Vital Records

Records of vital statistics (births, marriages, divorces and deaths) are excellent sources of genealogical information. Prior to 1880, only marriages, which required a license, were recorded in public records, and then only at the county level. In 1880, legislation was passed creating the Iowa Department of Health and requiring all births, deaths, and marriages to be recorded at both the county and state levels.

The State Historical Society of Iowa has birth, marriage, divorce and death records from across the state at both the county and state levels. These records include: 

• County level: Pre-1940 births, deaths, and marriages from all 99 counties microfilmed by Family Search (years vary by county)
• State level: Births, marriages, divorces and deaths in the State Archives (RG 48 Public Health)

Iowa law requires that birth, marriage and death vital statistics in the custody of the State Archives be 75 years or older and death or fetal death vital statistics be 50 years or older to be made available to the public. For a description of the information contained in these records over the years, refer to Researching Iowa Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records.

The State Archives partners with FamilySearch and Ancestry websites to make available Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death records within its custody available online.  Family Search is free to use at home.  Ancestry requires a subscription.  Both websites are free to use at the Des Moines and Iowa City Research Centers.

For certified copies of birth, death and marriage records or more recent birth, death, and marriage records contact Iowa HHS Vital Records. Divorce vital record statistics less than 75 years old are only available at Iowa HHS Vital Records. To obtain divorce court records, please contact the Clerk of Court in the county in which the case was filed. 

The State Historical Society of Iowa is always in the process of making more vital records available online.  The following is a brief summary of records currently available at the Des Moines Research Center and online.

Please contact us for any further questions about Vital Records. 

Birth Records

State Birth Record Indexes

Uncertified copies of birth records that can be found by county using the archive of state birth indexes 1909-1921 .  Birth records can be ordered online, by phone or in person.

Death Records

State Death Record Indexes

Uncertified copies of death records that can be found by county using the archive of state death indexes 1917-1939 .  Death records may be ordered online, by phone or in person.

Marriage Records