Iowa Death Certificate - How to Get Certified Copies

An independent guide to ordering certified death certificates in Iowa. Fees and processing times change, so confirm them with the state office.

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Independent service, not a government agency. GetDeathCertificates.com is an independent information site. We are not the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records, we are not affiliated with any government agency, and we do not issue death certificates. You can order directly from the state office yourself at its Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records website.

Getting a Death Certificate in Iowa

Obtaining certified death certificate copies in Iowa requires submitting a request to the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records. Fees and processing times are set by that office and change, so check the current fee and turnaround on its Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records website before you order. Online ordering through this site is not available right now; ordering directly from the state office is usually the fastest and cheapest option.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Determine eligibility: In Iowa, only authorized persons may request death certificates. See the "Who Can Request" section below.
  2. Gather required documents: You will need to provide specific documentation with your request. See the "Required Documents" section below.
  3. Submit your request: Requests can be submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records by mail, or in person at the state office by appointment.
  4. Pay the official fees: The state office sets the fee per certified copy and the payment methods it accepts. Check current fees and accepted payment methods with the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records website.
  5. Receive your copies: Certified copies are mailed to your address after processing. Processing times vary by office and season; ask the office for its current turnaround and whether expedited handling is offered.

Required Documents

  • Completed application
  • Photo ID
  • Proof of eligibility
  • Payment

Who Can Request a Iowa Death Certificate

Iowa restricts access to death certificates to authorized individuals. Eligible requestors include:

  • Spouse
  • Parent
  • Child (18+)
  • Sibling (18+)
  • Grandparent
  • Legal representative

Iowa Vital Records Office Contact

Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records

Address
321 E 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone
(515) 281-4944
Website
State office website
Cost
Check current fees with the office
Processing Time
Varies - check with the office

Counties in Iowa

Death certificates in Iowa can be requested for deaths that occurred in any of the state's 99 counties.

Show all 99 Iowa counties
  • Adair
  • Adams
  • Allamakee
  • Appanoose
  • Audubon
  • Benton
  • Black Hawk
  • Boone
  • Bremer
  • Buchanan
  • Buena Vista
  • Butler
  • Calhoun
  • Carroll
  • Cass
  • Cedar
  • Cerro Gordo
  • Cherokee
  • Chickasaw
  • Clarke
  • Clay
  • Clayton
  • Clinton
  • Crawford
  • Dallas
  • Davis
  • Decatur
  • Delaware
  • Des Moines
  • Dickinson
  • Dubuque
  • Emmet
  • Fayette
  • Floyd
  • Franklin
  • Fremont
  • Greene
  • Grundy
  • Guthrie
  • Hamilton
  • Hancock
  • Hardin
  • Harrison
  • Henry
  • Howard
  • Humboldt
  • Ida
  • Iowa
  • Jackson
  • Jasper
  • Jefferson
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Keokuk
  • Kossuth
  • Lee
  • Linn
  • Louisa
  • Lucas
  • Lyon
  • Madison
  • Mahaska
  • Marion
  • Marshall
  • Mills
  • Mitchell
  • Monona
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Muscatine
  • O'Brien
  • Osceola
  • Page
  • Palo Alto
  • Plymouth
  • Pocahontas
  • Polk
  • Pottawattamie
  • Poweshiek
  • Ringgold
  • Sac
  • Scott
  • Shelby
  • Sioux
  • Story
  • Tama
  • Taylor
  • Union
  • Van Buren
  • Wapello
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Webster
  • Winnebago
  • Winneshiek
  • Woodbury
  • Worth
  • Wright

Order from the Iowa vital records office

Online ordering through this site is not available right now. You can order a certified death certificate directly from the Iowa vital records office (link below) - this is usually the fastest and cheapest option.

Iowa vital records office

Start an order (online ordering opening soon)

Related: Find Funeral Homes in Iowa

If you are working with a funeral home in Iowa, our directory lists funeral homes across the state. Browse funeral homes in Iowa.

Frequently Asked Questions - Iowa

The state office sets the government fee and it can change, so check the current fee on the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records website.

Processing time depends on the vital records office and how it receives your request, and it changes over time. Check the current turnaround, and whether expedited handling is offered, on the Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records website.

Most requests in Iowa go through the state vital records office at Iowa Department of Public Health - Bureau of Vital Records. Some counties may have local options - contact us or check the county health department website.

Death certificates are issued by the vital records office for the state where the death occurred, not where the person lived. If the death occurred in Iowa, you request it from Iowa vital records regardless of where the deceased resided.

Related: funeral homes in Iowa | how it works | frequently asked questions | how to order