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=== County Records of Births and Deaths ===
{{IA-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
| link3=[[Iowa, United States Genealogy|Iowa]]
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| link5=[[Iowa Vital Records|Vital Records]]
}}


A few counties in Iowa began to register vital statistics during the 1870s, but most county records began in 1880, when a state law took effect requiring counties to register births and deaths. This law was generally complied with by 1924. In the 1940s, many people applied for delayed birth certificates in order to be eligible for Social Security benefits.
<div style="width:23%; float:left; margin-right:4em; padding:0px">__TOC__</div>


=== Births ===
== Iowa Vital Records Dates  ==
{| class="wikitable" width="40%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| width="10%" align="center" | '''Government Registration'''
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="center" | '''[[Iowa Vital Records#Birth_Records|Births]]'''
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="center" | '''[[Iowa Vital Records#Marriage_Records|Marriages]]'''
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="center" | '''[[Iowa Vital Records#Death_Records|Deaths]]'''
|-
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="left" | '''County/Town* '''
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
| width="10%" align="center" | County Formation
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
|-
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="left" | '''Statewide Registration '''
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
|-
| width="10%" bgcolor="#b6ebfb" align="left" | '''General Compliance'''<ref>[https://history.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/history-research-collections-vitalrecords-reference-18.pdf State Historical Society of Iowa] accessed June 2024</ref>
| width="10%" align="center" | 1921
| width="10%" align="center" | 1880
| width="10%" align="center" | 1921
|-
| colspan="4" |*See [http://iagenweb.org/state/research/bmdguide.htm Iowa GenWeb] for county start dates
|}
<div style="clear:left"></div>


Birth records contain much information for family historians. Because births are recorded near the time of the event, they are considered a primary source. In birth records, you generally find the date and place of birth; name and sex of the child; name, residence, race, age, birthplace, and occupation of the father and mother; the mother’s maiden name; number of children born to the mother; number of living children; and physician’s certificate.
== Online Resources ==
=== Birth ===
*'''1800-1999''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2547 Iowa Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1999] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1830-1950''' {{RecordSearch|1674820|Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1837-1987''' {{RecordSearch|2366597|Iowa Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1837-1987}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1850-1939''' {{RecordSearch|2527591|Iowa Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Delayed Birth Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1856-1944''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61441 Iowa Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1944] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1857-1947''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2547 Iowa Births and Christenings Index, 1857-1947] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1880-1935''' {{RecordSearch|1821206|Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935}} at FamilySearch - [[Iowa, County Births - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, some images
*'''1888-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20191/iowa-births?s=275764761&trp=&trn=organic_google&trl= Iowa, Births] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1921-1942''' {{RecordSearch|2849548|Iowa Birth Records, 1921-1942}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Birth Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images


=== Deaths ===
=== Marriage ===
*'''1600s-1900s''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=iowa US Marriages - Iowa, 1600's to 1900's] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
*'''1758-1996''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60284 Iowa Select Marriages Index] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1809-1992''' {{RecordSearch|1674842|Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''Also at: [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30192/iowa-marriages-1809-1992?s=218489221 MyHeritage]($), [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60284 Ancestry]($) ''
*'''1835-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2088 Iowa Compiled Marriages, 1835-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1836-1926''' [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10206/iowa-marriages-1836-1926?s=218489221 Iowa Marriages, 1836-1926] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1838-1934''' {{RecordSearch|1805551|Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1844-1900''' {{FSC|409048|item|disp=Iowa Marriages, ca. 1844-1900}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images<ref>Iowa. State Department of History and Archives. ''Iowa Marriages, ca. 1844–1900.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|409048|title-id|disp=film 1023609 items 11–21}}.)  Images are browsable. Starting image numbers for each county:
**Buena Vista #698 of 1437 images
**Chickasaw #717
**Des Moines #781
**Floyd #967
**Fremont #1029
**Greene #1103
**Mills #1160
**Osceola #1258
**Plymouth #1302
**Pottawattamie #1332
**Story #1386
</ref>
*'''1851-1900''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4460 Iowa Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1880-1947''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8823 Iowa Marriage Records, 1880-1947] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1941-1951''' {{RecordSearch|4127799|Iowa Marriage Records, 1941-1951}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Marriage Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*See [[Iowa_Divorce_Records|Iowa Divorce Records]]


