Iowa Marriage Records

An Iowa marriage record is an official document providing key details about a marriage that occurred within the state, including the names of the spouses, the marriage date, location, witnesses, and parents' names.

Before 1880, marriage records in Iowa were only documented at the county level, and only those requiring a license were recorded. However, legislation passed in 1880 mandated recording all marriages at both the county and state levels, overseen by the Iowa Department of Health. The State Historical Society of Iowa maintains a comprehensive collection of these records, including a microfilm archive of pre-1940 marriages and records from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Access to certified marriage records is restricted to entitled individuals, such as the persons named on the record or their immediate family members. These records can be obtained online through the state’s authorized vendor, VitalChek, or by phone, mail, or in person at the Iowa Department of Public Health or county registrar offices. The availability of records varies, with older records typically accessible only at the county level. Fees apply for obtaining certified copies, and requests can be processed quickly for in-person applications or shipped via various methods.

What are Marriage Records?

An Iowa marriage record is an official document containing information about a marriage held within the state. These records typically contain information such as the full names of the bride and groom, the location of the marriage, the date of the marriage, the names of witnesses, and the names of the bride and groom's parents.

An Iowa marriage record is typically a marriage certificate or marriage license. A marriage license demonstrates there is no legal barrier to a marriage between the persons named on the document. It is required before a marriage may take place between two persons. The marriage license creates a marriage record that will be finalized by a marriage officiator after the completion of the marriage ceremony. The finalized document is the marriage certificate which is proof of the marriage status of the individuals named on the document.

Before 1880, marriage records in Iowa were only documented at the county level, and only those marriages requiring a license were recorded. This changed in 1880 when legislation mandated that all marriages be recorded at the county and state levels, establishing the Iowa Department of Health to oversee these records.

The State Historical Society of Iowa maintains a comprehensive collection of marriage records in the state. This includes an extensive microfilm archive of county records documenting pre-1940 marriages filmed by FamilySearch. The availability of these records varies by county. The State Archives collections also include marriage records from the Iowa Department of Public Health. According to Iowa law, marriage records must be at least 75 years old before being made accessible to the public. An Iowa historical vital records reference guide provides more details on the information contained in the records maintained by the FamilySearch and Ancestry websites. The public may use the FamilySearch and Ancestry websites for free at the Des Moines and Iowa City Research Centers. Individuals must contact the Iowa Department of Public Health for certified copies of more recent marriage records.

The state maintains marriage records to verify identity, citizenship, and family relationships. Individuals may also request them for legal matters, inheritance claims, and genealogical research.

Marriages in Iowa

Approximately 17,000 marriages have been held in Iowa annually in recent years. Since 2019, the only year with marriages well short of 17,000 was 2020, when 15,508 marriages were recorded in the state. According to 2020 census estimates, 45.1% of Iowa residents aged 15 and older were married, while 38.3% had never been married. Among women aged 45 to 54, around 60.2% were married, compared to just 30% of women aged 20 to 34. For men, 60% of those aged 45 to 65 were married, while only 20% of men aged 20 to 34 were married.

Marriage rates also varied across racial groups. About 53% of white adults aged 15 and older were married, followed by 51.5% of Asians. In contrast, only 38.2% of American Indians or Alaskan Natives and 32.2% of Black or African American adults were married. Among Hispanic or Latino individuals, approximately 42% were married as of 2020.

As of 2020, 10.5% of Iowans were divorced, with 9.4% of males and 11.6% of females experiencing divorce. Divorce rates were particularly high among those aged 45 to 64, where about 16% of males and 18% of females were divorced.

Divorce rates also varied among different ethnic groups. The highest percentage was among American Indians or Alaskan Natives, at 14.3%. This was followed by 10.8% of whites, 10.3% of Black or African Americans, and 8.1% of Hispanics. Among Asians, 5% were divorced, while 7.7% of those identifying as some other race had also gone through a divorce.

Iowa marriage laws are codified under Chapter 595 of the state's statutes. These laws require that marriage parties be legally competent to enter into a civil contract and stipulate specific age requirements for couples looking to get married in the state. Typically, only persons aged 18 or older may get married in Iowa. However, the state makes stringent provisions for persons aged between 16 and 17. If you are 16 or 17, you may only marry if you have obtained written consent from your parent or legal guardian and special permission from a judge. If your parents do not consent to the marriage, the judge may overrule them if it is determined that withholding the consent is unreasonable.

Iowa prohibits certain types of marriages as part of the conditions for a valid marriage. Individuals related to each other, such as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, parents, and first cousins, are not allowed to marry. A person who is currently married may not legally marry another person.

Before the solemnization of any marriage in Iowa, the county registrar must obtain a marriage license. The license may be obtained in any county, provided it is used for a marriage performed within Iowa boundaries. Both marriage parties are required to apply in person, and one adult witness acquainted with the parties must be present at the application. A government-issued ID will be required for both the marriage parties and the witness. Also, applicants must pay the marriage license purchase fee of $35. After paying, there is usually a 3-4 day waiting period for the license to become valid.

Under emergency or extraordinary circumstances, a judge of the district court may grant an order authorizing the validation of a marriage license before the standard 3–4-day period upon filing an application with the county registrar. The license becomes void if it is not retrieved from the office of the county registrar within six months from the application date. Non-Iowa residents may apply for marriage licenses in the Hawkeye State provided they meet the other conditions for marriage in Iowa.

