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

Birth Records

  • Requests for a statewide search of a birth record can be performed for events with date of July 1, 1880 forward.

Death Records

  • Requests for a statewide Death records can be performed for events with date of July 1, 1904 forward.

Marriage Records

  • Requests for a statewide Marriage records can be performed for events with date of July 1, 1916 forward.
  • Any request for a record prior to those dates will be performed as follows:
    • The application MUST contain a specific county
    • The application MUST contain a specific year of event
    • The application MUST contain a specific name (First, Last)
    • The cost to perform searches for vital events is $15 and will apply to each search requested that meets the above criteria. 
  • Any application for record requests that do not meet the above criteria will be returned for more information.

In-Person Genealogy Requests

  • Genealogy requests can be applied for in-person.
  • All requests will be mailed and CANNOT be picked up in person or performed same-day.
  • Iowa HHS staff will determine if record requests before 1941 can be processed as a request other than genealogy, and eligible for same-day service.