Des Moines County Recorder warns of scam targeting veterans

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Burlington, IA- The Des Moines County Recorder’s Office and the Iowa County Recorder’s Association are asking veterans to be aware that recording or requesting military records is always free of charge for a veteran.

In recent weeks, it has been reported that a third party has been charging veterans to record these documents.

Des Moines County Recorder Nathalie Steffener told the Des Moines County Supervisors, “there is a company called DD214 Direct that has been contacting veterans saying they can record their discharge for them, but it’s charging them a fee, not only for their recording purpose but for them to obtain the record,” Steffener said.  “As it states, you can record your discharge record at your county recorder’s office and it’s free of charge, and also if you need a copy of it it’s free of charge,” Steffener said.

The County Recorder’s office has on permanent record, military discharges that have been presented for recording by the veterans themselves.

These records are confidential and are not made available for examination or copying except:

  • To the person who is the subject of the record, to a member of that person’s immediate family, or to that person’s agent or representative duly authorized in writing
  • To a person requesting to examine or copy a record when the event that resulted in the record being made occurred more than 62 years prior to the request. However, the recorder shall redact any social security number included in a record made available pursuant to this paragraph
  • To a person who is a funeral director licensed pursuant to chapter 156 and who has custody of the body of a deceased veteran.
  •  When otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  • When otherwise required by a department or agency of the federal or state government or a political subdivision. The recorder shall make these records available to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs and its employees shall be subject to the same state and federal confidentiality restrictions and requirements that are imposed on the recorder.

For more information, please contact the Des Moines County Recorder’s Office at 319-753- 8221 or the Des Moines County Veteran’s Affairs Office at 319-752-7171.