BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE
VITAL RECORDS: (563)589-4434
Certified copies of birth, death and marriages, which occurred in Dubuque County, may be obtained from this office by immediate family members only. Certified copies are $15.00 each. We accept checks or money orders payable to the Dubuque County Recorder.
Single parent births prior to July 1995, all adoption records, and all legal name changes must be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health. (515) 281-4944. See link below.
Vital records are available at the Recorder/Registrar's office for the years 1880 - 1920 and 1942 - current. The Iowa Department of Public Health has the records for 1921-1941. See the left column for more detailed information on available dates for geneaology information.
Requesting a Certified Copy of an Iowa Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate
Marriage Application
You may apply for a Marriage License at any County Recorder in Iowa as long as the ceremony is to be performed in Iowa. Office hours ar 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Marriage Applications are accepted either in person or through the mail at:
Dubuque County Recorder
720 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
To apply for a Marriage License, both parties and one witness (all must be 18 years or older) must complete the application and sign in front of a notary public. The fee of $35.00 includes a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate. There is a three (3) day waiting period before the marriage license may be picked up and the marriage ceremony may be performed.
Once the Certificate of Marriage has been returned to the Recorder's Office and placed on record, a certified copy will be mailed to the couple. Forms are located at the top of this page.
MARRIAGE FORMS:
Requires Acrobat Reader
STATE CERTIFIED COPIES
Certified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates may be obtained from the Iowa Department of Health by telephone, in-person, or through a postal service. Fees are payable by check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Public Health. In-person requests may also be paid in cash. Requests for the purpose of family history take at least 60 days, regardless of the method of request.
TELEPHONE:
For general information or to order a certified copy by telephone using a credit card, call 515-281-4944. An additional $9 fee is charged for the expedited process of credit card usage. The state vital record operator lines are available from 7:00 am to 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays.
IN-PERSON:
Walk-in service is available for in-persons at the Iowa Department of Public Health between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays. The office is located at the address listed below, just inside the main north entrance and to the left of the main lobby. The Lucas Building is the first state office building east of the State Capitol Building, on the south side of Grand Avenue. Written applications must be satisfactorily completed and signed. Applicants must also provide photo identification. Copies may either be picked up after two days or mailed to an entitled person.
POSTAL SERVICE:
Written request and fees may be mailed to the address below. Requests must state the relationship to the person named on the record and the purpose for the copy. Filled requests may take up to 30-45 days, depending on mail service.
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Vital Records
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075