Iowa Death Records Search

Birth and deaths records are considered as primary source of genealogy information. The process of death record in the Iowa States begun after 1880, the official prescribed fee by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Records for the death certificate (One copy) is $ 15, if additional copy required $ 15 is the fee for each copy. The fee has been enhanced from $10 to $15 (applicable from Jan 1 2005).

However, due to the rapid technology in online banking sector, major credit cards include American Express, Discover, Master card, and Visa is also accepted with an additional cost of $5.50 processing fee. A check or money order may be issued to order the death certificate along with all other codal formalities of the application.

death records prior to 1904 does not show parent’s name of the deceased. The request must be included full legal name of the deceased, date of death, county of death, gender, race,  name of spouse, name of parent, signature of the applicant,  relationship of the applicant with the deceased and purpose along with a government issued photo identity for obtaining death record.

To obtain a death certificate, the applicant must be an authorized person for having the record such as legal parents, grand parent, spouse, brother, sister, child legal guardian or legal representative. The applicant must be 18 years or older.

There are two ways to process the application By Mail and by Online, and it may take up 3 weeks to complete the process of the application.

Iowa Department of Public Health
Vital Records Bureau
Lucas State Office Bldg, 4th Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075