Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§5703 Certification of Records of District of Columbia
Title 38 › PART IV — GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 57 — RECORDS AND INVESTIGATIONS › SUBCHAPTER I — RECORDS › § 5703
Summary
If the Secretary needs a District of Columbia public record to decide benefits, the official who keeps the record must give a free certified copy to the applicant, an agent (including veterans’ groups), or the Secretary’s 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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102