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