Replacing Important Papers

After a disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or fire, important papers may be destroyed, lost or damaged. Agencies, web sites and procedures that can help you replace important papers are listed below:

To replace a birth or death certificate for U.S. citizens who were born or died in the United States:

Visit http://www.vitalrec.com or call one of these numbers:

Louisiana	877-605-8562
Mississippi	877-295-4229
Alabama	334-206-5418

For birth records of U.S. citizens born abroad, request a copy of Form FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad). Contact:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Vital Records Section
1111 19^th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington DC 20522-1705

This address is also used to obtain a "Report of the Death of an American Citizen" who died abroad.

Citizenship and Naturalization Papers

Obtain Form N-565 from http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/n-565.htm.

Credit Cards

American Express	Call 800-992-3404
Discover	Call 800-DISCOVER (800-347-2683; TDD/TTY (800-347-7449)
MasterCard	Contact issuing financial institution
Visa	Contact issuing financial institution

The quickest way to obtain a duplicate driver’s license is to apply in person at any state Office of Motor Vehicle Driver’s License Office. You will need to complete an "Application for

License or Identification Card," which may be accessed at: 

http://www.dps.state.la.us/omv/forms/2003.pdf.

This form may also be faxed to 225-925-3901. Replacement fees for cards are waived for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

Call the nearest department of the treasury office, IRS office or 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) and request form 4506 (Request for Copy or Transcript of Tax Form). To find your local office, go to: 

http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html.

Contact the agent or company providing the coverage. You may be required to complete a form, pay a fee for duplicate copies or both. The policy number will expedite this request. Consumer contact information for major insurance companies doing business in Louisiana may be accessed at: 

http://www.ldi.state.la.us/whats_new/HurricaneContactInfo.pdf

If the marriage, dissolution or adoption occurred in Orleans Parish, contact: 

Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160

If the marriage, dissolution or adoption occurred in any other parish, contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the marriage occurred or where the dissolution or adoption was filed.

If the marriage or dissolution occurred in another state, contact the National Center for Health Statistics at:

Request Standard Form 180 (SF-180) from any office of the Veterans Administration, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Red Cross, a Veterans Association or military recruiter. It may also be downloaded from:

http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/
standard_form_180.html.

Send the completed form to: 

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5011

The National Personnel Records Center responds only to mailed or faxed requests. The fax number is 314-801-9195.

In a medical emergency, information from a veteran’s records may be obtained by phoning the appropriate service:

Army	314-538-4261
Air Force	314-538-4243
Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard	314-538-4141

Mortgage Papers

Contact lending institution.

Complete form DS-64 (Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport) available from http://travel.state.gov/passport/lost/us/us_848.html and submit to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section
1111 19^th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington DC 20036

Contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the property is located.

Complete Form PDF 1048 (Claim for Lost, Stolen or Destroyed U. S. Savings Bonds) available at: http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf or by calling 304-480-6112. Mail the completed form to:

Bureau of the Public Debt
P.O. Box 1328
Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328

Social Security Card

Go to a Social Security Administration Office. Complete form SS-5 (Application for Social Security Card). It can be downloaded at: 

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html.

Contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 if you need additional help, or write:

Office of Public Inquiries
Social Security Administration
Windsor Park Building
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21235

Complete the "Vehicle Application" form available at: 

http://www.dps.state.la.us/omv/forms/1799.PDF.

Submit to the address given on the form. The fee is waived for individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Contact the attorney who prepared it. If circumstances have changed, a new will may be appropriate.