Wayne County Clerk: Free Copies of a Recorded Discharge

The county's fee ordinance makes copies of a recorded military discharge free to the veteran, anyone with the veteran's permission, the heirs and a service officer helping with a claim. Records under 70 years old are not public.

Also called: DD-214, DD214, discharge, county clerk, certified copy, fee schedule, 129-311.

For: Veteran or service member, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Wayne County, MICounty

Michigan county clerks record discharges and keep them confidential for 70 years (MCL 35.31 to 35.35; see the Michigan entry). Wayne County's fee ordinance, County Code section 129-311(32), carries the statute's free-copy rule: there is no charge for reproducing a military discharge for the veteran, a person with the veteran's permission, the surviving heirs, or a veterans service officer, the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund or a county veterans counsellor who needs it to help with a benefit claim. Anyone else pays $1.00 for a certified copy of the discharge of a veteran discharged 70 or more years ago. The Clerk's web pages say nothing about recording a DD-214, so call the Clerk's vital records office at 400 Monroe Street, 6th floor, Detroit, before going. Wayne County Veterans Services asks for a DD-214 with every application, which makes a recorded, free certified copy worth having.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Wayne County Clerk: Free Copies of a Recorded Discharge
Gate	Rule
The veteran, heirs or a service officer	Free copies go to the veteran, a person with permission, the heirs and a service officer helping with a claim. No rating is needed.

Sources

Wayne County Code § 129-311, county clerk service feesOfficial
Michigan Compiled Laws § 35.32Official

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-01.

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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.