Proving Home Ownership for a FEMA Application
Disaster Relief
Learn what types of documents you need to prove to FEMA that you owned and lived in your home.
What do I need to give to FEMA to show I own my home?
FEMA accepts the following documents to prove home ownership:
| Document | Required Document Date |
| Property deed | Current after the disaster |
| Mortgage documents: Statement or escrow documents. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Insurance documents: Policy, bill, or payment records. | No later than one year before the disaster |
| Tax documents: Property tax receipts or bills. | Current after the disaster |
| Manufactured home certificate of title | Current after the disaster |
| Real estate contract | Current after the disaster |
| Bill of sale or bond for title | Current after the disaster |
| Will or affidavit or heirship naming you the heir and a death certificate for the previous owner. | Current after the disaster |
| Receipts for major repairs or improvements (must include your name and address). | No later than five years before the disaster |
| Letter from mobile home park manager: Must include the manager's name, phone number, and a description of how the manager knows you owned your home at the time of the disaster. | Current after the disaster |
| Court documents that show ownership. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Letter from a public official: Must include your name, the property address, the official's name and phone number, and a statement that you owned the home when the disaster took place. | Within the period of assistance (Assistance begins at some point after the disaster declaration.) |
What do I need to give to FEMA to show I lived in my home?
In addition to showing you own the property, you also have to show you lived there. FEMA accepts the following as proof you lived on the property. All documents should include your name and the home's address. Any letters you use must also include the verifying organization's or person's name and phone number.
| Document | Required Document Date |
| Bills | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Employment documents: Pay stubs with your address, or a letter verifying that you lived at the home. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Lease or letter from landlord: In addition to your name and the address, it should also include any lease terms, the landlord's contact information, and the tenant and landlord's signatures. | Current after the disaster |
| Rent receipts (May include bank statements if they show your name, the landlord's contact information, and the home's address.) | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Letter from a public official: In addition to your name, the property address, and the official's name and phone number, the letter must include a statement that you lived in the home when the disaster took place. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| ID card: Drivers' license, state-issued ID, or voter registration card: | Issued before the disaster and current when the disaster took place |
| Social Service Organization Documents (documents from organizations that provided you services, such as Meals on Wheels). The document may be a letter that says you lived at the home. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| School documents: Enrollment documents, correspondence, or a letter form the school that says you lived at the home. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Federal or state benefit documents: Enrollment documents, benefits documents, or a letter that says that you lived at the home. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Motor vehicle registration | Issued up to one year before the disaster and current when the disaster took place |
| Court documents that show you lived at the home. This may include, but is not limited to, an affidavit of residency you used in a court case. | Up to one year before the disaster |
| Letter from mobile home park manager: Must include the manager's name, phone number, and a description of how the manager knows you owned your home at the time of the disaster. | Current after the disaster |
What if I cannot find the documents to prove I own my home?
If you absolutely cannot find the documents you need, or if the documents do not exist, you may be able to tell FEMA in writing that you owned the home. This is a last resort. It is also not available to everyone.
Option #1: Proof of Ownership Self-Declarative Statement. This option is for those who live in homes that do not have access to common recordkeeping practices. For example, if the state considers your mobile home to be a vehicle, there is probably no deed. Or if you live on tribal lands, the local recordkeeping practices may not match FEMA requirements.
Option #2: Heirship Proof of Ownership Self-Declarative Statement. When a home gets passed down from one generation to another, an heir may fail to record themselves as the new owner. In this situation, you can say in writing that you are the owner. Note that this form is only for FEMA applications. It is not an Affidavit of Heirship that can be used to prove ownership in other situations.
What if I cannot find the documents to prove I lived in my home?
If necessary, you can tell FEMA in writing that you lived in your home. As with proof of ownership statements, a proof of occupancy statement is a last resort.
Proof of Occupancy Self-Declarative Statement. Use this form to tell FEMA that you lived in the home that you own. Submit it along with your ownership documents. If you have documents that you believe help show you lived on the property, attach them to the statement even if they do not meet FEMA standards.
How do I start my FEMA application?
You will need more documents than those we talk about here. This article is only to help homeowners show FEMA that they owned and lived on their property, which is a common obstacle for applicants.
To learn more about starting a FEMA application, read How to Seek FEMA Help After a Disaster.
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Related Forms
Heirship Proof of Home Ownership for FEMA (Self-Declarative Statement)
CV-House-112-A
Proof of Home Ownership for FEMA (Self-Declarative Statement)
CV-House-112-B
Proof of Occupancy for FEMA (Self-Declarative Statement)
CV-House-112-C