Erie County Recorder: Free DD-214 Filing and Copies

The Recorder's own Military Discharges page: "We record Military Discharges (DD-214's) in our office at no charge. We only have copies of military discharges if the individual brought it in to our office to have it recorded. Military Discharges (DD-214's) are considered Classified Information and unredacted copies can only be given to the actual individual or someone who has Power of Attorney of the individual and has had the original Power of Attorney recorded in our office. A redacted copy can be obtained by anyone however so much of the information is taken off that it is rarely worth obtaining. Almost everything will be redacted from the document. Anyone requesting copies must come to the office and bring a Photo ID to confirm identity. There is no charge to obtain a copy/copies. If the individual is deceased the funeral home may obtain a copy for you. Otherwise you may contact: Veteran Services at 419-627-7579 for assistance in obtaining the discharge papers." The Recorder is Nicholas J. Smith, 247 Columbus Ave., Suite 225, Sandusky, Ohio 44870, phone 419-627-7686, toll free 1 (888) 399-6065. The office's fee notice records that "Starting December 21st, 2026 we will be adding the $5 Ohio preservation fee to our recording costs. So each document will increase by the $5. So the first 2 printed pages will now cost $39 and $8 for each additional page." The State entries carry Ohio Revised Code 317.324's confidentiality rule and the rest.