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Iowa Marriage License Requirements

Below is the information on what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the marriage laws before filling out the marriage license forms.

In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document that allows you to officially be married under the law. Always check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

Licenses are usually not valid for more than 30 days so you'll typically need to apply for your marriage license within one month of your wedding ceremony. You need to submit your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

IMPORTANT: You are not officially married when you receive a marriage license. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your officiant your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

ID Requirement: Picture ID such as a driver's license. If application is mailed or faxed in, it must be witnessed by a Notary Public.

Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Iowa.

Waiting Period: 3 days.

If Divorced: If divorced within the last 60 days, a certified copy of the divorce decree is needed.

Fees: Cash Only! $25

Other Tests: No tests

Under 18: Need certified copy of birth certificate, both parents must be present with identification, or if you have a legal guardian they must be present with a court order and identification.

Officiants: The minister, priest or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state may perform marriages. Ministers must provide marriage certificates to the couple married and report the marriage to the Marriage Commissioner.

Valid: License is valid for 90 days anywhere in Iowa.
The license can only be used within the State of Iowa.

 

IMPORTANT: State and county marriage license requirements can change so make sure you check with your local town clerk. This information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any plans.

Adair County Recorders 400 Public Square Greenfield, IA 50849 515-743-2411
Adams County Recorder 500 9th And Davis Ave Corning, IA 50841 515-322-3744
Allamakee County Recorders 110 Allamakee St Waukon, IA 52172 319-568-2364
Appanoose County Recorder 201 N 12th St Centerville, IA 52544 515-856-6103
Audubon County Recorder 318 Leroy St, #7 Audubon, IA 50025 712-563-2119
Benton County Clerk 111 E 4th St Vinton, IA 52349 319-472-3309
Black Hawk County Recorder 316 East Fifth Waterloo, IA 50706 319-291-2472
Boone County Recorder 210 State Boone, IA 50036 515-433-0514
Bremer County Recorder 415 E Bremer Ave Waverly, IA 50677 319-352-0401
Buchanan County Recorder 210 5th Ave, N.E. Independence, IA 50644 319-334-4259
Buena Vista County Recorder East 5th Court House Square Storm Lake, IA 50588 712-749-2539
Butler County Recorder 428 6th St Allison, IA 50602 319-267-2735
Calhoun County Recorder 416 4th St, # 3 Rockwell City, IA 50579 712-297-8121
Carroll County Recorder 6th & Main Carroll, IA 51401 712-792-3328
Cass County Recorder 5 W 7th St Atlantic, IA 50022 712-243-1692
Cedar County RecordersCourthouse 400 Cedar St Tipton, IA 52772 319-886-2230
Cerro GordoCounty Recorder 220 North Washington Mason City, IA 50401 515-421-3056
Chickasaw County Recorder 8 E Prospect St New Hampton, IA 50659 515-394-2336
Clay County Recorder P.O. Box 7306 Spencer, IA 51301 712-262-1081
Clayton County 111 High St Elkader, IA 52043 319-245-2710
Clinton County Recorder 301 Main Ave Clinton, IA 52732 319-244-0223
Crawford County Recorder P.O. Box 442 Dennison, IA 51442 712-263-3643
Dallas County Recorder 801 Court St, # 203 Adel, IA 50003 515-993-5804
Decatur Recorders 201 N Main St Leon, IA 50144 515-446-4322
Delaware County Recorder 301 E Main St Manchester, IA 52057 319-927-4665
Des Moines County Recorder 513 N Main St Burlington, IA 52601 319-753-8221
Dickenson County Recorder 18th & Hill St Spirit Lake, IA 51360 712-336-1495
Dubuque County 720 Central Dubuque, IA 52001 319-589-4434
Emmet County Recorder 609 First Ave North Esterville, IA 51334 712-362-4115
Fayette County Recorder P.O. Box 226 West Union, IA 52175 319-422-3687
Floyd County Recorder Courthouse 101 South Main Charles City, IA 50616 515-257-6154
