Veteran Information

Veterans are encouraged to have their military discharge papers (DD214) recorded in the County Recorder's Office.  The Recorder will copy and index the DD214 and give the original back to the veteran.  If the original is ever lost, destroyed, or damaged, the veteran can always get a certified copy from the Recorder's office.  Each veteran is personally responsible for the recording of his/her own discharge.  Based on his/her discharge records, the veteran's eligibility for education, disability, loans & other benefits may be acquired by furnishing a certified copy of his/her discharge.
 
These records are filed as a courtesy to our veterans and there is no charge to file a DD214.  The veteran is entitled to one free certified copy.

On January 6, 2009 Governor Strickland signed SB 248 into law with an effective date of April 6, 2009.  This bill creates a public records exemption for DD214's for a period of 75 years after the date of recording.

This new law will make Military Discharges in the Harrison County Recorder's office no longer a public record.  Only an authorized party will be able to request non-redacted copies in our office.

Authorized parties are the person who is the subject of the discharge, a county veteran's service officer, an attorney in fact, agent or other representative of the person who is the subject of the discharge, a person authorized by a court, an executor, administrator or heir, if the subject of record is deceased or a funeral director.

The Recorder's office shall make the record of discharge available only to an authorized party.  A person who is not an authorized party may request to view or copy the discharge however upon such request, the county Recorder's office shall redact everything but name, rank, date of birth, date of discharge and type of discharge.

The purpose of this policy is to protect the privacy of these records from the general public and continue to make them available to those who may need to have access.