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Vital Records
Marriage Applications
You may apply for a Marriage License at any County Recorder's office in Iowa as long as the ceremony is performed in Iowa. Marriage Applications are accepted in Mills County between the hours of 8 am and 3:30 pm. To apply for a Marriage License in the Recorder's Office:
- Party A, Party B, and one witness (must be 18 years or older) must appear in person.
- All three must present photo identification (driver's license or government-issued identification).
- The $35 fee includes a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate.
There is a 3-day waiting period before the License is valid and the actual marriage may occur.
Certificate of Marriage
Once the marriage has been performed and the Certificate of Marriage has been returned to the Recorder's office and placed on record, a certified copy will be mailed to Party A or Party B. Either Party may use this certified copy for a name change on social security and driver's license, etc.
Notarized Marriage Applications
Notarized marriage applications may be mailed to our office. Please include your phone number. It will be processed the day it is received and will be ready to be picked up on the fourth day after it is processed. Money orders only - no personal checks will be accepted via mail. The license can be used anywhere in Iowa.
Forms
Requesting a Certified Copy of an Iowa Vital Record
Iowa Vital Records are official registrations of births, deaths, and marriages. Certified copies of Vital Records can be obtained from a County Recorder's office or the Iowa Department of Public Health. Statewide record searches are available from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Filing & Fees
County Recorders file and maintain births and deaths that have occurred in that county and file and maintain marriages of the licenses that were applied for in that county. The fee at the county level is $15 for each certified copy. Entitlement has to be proven before a certified copy can be issued. Use the chart to determine whether to apply at the county or state level for a certified copy.
Record | Location |
---|---|
Vital Records: 1880 to 1920 | Mills County Recorder’s Office |
Vital Records: 1921 to 1941 | Iowa Department of Public Health |
Vital Records: 1942 to present | Mills County Recorder’s Office |
Single-parent births before July 1, 1995 | Iowa Department of Public Health |
Single-parent births after July 1, 1995 | Mills County Recorder’s Office |
Legal name changes | Iowa Department of Public Health |
Adoptions | Iowa Department of Public Health |