King County Recorded Discharge Papers

Recording a discharge with the county is free under RCW 73.04.030 and, once recorded after June 30, 2002, the record is not public under RCW 42.56.440; see the Washington entry. Finding one. King County Archives holds discharge papers recorded from 1853 to July 31, 1991. Those before 1976 are found through the Grantor/Grantee index on microfilm, with the veteran's name and the recording date (the veteran is the grantee). Those from 1976 on are indexed in the Recorder's Office online portal, Landmark, under the document type "Veteran Separation"; the image is not shown, for privacy, but the instrument number is what you need to order a copy. Records are found by recording date, not discharge date, and the Archives does not guarantee a record will be found. Copies. "There is no charge for copies of the discharge papers" for the veteran, who must show identification. A relative or representative must fill out a Request for Access form, record it with the King County Recorder's Office, and bring the recorded form to the Archives. Archives hours: phone and email weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; walk-in Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; research room by appointment.