Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates

Certified copies of birth, death and marriage can be obtained from this office once entitlement has been proven. 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. Legal guardians, legal representatives, and siblings must also provide additional proof of entitlement. 

Certified copies are $15 each. The Marshall County Recorder’s Office accepts cash, check and money orders. Debit/Credit payments are acceptable in office only with an additional service fee applied.

Our records are open for public inspection during our normal working hours.  A plain, uncertified copy is stamped "Not for Legal Purposes".  The cost is $5.00 per copy.

A certified copy may be requested by mail or in person only.

When mailing an application, the applicant must sign in front of a Notary Public, include a $15 payment made payable to Marshall County Recorder and a clear photocopy of the applicant’s current government-issued photo identification. Applications for Vital Records should be submitted to the Marshall County Recorder’s Office at

Marshall County Recorder
1 East Main St
Marshalltown, IA 50158

Download an Application for an Iowa Vital Record

Birth

Certified copies of births from 1986 forward are available regardless of county of birth. Certified copies of births from 1880 to 1985 can only be obtained from the county where the birth occurred or at the state level through the Iowa Department of Public Health. 

Records we do not have:

• Single parent births prior to 1986
• Adoptions prior to 1986
• Records ordered sealed by the court of law
• Vital records between the years 1921 to 1941

For the records we do not have, you may contact the Iowa Department of Vital Records

Death

Certified copies of deaths from 1954 forward are available regardless of county of death. Certified copies of deaths from 1953 or before can only be obtained from the county where the death occurred or at the state level through the Iowa Department of Public Health. 

Marriage

Certified copies of marriages from 1954 forward are available regardless of county of marriage. Certified copies of marriages from 1953 or before can only be obtained from the county where the marriage occurred or at the state level through the Iowa Department of Public Health. 

The following is required when applying for a certified copy of an Iowa vital record: 

1) Completed application that is legible and clearly identifies the event record and establishes entitlement to the record requested. 

2) Applicant’s current government issued photo identification (copy if sent by mail). 

3) Payment in the amount of $15 for EACH certified copy requested. Fees payable in U.S. funds by check or money order. Cash accepted in person ONLY. 

4) SIGNATURE MUST BE NOTARIZED ON THE APPLICATION WHEN SUBMITTING VIA MAIL.

WAYS TO ORDER FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Telephone: Customers may call VitalChek toll-free at 1-866-809-0290 from 6:00 am CST through 7:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday, except for holidays. An additional processing fee will apply. Customers may call the bureau directly at 515-281-4944 to speak to state staff. 

Website: Visit www.vitalcheck.com to order online

In-person: Applications may be made in-person at the Bureau of Health Statistics, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays. All application requirements noted above will apply. Visit https://idph.iowa.gov/health-statistics for a full list of records held at county recorder offices. 

Postal service: Written requests and fees may be mailed to the address below. All application requirements noted above will apply. 

Genealogy requests may take up to 60 business days for processing, regardless of the method of application, and will be mailed to applicants. 

Commemorative Certificates – Information regarding commemorative certificates is available at idph.iowa.gov/health-statistics. 

Iowa Department of Public Health 
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building 
1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075