Dane County Vital Records records and provides free certified copies of new military discharge
papers, and also provides free certified copies of papers previously recorded by our office.
It is highly recommended that you have your discharge papers recorded in case the originals are
ever lost, damaged or destroyed. Discharge papers are highly valuable to veterans because
they may be required to prove eligibility for certain benefits and programs.
Certified copies are legal copies that have a raised seal at the bottom. You can apply
for free certified copies of your record and that of your spouse, your child, or your
parent. For information regarding obtaining records for someone other than those listed,
you will need to contact
Dane County Veterans Services
for assistance (see below).
Your discharge papers must have original signatures or our office will not be able to record
them and provide certified copies. To record your military discharge papers, you will need
to bring them in to the Vital Records counter between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will be asked
to present a current photo ID. Processing time is generally 10-15 minutes.
To obtain free certified copies of previously recorded military discharge papers, you will
need to visit Vital Records between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will
be asked to fill out a short application and present a current photo ID with your correct
address. If you have any questions about whether or not we will accept your ID, please
check with a representative before you visit Vital Records at (608) 267-8810.
Please contact
Dane County Veterans Services
directly if:
- you are unable to visit our office in person
- you are trying to obtain certified copies for a veteran who is not an immediate family member
- you do not have your original discharge papers
- you need to receive certified copies that were recorded by another office