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Free Recording of Discharge Papers — and a Statutory Lock on Who Can See Them

The county recorder must record discharge papers without fee. Once recorded, a DD-214 held electronically is not disclosed to the general public, and access is limited by statute to a short list that turns on a claim for a federal benefit.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

What it's worth: No fee to record — and the recorded document is closed to the general public

The statute says the recorder "shall record without fee" the discharge papers of officers and enlisted personnel of the military and naval forces of the United States.
The real value is the confidentiality lock plus a retrievable certified copy, not a saved fee.

Who is entitled to it

The recorder records the discharge papers of officers and enlisted personnel without fee.
A guardian, attorney or personal representative of a claimant appears in the statutory access list.
Your home is in Arizona.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

1Take the discharge papers to the county recorder and ask for them to be recorded. Do not pay — the statute requires recording without fee.
2Ask what the office will need from you to release a copy later, and write the answer down where your family can find it.
3Understand the access rule before you rely on it: the recorder provides access to a recorded DD-214 or its equivalent only to an official of the United States, to a claimant, or to the guardian, attorney or personal representative of a claimant.
4Note the purpose limit that comes with that access — it is framed around a claim for a pension, an allotment, an allowance, compensation, insurance or other benefits presented to a department or bureau of the United States government.
5If the office holds the record electronically, expect it not to appear in a public search. The statute bars disclosure of an electronically stored military service record to the general public.
6Ask how many certified copies you can take away at the time of recording; practice on that varies between county offices.

Form: None — present the discharge papers
File with: The recorder of the Arizona county where you live
Documents you will need: dd214
No renewal: Once granted it does not need renewing.

Worth knowingThe confidentiality provision in this section is written for records held electronically. Ask the recorder how yours will be stored, because that determines which part of the section protects it.

Worth knowingRecording is a backup, not a replacement. Keep your own copy as well — the statutory access list is narrow enough that a family member without written authority can be turned away.

Sources

authority · statuteA.R.S. § 11-465 — discharge papers of service personnel (the recorder shall record without fee the discharge papers of officers and enlisted personnel of the military and naval forces of the United States; information contained in a military service record DD-214 or its equivalent shall not be disclosed to the general public if stored in electronic format; the county recorder shall provide access only to an official of the United States, a claimant or the guardian, attorney or personal representative of a claimant, as needed in accordance with section 39-122, to be used in connection with a claim for a pension, an allotment, an allowance, compensation, insurance or other benefits to be presented to a department or bureau of the United States government)

Why only one source type: The Department of Veterans’ Services website refused retrieval throughout this session and county recorder practice pages vary, so the statutory text is the source.

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.