Iowa marriage records can provide a wealth of information to those that need it most. These records can provide a detailed account of the people that lived in the state and were married there. Many states struggled to implement laws that would require the gathering and reporting of vital statistics, including birth and death records, as well as documents of marriage and divorce. Iowa is a bit different. This state does have some of the oldest records in place, which makes it a great place to look for any of your family's very old records.
 

In order to obtain Iowa marriage records, individuals will need to gather some specific information. It can be very helpful to have information such as the name of both parties and the county in which the individuals were married. It can also be helpful to have marriage records that are available to you for those who may be married in advance of the couple to verify things like religious affiliations and places of residence. With as much information as possible, you can then begin your marriage record search and have the best possible luck in finding the information that you require.
 

The state is one of the states that does have older records. Aside from the New England states that have marriage records dating back since the establishment of the colonies, Iowa's records are some of the most complete for the longest period of time. That's because the state was able to implement a vital record requirement from the early start of the state's history. If you are looking for documents from the 1900's, you may be able to find them through the state's records and archives. For documents dating back prior to 1880, though, a county search may be best.
 

For those who need record Iowa marriage records dating back prior to 1880, the best source of this information is local county records, including the county clerk or the town clerk's offices. You may also be able to find marriage records through the religious organizations in the state as well as through other legal marriage facilities, like the town halls. However, even these documents can be hard to find for very old documents since the requirement to begin reporting this information comes much later.
 

For those who need birth, death or marriage records dating from the 1900's, you can try to locate them through the state's archived information at the following address:
 

Iowa Department of Public Health

Vital Records

Lucas State Office Building, 4^th Floor

321 East 12^th St

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
 

This information may or may not produce a true copy of the marriage record. The fee for obtaining this information is about $15. You can request a copy and receive it within a short time if the records are more modern. If the records are older, the process of locating them can take a few weeks. However, for a genealogy search, they can be very valuable to those who are looking for them and plan to use them.
 

• Iowa Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

• Iowa Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

• Iowa Marriage Certificates & Records

• Iowa Marriage License Laws