Filing deadline: December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed by the DOJ in the order received.

A practical guide

Documents & Records Checklist

A RECA claim is built on three things: where someone lived, when, and a covered diagnosis. This page lists the records that prove each one — and what to do when you don't have them anymore.

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You don't need all of this to start.

Most families don't have a complete file — and that's normal. Start the eligibility check with whatever you know, and we help reconstruct the rest. This checklist is a map, not a barrier.

The four groups of records

Every claim file is organized into the same four parts. Needed records are the backbone; Helpful records strengthen the file.

Print this page or check the boxes as you gather. When you're ready, we assemble everything into one filing-ready package.

1

Proof of residence

That the person lived in a covered area during the testing years.

School recordsNeeded
Report cards, transcripts, enrollment or yearbook listings showing a local address and dates.
Tax or property recordsHelpful
Old tax filings, property deeds, or county records tied to an address in the area.
Church or community recordsHelpful
Baptism, membership, or congregation records — often kept for decades.
Employment recordsHelpful
Pay stubs, W-2s, or union records showing local work during the period.
Census, voter, or tribal enrollment recordsHelpful
Government and tribal rolls that place the person in the area.
2

Medical records

That document a covered cancer or leukemia diagnosis.

Pathology or diagnosis reportNeeded
The record that names the covered diagnosis — the single most important medical document.
Treatment recordsHelpful
Oncology notes, surgical reports, chemotherapy or radiation records that confirm the diagnosis.
Hospital or provider summariesHelpful
Discharge summaries or physician letters that tie the diagnosis to a date.
3

Identity & claimant information

That confirms who the claimant is.

Government-issued photo IDNeeded
Driver's license, state ID, or passport for the claimant.
Social Security numberNeeded
Required for the federal claim.
Birth certificateHelpful
Helps confirm identity and, for some claims, residency during the period.
4

Survivor & heir paperwork

Only if you're filing for a loved one who has passed.

Death certificateNeeded
For the person who was exposed and diagnosed.
Marriage certificateNeeded
For a surviving spouse, to establish the relationship.
Birth certificatesNeeded
For children or heirs, to establish the line of relationship.
Estate or executor documentsHelpful
If an estate is involved, paperwork showing who is authorized to act.

More on survivor & heir claims →

Keep sensitive records private

Do not upload full medical records, IDs, or certificates through any website form — including ours. The eligibility check collects only basic screening details. Sensitive documents are gathered later through a secure document workflow.

When the records are gone

Lost the paperwork? That's the normal starting point.

Sixty years is a long time. Homes are sold, people pass, boxes get lost. Reconstructing a record trail is the part families find hardest — and the part we handle every day.

We know where to look

County archives, school districts, churches, employers, and tribal offices each hold records families don't know exist.

We request on your behalf

With your permission, we help obtain medical and residency records so you're not navigating bureaucracy alone.

We organize the file

Everything is assembled into one complete, filing-ready package for attorney review.

Start with what you have.

Even a single old address and a diagnosis are enough to begin. The eligibility check takes about a minute, with no cost or obligation.

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RECA Justice is informational only and does not determine final eligibility. Required documents are set by U.S. Department of Justice RECA guidance.