You can request a certificate by calling this toll-free number 866-809-0290 from 6:00 am CST through 7:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday, except for holidays.
A VitalChek operator will take your information, screen your credit card, authenticate your identity and complete your order.
Online (VitalChek)
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
By Mail
To obtain a certified copy of a vital record (birth, death, marriage) registered with the Iowa Department of Public Health, complete an 'Application for Copy of a Vital Record' form
Mail the completed form along with a check or money order payable to the 'Iowa Department of Public Health,' and a clear photocopy of the applicant's current, government-issued photo identification: Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
In Person
To those who are in the Des Moines area, you may apply for a copy in person. You may submit your request at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:45 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 main lobby. The Lucas building is the first state office building east of the state Capitol building, on the south side of Grand Avenue.
Complete and sign a written request.
Submit the completed request and present a valid, current government-issued photo identification.
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Copies of Iowa marriage records will only be issued to the persons named in the certificate, next of kin, or to individuals with a legal right to the certificate.
Vital records: A fee of $20.00 is required for the record search and includes one copy if a record is on file in the vital records office. Each additional copy of the record is also $20.00.
If the record is not located, the applicant shall receive a notification of the record search. The $20.00 fee shall be retained for the search.
Notes:
You may pay the fee in check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Public Health. In-person requests may also be paid in cash.
Checks must be drawn from the applicant's account; money orders must be in the name of the applicant. Fees must be paid at the time of the application.
The fee is for the search of the record and is non-refundable. No refunds will be made for overpayments of $5.00 or less.
Fees must be paid in U.S. funds to the issuing registrar's office. In some instances, the local county registrar (County Recorder) may only accept cash or money orders for in-person requests and money orders for mail-in requests. All applications must be accompanied by a valid, current government-issued photo I.D. (legible photocopy if applying by mail) and all applicants must satisfactorily prove entitlement.
VitalCheck additional charges:
Fee to screen your credit card and authenticate the caller: $13.00
Group order, which consists of more than one Vital Event, i.e. Birth, Death or Marriage within one order: $3.00
Note: Credit cards currently being accepted by VitalCheck include American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.
In Iowa, registration of births, deaths and marriages began July 1, 1880. No records of events prior to July 1, 1880, are on file in the office. All original records that have been registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
You may obtain certified copies of vital records by telephone, in-person, or through a postal service.
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 do not have code authority to have the following on record:
Single-parent births prior to July 1, 1995;
Adoptions;
Birth records after a legal change of name through Iowa Code chapter 674;
Delayed records filed one year or more after the event;
Any record ordered seal by a court of law;
Birth, death, and marriage records between the years 1921 to 1941.
All requests 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.
You can request a certificate by calling this toll-free number 866-809-0290 from 6:00 am CST through 7:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday, except for holidays.
A VitalChek operator will take your information, screen your credit card, authenticate your identity and complete your order.
Online (VitalChek)
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
By Mail
To obtain a certified copy of a vital record (birth, death, marriage) registered with the Iowa Department of Public Health, complete an 'Application for Copy of a Vital Record' form
Mail the completed form along with a check or money order payable to the 'Iowa Department of Public Health,' and a clear photocopy of the applicant's current, government-issued photo identification: Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
In Person
To those who are in the Des Moines area, you may apply for a copy in person. You may submit your request at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:45 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 main lobby. The Lucas building is the first state office building east of the state Capitol building, on the south side of Grand Avenue.
Complete and sign a written request.
Submit the completed request and present a valid, current government-issued photo identification.
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Copies of Iowa marriage records will only be issued to the persons named in the certificate, next of kin, or to individuals with a legal right to the certificate.
Vital records: A fee of $20.00 is required for the record search and includes one copy if a record is on file in the vital records office. Each additional copy of the record is also $20.00.
If the record is not located, the applicant shall receive a notification of the record search. The $20.00 fee shall be retained for the search.
Notes:
You may pay the fee in check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Public Health. In-person requests may also be paid in cash.
Checks must be drawn from the applicant's account; money orders must be in the name of the applicant. Fees must be paid at the time of the application.
The fee is for the search of the record and is non-refundable. No refunds will be made for overpayments of $5.00 or less.
Fees must be paid in U.S. funds to the issuing registrar's office. In some instances, the local county registrar (County Recorder) may only accept cash or money orders for in-person requests and money orders for mail-in requests. All applications must be accompanied by a valid, current government-issued photo I.D. (legible photocopy if applying by mail) and all applicants must satisfactorily prove entitlement.
VitalCheck additional charges:
Fee to screen your credit card and authenticate the caller: $13.00
Group order, which consists of more than one Vital Event, i.e. Birth, Death or Marriage within one order: $3.00
Note: Credit cards currently being accepted by VitalCheck include American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.
VitalChek: Processing time is currently about two (2) weeks depending on the amount of requests VitalChek is currently processing. UPS orders will be delivered within 7-10 business days after processing.
By Mail: Mail requests will take an average of 5 to 7 business days to reach the Vital Records office, and 5 to 7 business days to be returned to you. Turnaround time may be 4 to 6 weeks, depending on seasonal demands. Genealogy requests are accepted by mail only and may require a minimum of 60 business days for processing, and will be mailed to the applicant by standard postal delivery only.
In Person: Certificates are generally [Note] ready for pick up the next business day after 2:00 PM or mailed by standard postal service to an entitled person. Mail turnaround time may take 5 to 7 additional days. Note: Exceptions may occur for inaccurate or incomplete applications, or if further verification is required for entitlement or locating records.
In Iowa, registration of births, deaths and marriages began July 1, 1880. No records of events prior to July 1, 1880, are on file in the office. All original records that have been registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
You may obtain certified copies of vital records by telephone, in-person, or through a postal service.
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 do not have code authority to have the following on record:
Single-parent births prior to July 1, 1995;
Adoptions;
Birth records after a legal change of name through Iowa Code chapter 674;
Delayed records filed one year or more after the event;
Any record ordered seal by a court of law;
Birth, death, and marriage records between the years 1921 to 1941.
All requests 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.
Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations. A Marriage Certificate is an official statement that two people are married.
A copy of the marriage certificate is often necessary when you apply for procedures such as obtaining a passport or applying for social benefits.