Hays County Clerk: Recording of Military Discharges

The Hays County Clerk keeps the county's DD-214s and records a discharge free under Local Government Code 192.002, with the confidentiality and free-copy rules of Government Code 552.140. The Clerk's own fee schedule could not be read, so the no-fee rule rests on the statute.

Also called: DD-214, DD214, discharge, county clerk, recording, 192.002, 552.140, San Marcos, Elaine Cárdenas.

For: Veteran or service member, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Hays County, TXCounty

The Hays County Clerk, Elaine H. Cárdenas, is the custodian of the county's records, and the Clerk's own list names "certificates of release or discharge from active duty (DD 214)" among them. Section 192.002 of the Local Government Code requires the Clerk to record an official discharge and forbids charging a fee for recording and keeping it; Government Code 552.140 makes a discharge first received on or after September 1, 2003 confidential for 75 years, with free certified copies for the veteran, a guardian, the spouse, child or parent, the nearest living relative, the estate's personal representative, and the others the section lists; see the Texas entry. Where. The Records Division, Hays County Government Center, Suite 2008, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos 78666; 512-393-7330; [email protected]. San Marcos office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Substations take recordings in Kyle (5458 FM 2770, Suite 120, 512-878-6687) and Wimberley (200 Stillwater, Suite 101, 512-878-6684) on weekdays, and in Dripping Springs (195 Roger Hanks Parkway, Suite 113, 512-878-6683) on Mondays and Wednesdays only; all close noon to 1 p.m. The Clerk's fee schedule and recording pages on hayscountytx.gov could not be read, because the county site blocks every request; the rules above are the statutes, not a county page.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Hays County Clerk: Recording of Military Discharges
Gate	Rule
Any veteran with a discharge	Recording a discharge is free. Copies go only to the people section 552.140 lists.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-06.

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.