Iowa marriages may be officiated by:

An Iowa judge, associate judge, or magistrate serving on the Iowa district court, court of appeals, or supreme court
An individual designated or ordained as a leader of the person's religious faith, regardless of the state of residence or service

However, federal judges or judges serving in another state, a riverboat captain, seminary students, or anyone who is not a leader or ordained of faith cannot legally solemnize marriages in Iowa. Per Section 595.11 of the Iowa Statutes, a fine may be levied against everyone involved with a marriage ceremony performed by an unauthorized officiant.

Two adult witnesses are required at Iowa marriage ceremonies. They must be competent in understanding the nature of the event and entering into civil contracts. The witnesses, couples and the marriage officiant will complete sections of the marriage license and worksheet, which must be returned to the county registrar, who issued it after the ceremony.

Iowa recognizes common-law marriages within the state. According to Iowa Code §252A.3(8), a person identified as another's spouse through a common-law marriage is considered a legitimate spouse under the law. Additionally, under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Iowa acknowledges common-law marriages legally established in other states that recognize such unions. Therefore, a couple legally married through common law in another state will also be recognized as legally married in Iowa. Beyond common-law marriages, Iowa allows for other non-marital relationships, such as domestic partnerships and cohabitation agreements.

Although the Iowa Code originally defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, the Iowa Supreme Court, in Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 (2009), ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to marry in the state under the Iowa Constitution.

Iowa Marriage Certificate

An uncompleted certificate of marriage is included as part of the marriage license purchased from the county registrar before a marriage. The spouse, two witnesses, and the marriage officiant must sign the certificate at the marriage. It is later returned to the office of the County registrar. Once the marriage certificate is returned to the county registrar, the office of the registrar will issue a certified copy of the certificate to the couple. This certified copy is a legal document that may be used to change driver's licenses, social security, and insurance information. Married parties are responsible for picking up verified copies of marriage certificates in person or providing the county registrar with a written statement to mail the copy to a mailing address.

Marriage certificates are public records available for inspection at the county level per Section 144.43 of the Iowa Code. Note that the Social Security numbers of the married parties are not included in the records made available to the public.

How To Find and Access Iowa Marriage Records

You may access certified copies of Iowa marriage records by telephone, online, in person, or by mail. Note that certified copies of marriage records are only issued to entitled persons, such as the person listed on the record, the person's children, spouse, parents named on the record, grandchildren, siblings, grandparents, or legal guardian or representative. Still, proof of entitlement may be required for entitled persons. Certified copies of marriage records from 1954 to the present can be obtained from the county registrars in the state. For marriages occurring prior to this date, certified copies of such records can be ordered through the counties where the applications occurred.

Finding and Accessing Iowa Marriage Records Online

Iowa marriage records may be ordered online via the state's only authorized third-party vendor - VitalChek. Visit the VitalChek website to place an order online. The standard fee for a certified marriage record copy is $15. An added fee applies to ordering online via VitalChek's website, starting from $13 for each order. If the record is not located, you will be notified of an unsuccessful search. The $15 fee is non-refundable.

Orders via VitalChek may be picked up in person or delivered through various shipping methods. The pick-up option is only recommended for persons who can pick up their orders in Des Moines. Upon notification, such persons will be directed to pick up their requests at the Department of Health and Human Services office located at 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines.

Orders may also be shipped via UPS Overnight, UPS 2-Day, or Standard USPS Mail. These options process orders in 2-5 business days, 5-10 business days, and 2-3 weeks, respectively.

If you prefer to place your order over the phone, call VitalChek toll-free at 1-866-809-0290 from 6:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, except for holidays. Note that an additional processing fee applies.

Finding and Accessing Iowa Marriage Records Offline

To request a copy of a certified Iowa marriage record by mail, send a completed, notarized Application concerning a Certified Copy for an Iowa Vital Record, a clear copy of your current government-issued photo ID, a check or money order (made payable to the Iowa Department of Public Health) of the applicable fee ($15 per copy) to:

Iowa Department of Public Health

Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor

321 E. 12th Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

If you make a genealogical request, your submission must include a finished Proof of Entitlement Addendum - in Genealogy.

To make an in-person request for a marriage record from the state, visit the Iowa Bureau of Vital Statistics located in Des Moines between opening at 7:00 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m.. The office runs Monday to Friday, providing all week to apply. Requests taken in by 2:00 p.m. are typically available within 2 hours. You may request delivery by standard USPS mail services if you aren't interested in waiting to pick up the requested record. A shipping address will be required. It is recommended that you ask for the shipping costs at the time of making your request. A current government-issued photo ID will be required when applying. The application must be completed and signed in front of a staff member within vital records.

If the record you seek is available at the county level, contact the county registrar's office in the jurisdiction where the marriage license was filed for a specific application or ordering process. Typically, you can request marriage records from these offices by mail or in person.

References

Counties in Iowa

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Iowa
1. Iowa Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Iowa Marriage Records
1. Finding and Accessing Iowa Marriage Records Online
2. Finding and Accessing Iowa Marriage Records Offline