#230
Temecula, CA 92591-6027
(909) 486-7000

San Bernardino County Recorder
www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/acr

222 West Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415
(909) 387-8314

Marriage licenses/birth certificates since 1979 only:

Fontana Library
8334 Emerald
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

San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
www.sdcounty.ca.gov/arcc

1600 Pacific HighwayRoom 103
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-3771

590 Third Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 498-2200

Claremont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 505-6262

200 South Magnolia Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 401-5700

334 Via Vera Cruz, Suite 150
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 940-6868

Ventura County Recorder
www.ventura.org

800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009-1260
(805) 654-2290