How to replace important lost documents

Dear Savvy Senior,

How do I go about replacing some important documents that were lost when our home of 50 years burned down? We lost everything including our house deed, car titles, old tax returns, Social Security and Medicare cards, birth certificates, marriage license, and passports.

Suffering in SoCal

Dear Suffering,

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your home, but you’ll be pleased to know replacing most of the lost documents you mentioned is pretty easy once you know where to turn. Here are the resources to help you get started.

Birth certificates

If you were born in the United States, contact the vital records office in the state where you were born. Visit www.CDC.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htmfor contact information. This office will give you specific instructions on what you need to do to order a certified copy and what it will cost you — usually between $10 and $30.