Vital Records - Additional Information

General Information:

The Iowa State Board of Health was established on July 1, 1880. During the first meeting, they created an Iowa Vital Records system of birth, death, and marriage record keeping. At the same time, registration responsibilities were not well defined, resulting in poor record keeping in some areas of the state. A few events, primarily marriages, were recorded in some counties prior to the 1880 date; however, little information is included on those records.

Availability of Records:

County Records:

At the county level, all vital records occurring in that county are open to the public for inspection. County offices may set and charge a reasonable fee to inspect the records.

To secure a certified copy of a record from the county-of-event, applicants must have direct or tangible interest in the record. In other words, you must be the registrant (person named on the record) or have a lineal relationship to the registrant, such as a legal parent, grandparent, spouse, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or legal representative. All requests or applications for each certificate must be in writing and include the purpose for the certificate.

State Records:

Vital records maintained at the state level are closed to inspection and are not open to public inspection.

To secure a certified copy of a record from the state, applicants must have the same direct and tangible entitlement as for a county record. Requests may be in writing or by telephone using a credit card.

Fees:

At both the county and state level, a fee of $15.00 is required for each record search conducted, with a copy issued if one is found. If the record is not found, a record search letter, also called a no-record letter, will be provided. The fee is not refundable.

Record Searches:

Applicants should follow the Index Schedule if the exact name, date, or place of event is unknown.

Statistics Indexes of Births, Deaths, Marriages in the State of Iowa

NOTE: Official registration began in Iowa - July 1, 1880.

* Index Search: At both the county and state level, a fee of $15.00 is required for each birth, death, or marriage index search conducted, with a copy issued if one is found. If the record is not found, a no-record letter will be provided. The fee is not refundable.

Death Record Search for the years 1880-1895: To search, the county of occurrence and the year must be furnished. A fee of $15.00 for each year and county is required, with a copy issued if one is found. If the record is not found, a no-record letter will be provided. The fee is not refundable.

Marriage Record Search for the years 1880-1915: To search, the county of occurrence and the year must be furnished. A fee of $15.00 for each year and county is required, with a copy issued if one is found. If the record is not found, a no-record letter will be provided. The fee is not refundable.

Other Resources:

Iowa census enumerations began in 1850. The final census was taken in 1925. These records are open to the public. For more information, visit or write:

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

Library Archives Bureau

State Historical Museum

600 E. Locust Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Genealogical information and assistance may also be obtained by writing to:

Iowa Genealogical Society

628 E. Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1924

Please email all general vital record questions to:
vitalrecords@idph.iowa.gov