State vital records · IDPH - Bureau of Health Statistics
Iowa Vital Records Requirements
Fees, processing times, required documents, and who can request birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in Iowa — in one place.
Iowa · 196 offices
At a glance
Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Health Statistics (IDPH - Bureau of Health Statistics)
- Address
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
- Mailing
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Statistics Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
- Phone
- (515) 281-4944
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Iowa Birth Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 75 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Mailing Address
- Parent Names Before Marriage
- Place of Birth
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Birthdate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Iowa Death Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 50 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Death
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Place of Death
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Iowa Marriage Certificate
- Fee
- $15
- Additional copy
- $15
- Rush fee
- Expedited options are only offered with online orders through VitalChek
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Rush processing
- VitalChek’s options (the only expedited service available besides in-person) range from 2-5 business days to 2-3 weeks
- Public after
- 75 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Bride Name
- Date of Marriage
- Daytime Phone Number
- Father's Name at Birth
- Groom Name
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Place of Marriage
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Birthdate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- College ID
- Out-of-State Driver's License
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
- US Passport
- Visa
- Work ID
Secondary ID
- Bank Card with Photo
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Criminal Record
- Expired Driver's License
- Filed US Tax Return Form
- Foreign ID Card
- Foreign Passport
- Foreign Voter Registration
- Hospital Bill
- Insurance Record
- International Driver's License
- Matricula Consular Card
- Medicaid Card
- Medical Card
- Medicare Card
- Non-government ID
- Rent Receipt
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Don't want to visit in person? Order a Iowa birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.
Order online ↗Get a birth certificate by Iowa county
Most Iowa birth and death records are requested at the county level. Choose your county for local offices, fees, and how to order.
- Polk County birth certificate2
- Linn County birth certificate2
- Johnson County birth certificate2
- Black Hawk County birth certificate2
- Dallas County birth certificate2
- Woodbury County birth certificate2
- Story County birth certificate1
- Dubuque County birth certificate3
- Pottawattamie County birth certificate2
- Warren County birth certificate2
- Clinton County birth certificate2
- Cerro Gordo County birth certificate2
Apostille & authentication
- Office
- Secretary of State
- Phone
- (515) 281- 5204
- Mailing
- Secretary of State Business Services Division Lucas Building, 1st Floor Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Walk-in
- First Floor, Lucas Building 321 E. 12th St. Des Moines, IA 50319
- Details
- Completed application form, notarized or certified documents to be authenticated, $5.00 per document (if paying by check, credit card also accepted), and prepaid shipping label if requesting expedited mail service
Public records: Iowa Code Chapter 22 Examination of Public Records. Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.