Requesting & replacing important documents
When you’re helping an aging parent — applying for benefits, settling an estate, planning a funeral — you often need certified copies of documents no one can find. Here’s how to get them through the official Kansas and Missouri government channels, without overpaying a middleman.
A word of caution about paid “expediter” sites
Search for any of these documents and you’ll see slick websites that charge $40–$90 to “process” a request you can complete yourself for the official fee. Some are legitimate third‑party couriers; others are simply overpriced. The links in each guide below go straight to the government agency (or its official vendor). When in doubt, look for a .gov or .mil web address.
Related resources
- What to do when a parent dies — a step‑by‑step checklist, including which documents you’ll need.
- Essential legal documents every senior needs — powers of attorney, directives, and wills.
- Veterans benefits for seniors and VA Aid & Attendance — where a DD‑214 comes in.
Common questions
Can I request my parent’s documents for them?
It depends on the document. You can generally obtain a certified marriage record and, as next of kin, a deceased veteran’s DD‑214. But you usually cannot get another competent adult’s driver’s license or Social Security card for them — those are tied to that person’s own identity verification. In those cases the honest path is to help your parent request it themselves. Each page below explains exactly who is eligible.
Do these cost money?
Some do and some are free. A veteran’s DD‑214 from the National Archives and a replacement Social Security card are free. State marriage records and driver’s license replacements charge a modest fee, which we list with a link to the official current amount. Beware of private “expediter” websites that charge extra to do what you can do yourself through the official channels linked here.
Which state’s office do I use?
Use the state where the event happened or where your parent lives. Because the Kansas City metro spans two states, families often deal with both — a marriage in Johnson County, Kansas follows Kansas procedure, while a license from Jackson County, Missouri follows Missouri’s. Each page has a clearly separated Kansas section and Missouri section.
KC Senior Guide is an independent local resource, not a government agency and not a paid document service. We link to official Kansas, Missouri, and federal sources so you can request documents yourself. Fees and procedures change — always confirm the current details on the official page before you pay or mail anything.