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Indiana County Veterans Service Officers and Free Discharge Records

Every Indiana county must employ a veterans service officer, and since July 1, 2026 that officer must hold state accreditation. County recorders record discharges free, keep them out of the public record, and give one certified copy of any record needed for a benefit claim at no charge.

Also called: IC 10-17-1-9, IC 10-17-2, IC 10-17-3-2, CVSO, county veterans service officer, accreditation, Senate Enrolled Act 433, DD-214, county recorder, discharge recording.

For: Veteran or service member, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Service officers. IC 10-17-1-9: "a county executive shall employ a service officer", and two or more counties may share one with the Veterans' Affairs Commission's approval if the workload is small. The officer must be a veteran with at least six months of active service and a discharge not on the relief fund list, or an assistant with two years' experience, and must live in Indiana or move there within six months of starting. Subsection (h), added by Senate Enrolled Act 433 of 2025: "After June 30, 2026, a service officer must be accredited by the department in order to provide service to veterans on behalf of the county or city." County officials must cooperate with the officer. Service officers help with VA claims and the state benefits in this catalog without charge, and they sign the Department of Veterans Affairs certificate on the property tax form. Discharge records. IC 10-17-2 has county recorders record discharges of Indiana residents in a permanent book or secure electronic record, with no fee, and give the veteran a certified copy free (IC 10-17-2-3). A recorded discharge "is not a public record"; a certified copy goes only to the veteran, a service officer, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee, a funeral director arranging the burial and a few others with photo identification (IC 10-17-2-4). Free certified copies. IC 10-17-3-2: the state or a county recorder must provide, without charge, one certified copy of any document or record needed to secure federal or state benefits for service members, honorably discharged veterans or their survivors.

Thresholds

No rating or income gate is recorded. Read the detail and the official source.

Sources

Legislation

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Senate Enrolled Act 433 (P.L.203-2025) Required every county and city veterans service officer to hold state accreditation after June 30, 2026

Catalog reconciledEnactedScope changed

Signed Takes effect

  1. Introduced Done, , step 1 of 6
  2. In committee Done, , step 2 of 6
  3. Passed one chamber Done, , step 3 of 6
  4. Passed both chambers Done, , step 4 of 6
  5. Signed by the governor Done, , step 5 of 6
  6. In effect Done, , step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Requires every county to employ a veterans service officer, who must be accredited by the department after June 30, 2026.

Amended IC 10-17-1-9 to require each county executive to employ a service officer, allow counties to share one with the Veterans' Affairs Commission's approval, require county officials to cooperate, and provide that "After June 30, 2026, a service officer must be accredited by the department in order to provide service to veterans on behalf of the county or city". Approved May 6, 2025.

Sponsors

  • Scott BaldwinSenate
  • James TomesSenate

And 2 co-sponsors

Touches IC 10-17-1-9 · IC 10-17-1-10

Official record

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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.