Cornerstone Retention Solutions · Homeowner Guide
Loss Mitigation Document Checklist
Everything a servicer is likely to ask for — gathered once, correctly, so your file doesn't stall.
Most loss mitigation applications are not denied on the merits. They stall because something is missing, expired, or inconsistent, and the file goes quiet while the clock keeps running. Work through this list before you submit anything.
Golden rule: a complete application starts the servicer's legal review clock. An incomplete one doesn't. Never send a partial package and hope for the best.
1. Identity and loan basics
- Full legal name of every borrower on the loan
- Loan number and servicer name (the company you send payments to)
- Property address, and whether you live there
- Most recent mortgage statement
- Government-issued photo ID for each borrower
2. Income — the part that gets rejected most
Send exactly what matches how you are paid. Mixing document types is what triggers "additional information needed" letters.
| If you are… | Send |
|---|
| A W-2 employee | Last 30 days of consecutive pay stubs, plus your two most recent W-2s |
| Self-employed | Two most recent federal tax returns (all pages, all schedules) and a year-to-date profit & loss statement |
| Retired or on fixed income | Benefit award letter (Social Security, pension, disability, VA) plus two months of bank statements showing deposits |
| Receiving rental income | Signed lease agreements plus the Schedule E from your tax return |
| Receiving support payments | Court order or agreement, plus proof of three months of receipt |
- Two most recent months of complete bank statements — every page, including the blank ones
- Written explanation for any large or irregular deposit
3. Hardship documentation
- A signed hardship letter (use our Hardship Letter Template)
- Proof that matches the hardship: termination letter, medical bills, divorce decree, death certificate, insurance claim, disaster declaration, or reduced-hours notice
- Dates — when the hardship started, and whether it is over or ongoing
4. Household expenses
- Property tax bill and homeowners insurance declaration page
- HOA statement, if you have one
- Utilities, childcare, tuition, medical, and transportation costs
- All other debt payments — auto, student loans, credit cards, second mortgage or HELOC
5. Anything a court or the county has sent you
- Notice of Default, Notice of Sale, or acceleration letter
- Any lawsuit, summons, complaint, or court order
- Bankruptcy filings, if applicable, including case number and discharge status
- Prior modification or forbearance agreements, including ones that failed
6. Before you press send
- Every page is legible, right-side up, and complete — no cropped corners or cut-off totals
- Nothing is more than 90 days old unless the servicer asked for older records
- Names and figures match across documents
- Every required signature and date is present
- You've kept a full copy of exactly what you sent, and how you sent it
- You've written down the date sent, the method, and any confirmation number
Send it in a way you can prove. Upload through the servicer's portal and keep the confirmation, or mail it certified with return receipt. "We never received it" is the most common thing homeowners are told, and a tracking number ends that conversation.
Submission log
| Document | Date sent | How sent | Confirmation # |
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