How to get an Iowa death certificate
In Iowa, order a certified death certificate from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics.1 County recorders are local registrars.1 Each certified copy costs $202. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day3.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek (option 1) | $203, plus VitalChek fee starting at $143 | 5 to 10 business days on average3 | – |
| Online through VitalChek (option 2) | $203, plus VitalChek fee starting at $143 | – | – |
| By mail | $203 | 4 to 6 weeks on average3 | Check and money order3 |
| In person | $203 | Same day3 | Check, money order and card1 |
| At a local office | $202 | – | – |
| By phone | $203, plus VitalChek fee starting at $93 | – | – |
Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.4
Online through VitalChek (option 1)
Online through VitalChek (option 2)
Good to know
- Requires an Iowa address3
By mail
- Fees
- Per copy $203
- Processing time
- 4 to 6 weeks on average3
- Payment
- Check and money order3
- Make payable to
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services3
- Mail to
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-00753
Good to know
- Application must be notarized3
In person
- Fees
- Per copy $203
- Processing time
- Same day3
- Payment
- Check, money order and card1
- Make payable to
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services1
- Office
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-00753
- Hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state-observed holidays3
At a local office
Good to know
- Limited county holdings1
By phone
- Run by
- VitalChek3
- Vendor status
- The state's only authorized vendor3
- Hours
- 6:00 a.m. CST through 7:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, except holidays3
Good to know
- State office phone is for speaking to staff4
What an Iowa death certificate costs
- First certified copy
- $202
- Each additional copy, same order
- $204
- If no record is found
- The fee is kept as a search fee2
- Fees in effect since
- July 1, 20262
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of a death certificate1 | Treated as the original for all purposes, subject to the rule for amended or late records5 | $202 |
| Notification of record search (no-record letter)2 | – | $201 |
| Certified copy for genealogy, marked for genealogical purposes only2 | – | $206 |
No-fee copies
- Service member who died on active duty: certified birth or death copy fee waived for one year from date of death2
How long it takes
These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.
| How you order | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek (option 1) | 5 to 10 business days on average3 |
| By mail | 4 to 6 weeks on average3 |
| In person | Same day3 |
Who can order an Iowa death certificate
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- The person named on the record:
The registrant, if the registrant is of legal age, has reached the age of majority, or is an emancipated minor.
2 - Spouse2
- Child2
- A parent named on the record2
- Brother or sister2
- Grandparent2
- Grandchild:
Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person's spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian.
1 - Step-parent or step-child if2
- Attorney or legal representative2
- Legal guardian2
- Executor or estate administrator2
- Funeral director2
Other persons who demonstrate a direct tangible interest and entitlement when it is shown that the certified copy is needed to determine or protect a personal or property interest and the interest is for the benefit of the registrant.
2
Who cannot order a certified copy
- Anyone:
Vital records maintained at the state level are closed to inspection and are not open to public inspection.
1
Other kinds of copies
- Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher:
The state registrar or county registrar may issue certified copies of a vital record for genealogy or family history to an applicant who can satisfactorily demonstrate a line of direct lineal consanguinity and to aunts, uncles, and cousins not past twice removed.
2
- Records open to the public after
- 50 years5
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required1
- Accepted ID
- Driver's License
- State Photo ID
- Work Photo ID
- School Photo ID (current school year only)
- Military ID
- Passport or Visa (Foreign or US)
- Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
- Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766)7
- Without that ID
- Copies of two to three documents identifying the person, with matching names and current addresses7
- Notarization
- Required on mail applications; in person the application is signed in front of vital records staff4
- ID copy with a mail order
- Include a copy of your ID3
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.4
- Event type
- Name as it appears on the record
- Date of event
- Place of event (city and/or county)
- Parents' full names
- Legal actions to the birth record
- Purpose for copy
- Applicant state and date of birth
- Relationship to person named on the record
- Name and address of recipient
- Number of copies
Forms
- Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record (470-5451) revision 07/264
- Identity Documents for Entitlement / Notarization revision March 20257
- Genealogy and Family History Entitlement Chart revision 04/20258
Years held and older records
- Years the issuing office holds
- July 1, 1880 to today3
- Older records
- State Historical Society of Iowa holds county and state historical records9
Special situations
- If no record is found
- A no-record letter is issued and the fee is kept1
- Military and veterans
- Copy fee waived for one year for a service member who died on active duty2
- Fetal death
- Form 470-5451 also covers fetal death records4
Warnings from the office
- Do not pay a third party for the free form4
The state office
- Office
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics1
- Phone
- 515-281-49441
- Mailing address
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-00753
- Walk-in address
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-00753
- Hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state-observed holidays3
- Website
- Official website1
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get an Iowa death certificate?
Online through VitalChek: 5 to 10 business days on average. By mail: 4 to 6 weeks on average. In person: same day.3
Can I order an Iowa death certificate online?
Yes. Online through VitalChek. Online through VitalChek.3
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.3
What ID do I need?
The state accepts: Driver's License; State Photo ID; Work Photo ID; School Photo ID (current school year only); Military ID; Passport or Visa (Foreign or US); and the other documents listed above.7
Where are older Iowa death certificates kept?
State Historical Society of Iowa holds county and state historical records.9
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Vital Recordshhs.iowa.gov/family-community/vital-recordsIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
- Iowa Admin. Code 641 Ch. 95 Vital Records: General Administration (IAC 6/10/26)Iowa Legislaturedated July 1, 2026
- How to Request a Certified RecordIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
- Form 470-5451 Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record (07/26)Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
- Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 144 Vital StatisticsIowa Legislaturedated December 9, 2025
- Genealogy Search Guidelines & RequirementsIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
- Identity Documents for Entitlement / NotarizationIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated March 1, 2025
- Genealogy and Family History Entitlement ChartIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated April 1, 2025
- Vital Recordshistory.iowa.gov/vital-recordsState Historical Society of Iowa