Iowa editionIn your inbox within a minute30-day money-back promise
The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationIowa

Death certificates in Iowa

What a certified copy of the death certificate costs in Iowa and how one is ordered, in the official words. No figure on this page is ours; each is the office’s or the statute’s, with the date it was checked.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

The free first-week checklist

Pages taken from the planner, by email: who to phone first, and a blank records sheet.

We use your email address to send the checklist and those emails, and for nothing else. We do not sell it. We first send one email asking you to confirm your address. Privacy notice

Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Filing the death certificate: how soon, and before final disposition

A death certificate for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed as directed by the state registrar within three days after the death and prior to final disposition, and shall be registered by the county registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this chapter.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §144.26(1)(a)

Who files the death certificate, and who does when there is no funeral director

The funeral director who first assumes custody of a dead body shall file the death certificate, obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available and obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person responsible for completing the certification.

When a person other than a funeral director assumes custody of a dead body, the person shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this section.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §144.27(1)

What a certified copy costs, what is kept if no record is found, and the extra fee online

Each copy of a certified record costs $20.00.

If the record is not located, the applicant shall receive a notification of the record search. The $20.00 fee will be retained for the search.

There is an additional fee to order online using VitalChek; fees start at $14.00 per order.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS Vital Records

Who is entitled to a certified copy, the notarized signature by mail, and a record closed to the public

Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, parents listed on record, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. Proof of entitlement must be provided.

Signature must be notarized on the application when submitting via mail.

The state vital record system is closed to public inspection.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS form 470-5451 (07/26)

Where to order: county recorders, the state office, and the one authorized online vendor

County Recorders can issue certified copies of all deaths that occurred in 1954 to present.

In-person requests are accepted at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays.

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

VitalChek is the only third-party vendor authorized by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to accept orders for Iowa Vital Records.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS Vital Records

The same page for other states

A family on a boat dock in Florida: a grandfather fishing, a girl pointing at a heron
A family roasting marshmallows round a backyard fire pit at night
Three generations peeling potatoes at a kitchen table while snow falls outside
FAQ

Common questions

Each copy of a certified record costs $20.00.

If the record is not located, the applicant shall receive a notification of the record search. The $20.00 fee will be retained for the search.

There is an additional fee to order online using VitalChek; fees start at $14.00 per order.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS Vital Records

Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, parents listed on record, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. Proof of entitlement must be provided.

Signature must be notarized on the application when submitting via mail.

The state vital record system is closed to public inspection.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS form 470-5451 (07/26)

County Recorders can issue certified copies of all deaths that occurred in 1954 to present.

In-person requests are accepted at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays.

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

VitalChek is the only third-party vendor authorized by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to accept orders for Iowa Vital Records.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS Vital Records

Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, parents listed on record, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. Proof of entitlement must be provided.

Signature must be notarized on the application when submitting via mail.

The state vital record system is closed to public inspection.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS form 470-5451 (07/26)

Each copy of a certified record costs $20.00.

If the record is not located, the applicant shall receive a notification of the record search. The $20.00 fee will be retained for the search.

There is an additional fee to order online using VitalChek; fees start at $14.00 per order.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa HHS Vital Records

A death certificate for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed as directed by the state registrar within three days after the death and prior to final disposition, and shall be registered by the county registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this chapter.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §144.26(1)(a)

The funeral director who first assumes custody of a dead body shall file the death certificate, obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available and obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person responsible for completing the certification.

When a person other than a funeral director assumes custody of a dead body, the person shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this section.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §144.27(1)

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

A couple. A parent. An adult child and a parent, doing it together. One sitting starts it; keep it current, and tell someone where it is.

A man on the telephone with the planner's pages open on the table