Dear Veteran,

    I am honored to have the opportunity to thank you for your service.  Without people like you, this Country would not be what it is today.

    As the Nassau County Clerk, I am pleased to offer services that can be of great benefit to veterans, which include our recording of Certificates of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) and the issuance of Veterans Peddler’s Licenses.

    Veterans are also eligible for numerous other programs here in Nassau County, including a reduction in property taxes. When applying, veterans can receive an exemption based on the type of service they rendered to their country during wartime. A DD-214 must be submitted to determine eligibility for this program.

    I encourage you to contact the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency at the telephone numbers listed on the inside of this brochure to find out what benefits you may be entitled to and for assistance with completing required forms to receive your veterans’benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), New York State, and Nassau County.

    On a personal note, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifices you made in the service of our country.

                    Sincerely,

Record your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) at the County Clerk's office

The Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) provided to a veteran on leaving the service is the most commonly recognized proof of service in the armed forces.   Because it is a valuable and important document, like a deed or a mortgage, New York State law provides a way for it to be recorded at the County Clerk's office.

Once recorded at the Clerk's office, a DD-214 is available at any time, even if the original document is subsequently lost by its owner. A certified copy of a discharge certificate will be legally recognized as if it were the original.

Recording your discharge at the Nassau County Clerk's Office

Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces are entitled to record their discharge certificates and receive two certified copies at the County Clerk's office free of charge.

Additional certified copies of recorded discharges can be made for a nominal fee of $2.50 for veterans or their immediate families whenever needed.

How to record your Honorable Discharge

You can either bring the discharge in to this office in person, or record it by mail. You must bring (or mail) the original document, not a copy. Your original document will be returned directly to you. There is no charge for this service.

Law To Prevent Identity Theft

Section 250 of the Military Law provides for free recording of all veterans' honorable discharges, and now requires that these recorded DD-214s be sealed from public view. This section of the law reads: "No filed certificate or any information contained therein, shall be disclosed to any person except the veteran or parent, spouse, dependent or child of the veteran, representative of the estate of the deceased veteran or a public official, acting within the scope of his or her employment, unless such disclosure is authorized in writing by the veteran."

Why a veteran may need a copy

of his/her discharge

The best reason to record your discharge certificate is to insure against losing the original. Once recorded, certified copies will be made for you or your immediate family, whenever you need them, even if you lose the original.

Discharge papers are the best proof of military service, and these important papers are used to prove eligibility for a variety of benefits from property tax exemptions to civil service credits.

For more information…

The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency can provide information on other benefits you may be entitled to as a veteran, including: Education Benefits, Employment, and Job Training Opportunities, V.A. Home Loan Guarantee information, Health Care Eligibility, Medical Transportation, Small Business Help, Legal Services, and a Directory of V.A. Medical Centers. 

The County Clerk's office has information about mortgages, deeds, and other important records.

Veterans who have been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces are eligible to apply for a Veterans Peddler's License free of charge. This license provides veterans with the right to hawk, peddle, vend, and sell goods, wares, or merchandise or solicit trade upon the streets and highways within Nassau County.

To apply, present in person a valid drivers license or photo identification, a utility bill (as proof of Nassau County residency), two passport size photos (2"x2") and your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214). Licenses are issued free of charge and are valid as long as the veteran maintains residency within the county.

In addition to obtaining a Veterans Peddler's License from the County Clerk, peddlers are required to comply with village or town ordinances related to street peddling.  Information can be obtained directly from the towns and villages in which business is conducted.