Introduction to Iowa Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Iowa Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.  

Iowa Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Iowa state law, Iowa Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate
• Grandparent of individual named on the Iowa Marriage certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate 
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate
• Grandchild of individual named on the Iowa Marriage certificate 
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Iowa Marriage Certificate

Iowa Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

To obtain an Iowa Marriage certificate for genealogy reasons you need to meet one of the above criteria.

Iowa Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Iowa Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Iowa Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Iowa Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Iowa Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Iowa Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 30-45 days month upon receipt of request to be sent to you. Genealogy requests take at least 60 days:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Iowa Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Iowa Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Iowa Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Iowa Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Iowa Marriage certificate
• Your name  
• Your signature  
• Your relationship to the person whose Iowa Marriage certificate you are requesting  
• Address where the Iowa Marriage certificate is to be mailed  
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Iowa Department of Public Health

Bureau of Health Statistics

Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Iowa: You may go to any county health department in the State of Iowa to obtain a certified copy of an Iowa Marriage certificate. Most Iowa Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Iowa Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Iowa Marriage certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the Iowa Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Iowa Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $15.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to " Iowa Department of Public Health." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.