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Congratulations on your engagement! Here's what you need to know to make the marriage legal in Iowa.
In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document in your state
that allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state
to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.
You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony.
You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however,
want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within
a few months.
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.
And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean
you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding
day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government
agency for validation.
ID Requirement: Picture identification. You need to provide Social Security information.
Application Requirement: Both the bride and groom must appear in person at the time of
applying.
Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Iowa.
Witness: You need to have one witness (over 18 years of age) with you when you apply
for the license.
Waiting Period: Three business day waiting period.
If Divorced: A divorce must be final and filed before applicants can apply for a license.
Fees: $35+ - cash only. Varies from County to County.
Other Tests: No other tests necessary.
Under 18: Applicants 16 or 17 years of age need to have parental consent.
Proxy Marriages: No. However, if one party can't be present at the Recorder's Office
to apply for the license, the absent party can sign the application before a Notary Public.
Cousin Marriages: No.
Common Law Marriages: Yes.
Same Sex Marriages: YES
Officiants: Ministers of the gospel who are ordained by their church may perform marriages.
Minister must give a certificate of marriage to the bride and to the groom. Also, the minister must report the marriage to
the clerk of the district court within 15 days after the marriage.
Valid: License is valid for 6 months.
The license can only be used within the State
of Iowa.
Iowa County Recorder's Office
Adair County Recorders
Greenfield, IA
515.743.2411
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Adams County Recorder
Corning, IA
515.322.3744
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Allamakee County Recorder
Waukon, IA
319.568.2364
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Appanoose County Recorder
Centerville, IA
515.856.6103
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Audubon County Recorder
Audubon, IA
712.563.2119
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Benton County Clerk
Vinton, IA
319.472.3309
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Black Hawk County Recorder
Waterloo, IA
319.291.2472
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Boone County Recorder
Boone, IA
515.433.0514
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Bremer County Recorder
Waverly, IA
319.352.0401
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Buchanan County Recorder
Independence, IA
319.334.4259
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Buena Vista County Rcdr.
Storm Lake, IA
712.749.2539
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Butler County Recorder
Allison, IA
319.267.2735
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Calhoun County Recorder
Rockwell City, IA
712.297.8121
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Carroll County Recorder
Carroll, IA
712.792.3328
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Cass County Recorder
Atlantic, IA
712.243.1692
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Cedar County Recorder
Tipton, IA
319.886.2230
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Cerro Gordo County Recorder
Mason City, IA
515.421.3056
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Chickasaw County Recorder
New Hampton, IA
515.394.2336
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Clay County Recorder
Spencer, IA
712.262.1081
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Clayton County Recorder
Elkader, IA
319.245.2710
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Clinton County Recorder
Clinton, IA
319.244.0223
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Crawford County Recorder
Dennison, IA
712.263.3643
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Dallas County Recorder
Adel, IA
515.993.5804
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Delaware County Recorder
Manchester, IA
319.927.4665
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Des Moines County Rcdr.
Burlington, IA
319.753.8221
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Dickenson County Recorder
Spirit Lake, IA
712.336.1495
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Dubuque County Recorder
Debuque, IA
319.589.4434
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Emmet County Recorder
Esterville, IA
712.362.4115
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Fayette County Recorder
West Union, IA
319.422.3687
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Floyd County Recorder
Charles City, IA
515.257.6154
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Franklin County Recorder
Hampton, IA
515.456.5675
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Fremont County Recorder
Sidney, IA
712.374.2315
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Greene County Recorder
Jefferson, IA
515.386.3716
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Grundy County Recorder
Grundy Center, IA
319.824.3234
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Guthrie County Recorder
Guthrie Center, IA
515.747.3412
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Hamilton County Recorder
Webster City, IA
515.832.9535
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Hancock County Recorder
Garner, IA
515.923.2464
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Hardin County Recorder
Eldora, IA
515.939.8178
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Harrison County Recorder
Logan, IA
712.644.2545
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Henry County Recorder
Mt. Pleasant, IA
319.385.0765
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Humboldt County Recorder
Dakota City, IA
515.332.3693
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Ida County Recorder
Ida Grove, IA
712.364.2220
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Iowa County Recorder
Marengo, IA
319.642.3622
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Jackson County Recorder
Maquoketa, IA
319.652.2504
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Jasper County Recorder
Newton, IA
515.792.5442
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Jefferson County Recorder
Fairfield, IA
515.472.4331
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Kossuth County Recorder
Algona, IA
515.295.5660
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Lee County Recorder
Fort Madison, IA
319.372.4662
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Lee County Recorder
Keokuk, IA
319.524.1126
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Linn County Recorder
Cedar Rapids, IA
319.398.3441
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Louisa County Recorder
Wapello, IA
319.523.5361
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Lucas County Recorder
Chariton, IA
515.774.2413
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Lyon County Recorder
Rock Rapids, IA
712.472.2381
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Madison County Recorder
Winterset, IA
515.462.3771
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Mahaska County Recorder
Oskaloosa, IA
515.673.8187
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Marion County Recorder
Knoxville, IA
515.828.2211
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Marshall County Recorder
Marshalltown, IA
515.754.6355
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Mills County Recorder
Glenwood, IA
712.527.9315
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Mitchell County Recorder
Osage, IA
515.732.5861
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Monona County Recorder
Onawa, IA
712.423.2575
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Monroe County Recorder
Albia, IA
515.932.5164
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Montgomery County Recorder
Red Oak, IA
712.623.4363
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Muscatine County Recorder
Muscatine, IA
319.263.7741
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Obrien County Recorder
Primghar, IA
712.757.3045
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Osceola County Recorder
Sibley, IA
712.754.3345
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Page County Recorder
Clarinda, IA
712.542.3130
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Palo Alto County Recorder
Emmetsburg, IA
712.852.3701
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Plymouth County Recorder
Le Mars, IA
712.546.4020
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Polk County Recorder
Des Moines, IA
515.286.3160
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Pottawattamie County Rcdr.
Council Bluffs, IA
712.328.5612
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Poweshiek County Recorder
Montezuma, IA
515.623.5434
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Sac County Recorder
Sac City, IA
712.662.7789
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Shelby County Recorder
Harlan, IA
712.755.5640
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Sioux County Recorder
Orange City, IA
712.737.2229
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Story County Recorder
Nevada, IA
515.382.7230
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Tama County Recorder
Toledo, IA
515.484.3320
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Wapello County Recorder
Ottumwa, IA
515.683.0045
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Warren County Recorder
Indianola, IA
515.961.1089
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Washington County Recorder
Washington, IA
319.653.7727
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Webster County Recorder
Fort Dodge, IA
515.576.2401
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Winnebago County Recorder
Forest City, IA
515.582.2094
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Winnesheik County Recorder
Decorah, IA
319.382.3486
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Woodbury County Recorder
Sioux City, IA
712.279.6528
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Worth County Recorder
Northwood, IA
515.324.2734
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Wright County Recorder
Clarion, IA
515.532.3204 |
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