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Monroe County, Iowa - Vital Records
Vital Records
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. County Recorders file and maintain births and deaths that have occurred in that county and file and maintain marriages licenses that were applied for in that county. The fee at the county level is $20.00 for each certified copy. Entitlement has to be proven before a certified copy can be issued.
Use the chart below to determine whether to apply at the county or state level for a certified copy.
| Record | Location |
|---|---|
| Vital Records: 1880 - 1920 | Monroe County Recorder's Office |
| Vital Records: 1921 - 1941 | Iowa Department of Public Health |
| Vital Records: 1942 - Present | Monroe County Recorder's Office |
| Single-parent births before July 1, 1995 | Iowa Department of Public Health |
| Single-parent births after July 1, 1995 | Monroe County Recorder's Office |
| Legal Name Changes | Iowa Department of Public Health |
| Adoptions | Iowa Department of Public Health |
Marriage Application Information
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 Monroe County between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.
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 ID),
$35.00 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.
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 may be mailed to Party A and Party B or picked up at the Recorder's office. Either Party may use this certified copy for a name change on social security and driver’s license, etc.