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Application Roadmap

A simplified review of the step-by-step process for prospective SAR lineage society candidates. Please see the National SAR site for complete information.

Historical uniform illustration depicting a continental army soldier in 1776 wartime service attire

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Membership in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is open to any male citizen of good repute who can prove direct lineal descent from a patriot ancestor who supported the cause of American Independence.

An acceptable patriot ancestor is defined as someone who maintained loyalty to the cause of American Independence and actively served between **April 19, 1775, and November 26, 1783**, in any of the following service profiles:

  • Signers of the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution.
  • Military personnel serving in the Continental Army, Continental Navy, or state militia units.
  • Civil officers holding town, county, or state government positions under patriot authority.
  • Patriots who performed material service, including providing supplies, joining Committees of Safety, or signing Oaths of Allegiance.
  • French military forces under Count de Rochambeau or Spanish assets operating under Governor Bernardo de Gálvez who openly assisted the American forces.

Step 2: Connect with the Sacramento Chapter

If you meet eligibility requirements, the next step is to find a SAR sponsor in close proximity to you (often the local SAR Chapter Registrar). This person will help guide you through the SAR membership application process and can help review information assembled to enter into SAR membership application forms.

Sacramento Registrar Office

To introduce your lineage profile and setup your initial guidance consult, please drop an inquiry line directly to our chapter registry team:

Email New Member Registrar Inquiry

Tip: If you have an active family member currently enrolled in the DAR or SAR, please have their membership certificate or national number to help speed up your verification checks!

Historical archival vital document example displaying an official registry birth ledger card from NARA files

Step 3: Collect Your Data

The cornerstone of a successful lineage presentation lies in compiling verifiable proof documentation for every generational step in your ancestral chart. You must establish a continuous paper trail from yourself back to your Revolutionary War ancestor.

Acceptable Proof Metrics

For the first three generations (you, your parents, and grandparents), clear proof documents are required to confirm names, dates, and geographic field links:

  • Government-issued certified birth certificates listing parentage details.
  • Official marriage certificates, license registries, or church returns.
  • State or federal death certificates accompanied by verified cemetery indexes.
  • Federal population census records from 1850 through modern available files.
  • Secondary supporting records, including probate distributions, property deeds, or military pension portfolios.

Step 4: Start Your Application

Once properly completed, submit your SAR membership application (with all related documentation) to your sponsoring SAR chapter for approval. The Chapter will then forward your application to the respective SAR State Society and then on to National SAR Headquarters for final review and approval. Typically, the approval process takes approximately 12 weeks from local chapter review to issuance of a National Number. You will be contacted should any additional documentation be required. Associated fees can be found in the Membership Cost Manual (PDF) .

Applications are prepared on standard legal-sized documents using the National Society's data entry template software. This ensures all entry formatting aligns precisely with national database archiving standards.

Important Notice Regarding Entry Submissions:

It is strongly recommended that you find a local contact to guide and assist with completing the SAR membership application form and fulfilling the SAR application requirements as there are some nuances of this process that they can help navigate. The completed SAR membership application form and supporting documentation must be submitted to your local SAR chapter or in some cases SAR State Society. There are options for completing the SAR membership application form.