Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds: Free Discharge Recording and the Thank A Vet Card

The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds records a DD-214 free and, through its Thank A Vet programme, gives a county veteran with an honorable discharge on record a free photo ID card that participating merchants honour for a discount. Reservists need 180 consecutive days of service for the card. The posted merchant list dates from May 2021.

Also called: Thank A Vet, DD-214, DD214, discharge, recorder of deeds, veteran ID card, veterans discount card, merchant discounts.

For: Veteran or service member, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Lancaster County, PACounty

Recording. The Recorder of Deeds records a veteran's discharge (DD-214) free, as its fee schedule says. The office is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with recordings ending at 4:30. Under 16 Pa.C.S. Chapter 13 the record is confidential for 85 years and released only to the veteran, immediate family, someone the veteran authorises in writing, a court, a State or federal agency, or the county director. The Thank A Vet card. Since November 2012 the Recorder has given a free photo ID card to Lancaster County veterans whose DD-214 or other honorable discharge papers are on record in the office; bring a current photo ID. Reservists qualify only after 180 consecutive days of military service. Participating merchants show a poster or decal and give their own discounts. Two cautions. The card needs an honorable discharge, but recording does not: the statute has the recorder record each final discharge, so a veteran with another characterization can still file one for safekeeping. And the Recorder says its merchant list is updated monthly, but the list it links is dated May 2021; ask at the counter for the current one.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds: Free Discharge Recording and the Thank A Vet Card
Gate	Rule
A Lancaster County veteran; an honorable discharge for the card	Recording is free for any final discharge; the card needs an honorable discharge, and 180 consecutive days for a reservist. No rating is needed.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-02.

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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.