Family Tree Circles Locations
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Iowa
Locations
Volunteers
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Requests
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Wiki
State Offices
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Office of Vital Records
Lucas Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website
In Iowa, official registration of births, deaths, and
marriages began July 1, 1880. All original records that have been
registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health,
Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- 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.
- County Records:
At the county level, all vital records occurring in that county (excluding fetal death, adoptive records, and out-of-wedlock births prior to July 1, 1995) are open to the public for inspection. County offices may set and charge a reasonable fee to inspect the records.
- 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.
Remarks: All requests must include a
non-expired copy of Government or State-issued Photo ID and
signature of the person requesting the certificate.
How to obtain a certified copy:
By Phone - The public may call the state Health Statistics office at (515) 281-4944 from 7:00 a.m to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays;
By Mail - The information on the 'Application for Copy of a Vital Record' form (see below) must be completed in order to make an application for a certified copy of a vital record (birth, death, marriage) registered with the Iowa Department of Public Health;
In Person - Walk-in service is available for in-person requests at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays;
VitalCheck
- Secured online applications to request for vital records, which
accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through
VitalCheck with an additional charge for their service.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Office of Vital Records
Lucas Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website
Original records that were registered are on file with the
Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics.
Statewide record searches are available from the state
registrar.
Fee: $15.00
Time-frame: Since July 1880
Notes: A non-refundable $15 fee is required to
search for a record and includes one certified copy if the record
is located. Each additional copy of the same record is
$15.
Remarks: For earlier records, write to Health Officer in city or county where event occurred.
- Commemorative Birth Certificate:
The Iowa Department of Public Health is pleased to offer Iowa-born citizens the opportunity to obtain commemorative certificates of their birth record. The commemorative birth certificate makes a memorable keepsake or gift.
The $35 fee for the commemorative birth certificate includes the search for the record and one commemorative certificate. Effective March 13, 2006, commemorative requests require a clear photocopy of the applicant's current government-issued photo identification and signature signed in front of a Notary Public.
Death
Location:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Bureau of Vital Records
Lucas Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website
In Iowa, official registration of deaths began July 1, 1880.
Original records that were registered are on file with the Iowa
Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics. Statewide
record searches are available from the state
registrar.
Fee: $15.00
Time-frame: Since July 1880
Notes: A non-refundable $15 fee is required to
search for a record and includes one certified copy if the record
is located. Each additional copy of the same record is
$15.
Remarks: For earlier records, write to Health Officer in city or county where event occurred.
Marriage
Location:
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Office of Vital Records
Lucas Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website
In Iowa, official registration of marriages began July 1,
1880. Original records that were registered are on file with the
Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics.
Statewide record searches are available from the state
registrar.
Fee: $15.00
Time-frame: Since July 1880
Notes: A non-refundable $15 fee is required to
search for a record and includes one certified copy if the record
is located. Each additional copy of the same record is
$15.
Remarks: Certified copies of marriage certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted.
- Commemorative Marriage Certificate:
The Iowa Department of Public Health is pleased to offer Iowa-born citizens the opportunity to obtain commemorative certificates of marriage. The commemorative marriage certificate makes a memorable keepsake or gift.
The $35 fee for the commemorative birth certificate includes the search for the record and one commemorative certificate. Effective March 13, 2006, commemorative requests require a clear photocopy of the applicant's current government-issued photo identification and signature signed in front of a Notary Public.
Divorce
Location:
IIowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Office of Vital Records
Lucas Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4944
Website
Fee: $6.00 for Counties Department of
Health
Time-frame: Since October 1906
Notes: Certified copies of divorce
certificates are not available from the State Health Department.
They are available from the County Clerk in the county where the
divorce was granted.
