Requesting a Certified Copy of an Iowa Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate
Vital Records
(641) 342-3313
Iowa Department of Public Heath
Bureau of Vital Records
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website: Click here
Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates
Certified copies of birth, death and marriage can be obtained from this office once entitlement has been proven. Call the office to verify your entitlement to the record. Certified copies are $20.00 each.
Vital records are available at the Recorder/Registrar’s office for the years 1880 – 1920 and 1942- current. The Iowa Department of Public Health has the records for 1921-1941.
Unwed births prior to July 1995, all adoption records, and all legal name changes must be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Marriage Application and License
Marriage license applications may be completed in person at the Office of County Recorder/Registrar with the bride, the groom and an uninterested third party as a witness to the application present. All three parties will need to have photo i.d.’s with them. The witness must be at least 18 years of age. If all three parties are unable to appear together, the application can be completed elsewhere, signatures notarized and then returned to the Recorder/Registrar Office with the $35.00 fee for processing.
There is a four business-day waiting period from the time the completed application is filed to the time the license is valid and available to be picked up.
The marriage application fee is $35.00 and is to be paid in cash/ money order,/check/credit card. A processed certified copy is included in the fee, and will be mailed to the party after receipt and filing of the marriage certificate.
In Iowa, official registration of births, deaths, and marriages began July 1, 1880. All original records that have been registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Records. Statewide record searches are available from the state registrar. Local registrars are located in county recorders offices and maintain records of birth, death and marriages that have occurred in that county. County registrars, however, do not have code authority to have on record: single-parent births prior to July 1, 1995; adoptions; any record ordered seal by a court of law; or birth, death, and marriages between the years 1921 to 1941.
All applications for certified copies of vital record events must be in writing and completely identify the record, as well as satisfactorily establish entitlement to the record being requested. Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. Legal guardians and representatives must also provide additional proof of guardianship or representation.
Application for a certified copy requires a fee of $20 for the record search and includes one certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record is also $20. If the record is not located, the applicant receives a notification to that affect. The $20 fee is retained for the search. Fees are payable by check or money order made out to the issuing registrar’s office (i.e., Iowa Department of Public Health for state-certified, county recorder’s office for county-certified).
State Certified Copies
Certified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates may be obtained from the state office of vital records by telephone, in-person, or through a postal service. Fees are payable by check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Public Health. In-person requests may also be paid in cash. Requests for the purpose of family history take at least 60 days, regardless of the method of request.
Telephone
For general information or to order a certified copy by telephone using a credit card, call 515-281-4944. An additional $13.00 fee is charged for the expedited process of credit card usage. The state vital record operator lines are available from 7:00 am to 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays.
In Person
Walk-in service is available for in-persons at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays. The office is located at the address listed below, just inside the main north entrance and to the left of the main lobby. The Lucas building is the first state office building east of the state Capitol building, on the south side of Grand Avenue. Written applications must be satisfactorily completed and signed. Applicants must also provide photo identification. Copies may either be picked up after two days or mailed to an entitled person.
Postal Service
Written request and fees may be mailed to the address below. Requests must state the relationship to the person named on the record and the purpose for the copy. Filled requests may take up to 30-45 days, depending on mail service.
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Vital Records
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075