Franklin County Recorder P.O. Box 26 Hampton, IA 50441 515-456-5675
Fremont County Recorder P.O. Box 295 Sidney, IA 51652 712-374-2315
Greene County Recorders114 North Chesnut Courthouse Jefferson, IA 50129 515-386-3716
Grundy County Recorder 706 G Ave Grundy Center, IA 50638 319-824-3234
Guthrie County Recorder 205 N Fifth Guthrie Center, IA 50115 515-747-3412
Hamilton County Recorder P.O. Box 126 Webster City, IA 50595 515-832-9535
Hancock County Recorder 855 State St Garner, IA 50438 515-923-2464
Hardin County Recorder Hardin County Courthouse Eldora, IA 50627 515-939-8178
Harrison County Recorder 111 N 2nd Ave Logan, IA 51546 712-644-2545
Henry County RecorderMain & Washington Courthouse Building Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641 319-385-0765
Humboldt County Recorder 203 Main Dakota City, IA 50529 515-332-3693
Ida County Recorder 401 Moorehead St Ida Grove, IA 51445 712-364-2220
Iowa County Recorder P.O. Box 185 Court Ave Marengo, IA 52301 319-642-3622
Jackson County Recorder 201 West Platt Maquoketa, IA 52060 319-652-2504
Jasper County Recorder County Courthouse, Room 205 Newton, IA 50208 515-792-5442
Jean RichardsonCounty Recorder 300 N Pine St Creston, IA 50801 515-782-7616
Jefferson County Recorder 51 W Briggs Ave Fairfield, IA 52556 515-472-4331
Johnson County Recorder 913 South Dubuque Iowa City, IA 52244 319-356-6093
Jones County Recorder 500 W Main St, # 116 Anamosa, IA 52205 319-462-2477
Kossuth County 114 West State St Algona, IA 50511 515-295-5660
Lee County Recorder P.O. Box 160 Keokuk, IA 52632 319-524-1126
Lee County Recorders P.O. Box 322 Fort Madison, IA 52627 319-372-4662
Linn County Recorder 930 1st S.W. Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 319-398-3441
Louisa County Recorder 117 South Main Wapello, IA 52653 319-523-5361
Lucas County Recorder 916 Braden Ave Chariton, IA 50049 515-774-2413
Lyon County Recorder 206 S 2nd Ave Rock Rapids, IA 51246 712-472-2381
Madison County Recorder P.O. Box 152 Winterset, IA 50273 515-462-3771
Mahaska County Recorder 106 S 1st St Oskaloosa, IA 52577 515-673-8187
Marion County Recorder 214 E Main St Knoxville, IA 50138 515-828-2211
Marshall County Recorder 1 E Main St Marshalltown, IA 50158 515-754-6355
Mills County Recorder 418 Sharp St Glenwood, IA 51534 712-527-9315
Mitchell County Recorder 508 State St Osage, IA 50461 515-732-5861
Monona County Recorder 610 Iowa Ave Onawa, IA 51040 712-423-2575
Monroe County Recorder 10 Benton Ave E Albia, IA 52531 515-932-5164
Montgomery County Recorder P.O. Box 469 Red Oak, IA 51566 712-623-4363
Muscatine County Recorder 401 East 3rd Muscatine, IA 52761 319-263-7741
Obrien County Recorder 155 S Hayes Ave Primghar, IA 51245 712-757-3045
Osceola County Recorder 300 7th St Sibley, IA 51249 712-754-3345
Page County Recorder 112 E Main St Clarinda, IA 51632 712-542-3130
Palo Alto County Recorder 1010 Broadway St Emmetsburg, IA 50536 712-852-3701
Plymouth County Recorder 214 4th Ave SE Le Mars, IA 51031 712-546-4020
Polk County Recorder 2nd & Court Ave Des Moines, IA 50309 515-286-3160
Pottawattamie County Recorder 227 South Sixth St Council Bluffs, IA 51501 712-328-5612
Poweshiek County Recorder 302 East Main Montezuma, IA 50171 515-623-5434
Sac County Recorder 100 NW State St Sac City, IA 50583 712-662-7789
Shelby County Recorder 1313 Industrial Pkwy Harlan, IA 51537 712-755-5640
Sioux County Recorder P.O. Box 100 Orange City, IA 51041 712-737-2229
Story County Recorder 900 6th St Nevada, IA 50201 515-382-7230
Tama County Recorder P.O. Box 82 Toledo, IA 52342 515-484-3320
Wapello County Recorder 101 W 4th St Ottumwa, IA 52501 515-683-0045
Warren County Recorder P.O. Box 163 Indianola, IA 50125 515-961-1089
Washington County Recorder 110 West Main Washington, IA 52353 319-653-7727
Webster County Recorder 701 Central Ave Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-576-2401
Winnebago County Recorder 126 South Clark Forest City, IA 50436 515-582-2094
Winnesheik County Recorder 201 West Main St Decorah, IA 52101 319-382-3486
Woodbury County Recorder Courthouse, Room 106 Sioux City, IA 51101 712-279-6528
Worth County Recorder 1000 Central Ave Northwood, IA 50459 515-324-2734
Wright County Recorder 115 North Main Clarion, IA 50525 515-532-3204