Iowa Vital Records

Iowa vital records are official documents that contain information about major life events such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce that have occurred in the state. Birth, death, and marriage records are maintained by the Iowa Health & Human Services (HHS), but access to them is restricted to authorized individuals. After 50 or 75 years, these records become public and available at the county registrars' offices or the State Historical Society. Divorce records, on the other hand, are only available through County District Courts.

Public Access to Iowa Vital Records

According to the Iowa Open Records Law and IA Code § 144.11, vital records are available for public inspection at the local county registrar's office in Iowa. However, vital records maintained by the Iowa Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, are confidential (IAC 144.43). Iowa vital records maintained by the state archivist are confidential and only become public after 75 years, except for death records, which are released after 50 years.

Types of Vital Records Available in Iowa

Iowa has various types of vital records, including divorce, birth, death, and marriage records. Various agencies maintain these records and can create certified or uncertified copies. The Bureau of Vital Statistics provides access only to confidential birth, death, and marriage records. Publicly available vital records can be obtained through the county recorder's offices or the State Historical Society of Iowa. Divorce information can be viewed online through the Iowa Courts Online Search portal. However, official copies of divorce records must be requested directly from the Clerk of the District Court.

Iowa Birth Records

The Bureau of Vital Statistics and County Recorder's Offices are the custodians of Iowa birth certificates. Those issued by the Bureau are confidential and only become public after 75 years have passed. After 75 years have elapsed, individuals can retrieve state birth records at the State Historical Society of Iowa. A record seeker can get a birth certificate in Iowa online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

Between 1880 and 1897, birth records were maintained in ledgers, and standardized birth certificate forms were introduced in 1904. The birth certificates include the:

• The child's name, sex, and date and place of birth
• The father's name, color, age, place of birth, occupation, and residence
• The mother's full maiden name, age, color, occupation, place of birth, and residence
• The name of the medical attendant.

Iowa Death Records

Iowa death certificates are publicly accessible through the County Recorder's Offices. However, death certificates for events that occurred less than 50 years ago can only be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Such records are only available to the record holder, their immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives. Once 75 years have passed, death records become fully open to the public and can be accessed through the State Historical Society of Iowa.

The State Historical Society of Iowa held death certificates in ledgers between 1880 and 1904. The information included in them was the deceased person's name, age, color, sex, occupation, place of death, nationality, marital status, place of birth, cause of death, and place of burial. In 1904, a standardized certificate format was introduced, and the required information expanded to include birth dates, parents' names, and places of birth.

Iowa Marriage Records

Iowa marriage records maintained by the County Recorder's Offices and the State Historical Society of Iowa are accessible to the public. However, those in the custody of the Iowa Bureau of Vital Statistics are confidential. Anyone seeking a marriage certificate in Iowa should contact the appropriate agency, depending on their eligibility.

Iowa marriage records were initially kept at the county level and contained only basic details such as the names of the bride and groom, the date of the marriage, and the name of the officiant. In 1880, new legislation required marriages to be recorded at both the county and state levels. Following this change, the amount of information collected expanded significantly to include the couple's ages, occupations, residences, race or color, places of birth, the father's name, and the mother's maiden name. After 1900, county-level records were sometimes abbreviated versions of the state marriage record and may omit details such as the couple's places of birth and the names of their parents.

Iowa Divorce Records

The Iowa District Courts are the custodians of divorce records in the state. They maintain divorce certificates, divorce decrees, and other documents filed during the divorce proceedings. Older divorce records can be retrieved from the State Historical Society of Iowa. Some information commonly found in an Iowa divorce record includes the names of the parties involved, their ages, nationalities, dates and places of marriage, the county and cause of divorce, and the number of children affected.

