Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§5703 Certification of records of District of Columbia
Title 38 › Part PART IV— - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Chapter CHAPTER 57— - RECORDS AND INVESTIGATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - RECORDS › § 5703
Summary
The person who keeps a District of Columbia public record must give a certified copy for free when the Secretary needs it to decide someone's eligibility for benefits the Secretary oversees. The copy must be given to the benefits applicant, anyone acting for the veteran (including veterans’ organizations), or the Secretary’s authorized representative.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §5703
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
When a copy of any public record of the District of Columbia is required by the Secretary to be used in determining the eligibility of any person for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, the official custodian of such public record shall without charge provide the applicant for such benefits or any person (including any veterans’ organization) acting on the veteran’s behalf or the authorized representative of the Secretary with a certified copy of such record.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3303 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places and “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the veteran’s” for “his”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 5703
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73