Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2000 Session > Title 30

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SECTION 30-15-10. Book for recording discharges from military and naval forces of United States.

There shall be provided and at all times maintained in the office of the clerk of court of each county a special and permanent book in which shall be recorded official discharges from the military and naval forces of the United States. Such book shall be securely bound, shall contain an alphabetical index and the pages of it shall be printed in the form of discharge papers, with sufficient blank lines for the recording of such dates as may be contained in the discharge papers offered for registration.

SECTION 30-15-20. Recordation of discharges.

Upon the presentation of any official discharge or official certificate of lost discharge from the armed services of the United States, the clerk of court of any county of the State shall record free such discharge in the book provided for in Section 30-15-10.

SECTION 30-15-30. Assistance from American Legion.

The clerk of court shall call to his assistance the head officer of the posts of American Legion in his county to furnish a perfect list of the persons entitled to registration.

SECTION 30-15-40. Inquiry as to validity of discharge; oath of person seeking registration.

If any clerk of court shall be in doubt as to whether or not any paper so presented for registration is an official discharge from the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States or an official certificate of lost discharge, he may examine, under oath, the person so presenting such discharge or otherwise inquire into its validity. And every clerk of court to whom a discharge or certificate of lost discharge is presented for registration shall administer to the person offering such discharge or certificate of lost discharge for registration the following oath, to be recorded with and form a part of the registration of such discharge or certificate of lost discharge:

"I, __________, being duly sworn, depose and say that the foregoing discharge (or certificate of lost discharge) is the original discharge (or certificate of lost discharge) issued to me by the government of the United States and that no alterations have been made therein by me or by any person to my knowledge.

___

"Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day of ____________ 19___

___"

SECTION 30-15-50. Forgery of discharge.

It is unlawful for a person to forge or in any manner alter any discharge or certificate of lost discharge issued by the government of the United States and offer it for registration or secure the registration of it under the provisions of this chapter.

A person who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than two years.

SECTION 30-15-60. Obtaining certified copy of registered discharge.

Any person desiring a certified copy of any discharge or certificate of lost discharge, registered under the provisions of this chapter, shall apply for it to the clerk of court of the county in which the discharge or certificate of lost discharge is registered and the clerk of court shall furnish a certified copy. Fees for furnishing a certified copy of discharge or DD 214 form may be established by each county but may not exceed fifty cents.

The clerk of court or the register of deeds may designate the county veterans' affairs officer to receive these applications and furnish these copies as provided by this section. Subject to the approval of the county governing body, the clerk of court and the county veterans' affairs officer may enter into a written agreement pursuant to which the responsibilities of the clerk of court under this chapter to receive, record, and maintain recorded discharges may be devolved to the county veterans' affairs officer. Upon transfer of the records, the county veterans' affairs officer may issue copies as requested.