How to Order Vital Records in Iowa

Residents can order Iowa vital records from the following agencies:

• Iowa Health & Human Services (HHS), Bureau of Vital Statistics: The Bureau issues birth, death, and marriage records to the person named on the record, their immediate family members, or their legal representatives or guardians. Eligible persons can obtain vital records from July 1, 1880, from the office. Requests can be made by:
• Online or by phone: The Bureau accepts requests for vital records online and by phone through a third-party vendor. This service attracts additional processing fees. The vendor delivers orders by mail, will call, or in person in Des Moines. Phone requests should be made Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (CST).
• By mail: Applicants should submit a completed and notarized Application for Copy of Vital Record Certificate Form to the Bureau. A clear photocopy of a current, government-issued photo identification, along with the applicable fee, should accompany this form.
• In-person: Requesters can visit the Bureau from Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to obtain copies of Iowa vital records. The records staff will provide an application form that must be completed and signed. The applicant must provide valid, current government-issued photo identification. Requests received by 2:00 p.m. will be processed within 2 hours. The office is located at the address below:

• County Recorder offices: Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records can be obtained from these offices by mail or in person. Visit the County Recorder's Office website to check the office hours for in-person requests and the address for mail requests.
• Iowa Judicial Branch: The public can access divorce records online through the Iowa Courts Online Search portal. A search can be conducted by name or case ID.

• Clerk of the District Court: Individuals should visit the District Court in the county where the divorce was finalized to obtain copies of the divorce records. The record staff may require the requesters to complete a form or provide some basic information, such as the full names of the divorced parties or the divorce date, to conduct the search.

• State Historical Society of Iowa: Requests for vital records can be made in person or online through a Reference Request Form. The staff will send an initial response within five business days to those who submitted their requests online.

Who Can Request Iowa Vital Records?

Anyone can request Iowa birth, death, or marriage records from the County Recorder's offices. However, only record holders, their immediate family members, and legal representatives are eligible to obtain certified copies of birth, death, or marriage records from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Members of the public can view or get copies of divorce records from the Iowa Judicial Branch or the Clerk of the District Court. The State Historical Society of Iowa issues older vital records to members of the public.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	The person named on the record (18 or older) Children (18 or older) Current legal spouse or sibling (18 years or older) Legal mother or father named on the certificate Maternal or paternal grandparents Step-parent if married to the biological parent Legal guardians or representatives Step-parent, step-grandparent(s), or step-children Anyone can obtain birth records after 75 years	A current government-issued photo identification	IA Code § 144.13
Death Certificate	The deceased person's immediate family members Legal representatives Anyone can obtain marriage records after 50 years	A current government-issued photo identification	IA Code § 144.26
Marriage Record	Any of the couple named on the record Immediate family members Legal representatives Anyone can obtain marriage records after 75 years	A current government-issued photo identification	IA Code § 144.36
Divorce Record	Anyone	None	IA Code § 144

Processing Times for Iowa Vital Records Requests

Processing times for vital record requests vary based on volume, complexity, and the chosen request and delivery method. Online requests using standard UPS delivery usually take 5 to 10 business days, while UPS overnight deliveries are typically processed within 2 to 5 business days. Mail requests sent through regular mail generally require 4 to 6 weeks. In-person requests are usually completed within about 2 hours.

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	Request method Delivery method Verification of eligibility Volume of requests	In-person requests may be faster
Death Certificate	Request method Delivery method Verification of eligibility Volume of requests	In-person requests may be faster
Marriage Record	Request method Delivery method Verification of eligibility Volume of requests	In-person requests may be faster
Divorce Record	Volume of requests	Online requests are better.

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Iowa

At both the county and state level, birth, death, and marriage records cost $15.00 per copy. This fee is not refundable even if the records are not found. Requests made online incur an additional fee of $14.00 per order, while requests made by phone incur an extra cost of approximately $9.00 per order. These fees can be paid by credit card, check, cash, or money order, depending on the preferred payment method. Copies of divorce records cost $0.50 per page.

How to Search Vital Records Online in Iowa

The Iowa Bureau of Vital Statistics partners with a third-party vendor to provide online access to birth, death, and marriage records. Requesters will need to provide basic information on the site to facilitate the search for the desired records. The vendor charges a $15 standard fee and an additional processing fee of $14.00 per order. The record will be delivered by mail, will call, or in person in Des Moines. Individuals seeking divorce records online should use the Iowa Courts Electronic Docket Record Search portal to conduct a statewide search. Users can perform a search by name or case ID.

The State Historical Society of Iowa also offers indexes where individuals can search vital records online in Iowa at no charge. They can order copies of Iowa genealogy records by submitting a Reference Request Form.