Franklin County Clerk & Recorder (Paris Dunk): DD-214s Recorded Free, Certified Copies Free for Life

The Franklin County Clerk & Recorder (Paris Dunk, Government Annex, 901 Public Square, Benton, 618-435-9800) records a veteran’s DD-214 at no cost and gives certified copies free to the veteran for life; the records are confidential.

Also called: County Clerk, Recorder, Paris Dunk, DD-214, DD214, military discharge, certified copy, no cost, 618-435-9800, 901 Public Square, 3-5015, Benton, West Frankfort, Christopher, Sesser, Zeigler, Thompsonville, Royalton, Buckner, Valier, Orient.

For: Veteran or service member, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Franklin County, ILCounty

The Clerk's page. "All discharged military veterans should record copies of their military discharge papers (DD-214 forms) from any branch of the Armed Forces. This should be done in the veteran's home county as soon as possible following discharge from the military service. There is no cost for this service." "Certified copies can then be provided at no cost to veterans throughout their lifetime. Please contact the County Clerk's office to obtain a certified copy of your DD-214 form." "Thanks to a recent change in Illinois law, DD-214 records are now considered a confidential vital record and can not be accessed by the public at large." Illinois's rule is 55 ILCS 5/3-5015 (see the Illinois entry). Why record it. The county's Veterans Assistance Commission asks for the DD-214 for its financial aid (its entry). Where. Paris Dunk, Franklin County Clerk & Recorder, Franklin County Government Annex, 901 Public Square, Benton, IL 62812; (618) 435-9800, fax (618) 435-3405.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Franklin County Clerk & Recorder (Paris Dunk): DD-214s Recorded Free, Certified Copies Free for Life
Gate	Rule
Any veteran with a discharge	Recording and certified copies are free; no rating is needed.

Sources

Franklin County, Illinois, County Clerk & Recorder (read 2026-11-06)Official

Updated

Last updated 2026-11-06.

What changed then:

First published.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.