Contact Information

Courthouse Annex
231 Main Street, Suite 1-C
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Show Me A Map

Phone:
   (440) 279-2020
   (440) 285-2222
   (440) 564-7131
   (440) 834-1856

Veterans' Information

Your Geauga County Recorder’s Office would like to express our gratitude to our nation’s military service members, both active duty and veterans, for their dedication, courage, accomplishments and sacrifices to protect our everyday freedoms.

Flag

Link to the Geauga County Ohio Veterans’ Service Commission: http://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Departments/VeteransService.aspx.

Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214, is a very important document for your future. It enables you to participate in all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs as well as several state and federal programs including

Disability Compensation
Education and Training
Home Loans
Loan Guaranty Services
Vocational Services
Insurance Services
Burial & VA Cemeteries

The above-named services are many of the programs available to you, but you must have your discharge papers to participate. You should keep your original document in a safe place, and have certified photocopies available for reference. You can replace your lost discharge papers, but it takes a long time and a lot of effort.

Be safe. In Ohio you can record your DD Form 214 in your Geauga County Recorder’s Office.

Register your DD Form 214 with your County Recorder as soon as you separate from the Service. After you record your discharge papers, they can be easily retrieved if you need additional certified copies. Bring your DD214 or a certified copy of your Veterans Discharge to the Geauga County Recorder’s Office and receive a laminated wallet size copy, free of charge.

This is our small way of saying thank you for all that you have done to preserve our freedom!

Tips on Handling Important Documents

You should keep all important documents in a safe place.
Register or record your documents with your County Recorder. This will insure that your originals are in a safe, fireproof place, and will quickly be accessible to you when you need them in the form of certified copies.
Use a certified copy of your original document when someone requires your original document.
If your county of residence changes, file your DD 214 with that new county. It will be easier for you if you need additional certified copies.

Your Geauga County Recorder’s Office will record your DD214 Discharge Papers free of charge. Your DD214 forms may be presented for filing Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or if mailing, send to

The Geauga County Recorder
Sharon C. Gingerich
231 Main Street, Suite 1-C
Chardon, Ohio 44024

Please include a self-addressed envelope for the return of your original document.

Please be aware that as of April 7, 2009, your DD214 Discharge Papers are no longer considered public information. Only authorized individuals will have access to full unredacted copies. These individuals will have to provide proof of their authorization. A sample form is provided at the end of this section.

Replacing a Lost DD Form 214

If you have recorded it with your County Recorder’s Office, you may obtain a certified replacement copy at no cost.If you have not recorded it, you can request a copy of your DD Form 214 by contacting the National Personnel Records Center. Include the following information with your request:

Your full name
Social Security Number
Current phone number (with area code)
Approximate dates of service
Place of discharge
Return address
Reason for the request.

Mail your request to

National Personnel Records Center
Attention: (Your branch of the Service)
Records
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63123-5100

Or you can contact the National Personnel Records Center on line at http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/.