Iowa - Obtain a Marriage License

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Procedure

1. Go to the Recorder's office.
2. Present and submit required documents.
3. Complete an application form.
4. Pay the marriage license fee.

Marriage Ceremony

All parties involved in the marriage ceremony must be in the same geographic location. At a minimum, the parties to be married, the officiant, and two witnesses must be physically present.

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Required Documents

• Completed application form
• Valid identification

Office Locations & Contacts

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
Website

Iowa County Recorder's Office:
http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/iowa/#counties

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• 18 years of age or older;
• not already or still legally married to someone else or to each other;
• not closely related by blood or first cousins; and
• legally competent to enter into a civil contract

Minors: Persons aged 16 and 17 may only marry with special permission from a judge and should request a Consent to Marriage of a Minor form when making application for their marriage license. The completed form must be presented to a judge within the same judicial district as the county in which you wish your license issued. The Clerk of District Court office can provide additional information. Return the signed form to the County Registrar in order to complete the marriage application process.

Note: Applicants are NOT required to be U.S. citizens; however, all parties must provide satisfactory proof of identification to the notary public upon signing their application to marry.

Fees

Marriage License Fee: The fee is $35.00 and includes a certified copy of the Certificate of Marriage.

The fee is NOT refundable if the marriage does not occur.

Validity

The license does not expire unless it is not retrieved from the County Registrar within six months from the date of application, the application is then considered null and void.

Marriage licenses issued in Iowa are valid ONLY for marriage ceremonies performed within the boundaries of the State of Iowa by authorized officiants as defined in Iowa Code section 595.10.

There is a three day waiting period before the marriage ceremony can take place anywhere in Iowa. A 3-day waiver can be applied for at the Clerk of Court's Office. An additional $5.00 is then required at time of application.

Valid Date: When the marriage license valid date is computed, the day of application is excluded. Then 4 days after that the license is valid (weekend days are included in count).

Documents to Use

Application to Marry in Iowa

Sample Documents

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Instructions

You may apply for a Marriage License at any County Recorder in Iowa as long as the ceremony is to be performed in Iowa.

• A witness who is over age 18 must be present during the marriage license application.
• Both parties must appear in person at the Recorder's Office, proxy is not allowed. However, the absent party can sign the Iowa marriage license application before a Notary Public.

Required Information

• Legal name before marriage
• Legal name after marriage
• Current residence address at time of application
• Gender (optional)
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Parents

All items on the application, other than those marked optional, must be completed to process the request for a License to Marry in Iowa, including the Affidavit of Competent and Disinterested Person on the reverse side of the application form.

Need for the Document

Following is a procedure on how can apply for a marriage license in Iowa.

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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External Links

• State of Iowa Marriage Instructions:

http://www.linncountyrecorder.com/Docs/Marriage_Instructions_200904.pdf

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