Veteran-DD214
The DD214 is the document issued by the Defense Department to each veteran identifying the veteran’s condition of discharge. The DD214 contains information needed to verify military service for: benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans’ organizations.
Veterans of the U.S. armed services are entitled to have their Form DD214 recorded by Thurston County (or any county in Washington State) at no charge.
There are private commercial services that offer to process a DD214 recording, but at a cost to the veteran. These services are not sanctioned or endorsed by Thurston County or the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
You can record or obtain copies of your DD214 at the:
We will record, scan and give you back your original.
The recording, as well as copies, of your recorded DD214 are free.
Military discharge papers filed at the office of the county auditor between the dates of May 28, 1963 and July 1, 2022, unless a Request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers has been filed by the Veteran.
Military discharge papers filed at the office of the county auditor before May 28, 1963, after July 1, 2002, and those who have filed a Request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers with the county auditor.
Military discharge papers filed prior to July 1, 2002 that are not commingled with other recorded documents.
Military discharge papers filed after July 1, 2002.
Upon recording the REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF DISCHARGE PAPERS, only the veteran, the veteran’s next of kin, a deceased veteran’s properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran’s general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the veteran to receive the records. The next of kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to the record.
Next of kin are the veteran’s widow or widower who has not remarried, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, and sister.
RCW 73.04.030 allows the county auditor to charge a basic recording fee and preservation fee that together shall not exceed a total of seven dollars ($7.00) for the recording of the REQUEST FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF DISCHARGE PAPERS.
A veteran or a duly appointed representative may file a REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE OF DISCHARGE PAPERS designating an individual to have access and/or obtain copies of exempted military discharge papers. This form may be recorded with the County Auditor’s office at the general public recording fee or may be maintained by the veteran.
NOTE: An organization cannot be assigned as a designee.
A veteran, the veteran’s next of kin, a deceased veteran’s properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the veteran’s general power of attorney, or individuals designated, may submit a REQUEST FOR ACCESS / COPY OF EXEMPT DISCHARGE PAPERS to the county auditor in order to obtain access/copy of exempt discharge papers.
Another Request for disclosure of discharge papers designating the desired individual(s) to have access and/or obtain copies of exempted military discharge papers must be filed to remove any previously filed designees. This request will be recorded with the County Auditor’s office at the general public recording fee.