Texas Free, Confidential Recording of Military Discharges

Recording. Local Government Code section 192.002 requires the county clerk to record the official discharge of anyone who served after 1915 in the armed forces, the reserves or an auxiliary, and says the clerk "may not charge a fee for the recording and keeping" of it. Confidentiality. Government Code section 552.140 makes a DD-214 or other discharge record that a governmental body first receives on or after September 1, 2003 confidential for 75 years. Inspection and free copies, certified or not, go only, on proper identification, to the veteran; a legal guardian; the spouse, a child or a parent, or if none is living the nearest living relative; the personal representative of the estate; a person named in a power of attorney by one of those; another governmental body; or a funeral home helping with the burial. A county page that names only the veteran and close family understates the list. Older records. For a discharge recorded before September 1, 2003, section 192.002(c) lets the veteran or guardian direct the clerk in writing to destroy the copies it makes publicly available, which the clerk must do within 15 business days. Business names. Business and Commerce Code section 71.155(a-1) lets a county clerk waive all fees for an assumed name certificate for a registrant who is a military veteran as Occupations Code section 55.001 defines that term. It is the clerk's choice, so ask.