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Free Recording of Your Discharge — and a Form That Closes It to the Public

Every county auditor must record the discharge of a veteran residing in Washington, on presentation, without expense. A separate form takes the recorded discharge out of public disclosure; that form is the only thing a fee may be charged for, capped at $7 all in.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

Every county auditor must record the discharge of a veteran residing in Washington, on presentation, without expense. A separate form takes the recorded discharge out of public disclosure; that form is the only thing a fee may be charged for, capped at $7 all in.

What it's worth: No charge to record the discharge; up to $7 for the public-disclosure exemption form

  • The statute requires recording "without expense" in a suitable permanent record. There is no fee to weigh.
  • The $7 ceiling is a combined basic recording fee and preservation fee, and it attaches to the "request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers" — a different document from the discharge.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are a veteran of the armed forces of the United States.
  • Your home is in Washington.

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

  1. 1Take your discharge to the county auditor where you live and ask for it to be recorded in the permanent record. Do not pay for that step — the statute says without expense.
  2. 2Ask separately for the "request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers". The department of veterans affairs develops that form with the county auditors, and it is what keeps your service record out of public view.
  3. 3If you are charged for the exemption form, check the total: a basic recording fee and a preservation fee together may not exceed $7.
  4. 4Expect to prove you are entitled to see it later. County auditors are required to develop a form for requestors of military discharge papers to verify that the requestor is authorised to receive or view them.
  5. 5Do this while you can still lay hands on the document. The purpose of recording is that a copy exists in a public office on the day a claim needs one.
Form
Request for exemption from public disclosure of discharge papers
File with
The auditor of the Washington county where you live
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
CorrectionThe $7 in this statute is not the price of recording your DD-214. It is the ceiling on the fee for the public-disclosure exemption form. Recording the discharge itself is free by statute.
Worth knowingRecording and confidentiality are two separate acts here. Recording alone puts the document in a public record; the exemption form is what closes it. Ask for both in the same visit.

Sources

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