Death records are also a valuable source. Often, they give: date, place, and cause of death, name, residence, sex, race, marital status, age, occupation and birth place of the deceased, date and place of burial, name and birth place of father, and maiden name and birth place of mother.
=== Death ===
*'''1845-1987''' {{RecordSearch|2366613|Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths, 1845-1987}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1850-1990''' {{RecordSearch|1674841|Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''Also at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60283 Ancestry]($), [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30191/iowa-deaths-burials-1850-1990?s=218489221 MyHeritage]($)''
*'''1880-1972''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61442/ Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1972] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1880-1992'''{{RecordSearch|2110820|Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, County Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
*'''1888-1904''' {{RecordSearch|5000144|Iowa, Death Records, 1888-1904}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1900-1939''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10186/iowa-death-index-1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939] at MyHeritage — index ($)
*'''1904-1951''' {{RecordSearch|2531337|Iowa Death Records, 1904-1951}} at FamilySearch — [[Iowa, Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images


These birth and death records are maintained by the clerk of the district court of the respective county. The Family History Library has some county birth and death records on microfilm to the early 1940s.
===Divorce===
*See [[Iowa Divorce Records|Iowa Divorce Records]] for more resources.


=== State Records of Births and Deaths ===
== Get Copies ==
'''Iowa Department of Public Health and Human Services''' (IA HHS)<br>Vital Records Bureau<br>Lucas State Office Building<br>321 East 12th Street<br>Des Moines, IA 50319-0075<br>Telephone: 515-281-4944<br>Fax: 515-281-4529 <br> [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records Website]


The state has copies of birth records beginning in July 1880 and copies of death records beginning in January 1891. Copies are available to immediate family members only. You will need to state your relationship to the individual whose record you want and the reason you want the information. To request copies or information about fees and restrictions, contact:
:*Has copies of birth records from July 1880, death records from January 1891, and marriage records from July 1880.
:*Entitled persons (for certified copies) are: the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian<ref>Iowa Department of Public Health and Human Services. [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records Vital Records] - Certified copies are issued only to the person, spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian.</ref>.
:* [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records/how-request-certified-record How to Request a Certified Record], which includes more recent records than those online (above)


'''Iowa Department of Public Health'''<br />Vital Records Bureau<br />Lucas State Office Building<br />321 East 12th Street<br />Des Moines, IA 50319-0075<br />Telephone: 515-281-4944<br />Fax: 515-281-4529<br />Internet: [http://www.iowapublichealth.org/IphiRecordDetails.aspx?Browse=1&RecordId=11511 http://www.iowapublichealth.org/IphiRecordDetails.aspx?Browse=1&amp;RecordId=11511]
'''State Historical Society of Iowa''' (HS of IA) <br>3rd Floor <br>West 600 E. Locust St.<br>
Des Moines, IA 50319<br>
Telephone: (515) 281-5111<br>[https://history.iowa.gov/history/research/collections/vital-records Website]<br>
:* Has available birth, death and marriage records from across the state.
:*[https://history.iowa.gov/history/form/referencerequest Request form] to obtain uncertified records from HS of IA


The current fees for this service are listed at [http://www.vitalrec.com www.vitalrec.com]
'''County Records:''' Local registrars are located in [https://cdphe.colorado.gov/contact-vital-records county recorders offices] maintain records of birth, death and marriages that have occurred in that county.
*Certified copies require close relationship.
*To obtain copies of the original marriage records, contact the clerk of the district court in the county where the license was issued.
<br>
County registrars do not have the following records in their physical custody<ref>Iowa Department of Public Health and Human Services. [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records Vital Records] (accessed April 2024)</ref>
*Single-parent births prior to July 1, 1995
*Adoptions
*Birth records after a legal change of name through Iowa Code chapter 674
*Delayed records filed one year or more after the event
*Any record ordered seal by a court of law
*Birth, death, and marriage records between the years 1921 to 1941


=== Coroner's Records ===
== Coverage and Compliance ==


Coroners investigated deaths that were not attended by a physician and determined the cause of the death. The coroner of each county kept records of his findings. Some of these records began as early as 1855. The County Coroner’s Office was established by the Iowa State Constitution. The coroner’s records may provide the name of the deceased person, his or her age, the cause of death, the parents’ names, and circumstances of the death. Some of these records are available at the Family History Library. One example is:
'''Births and Deaths''': Most counties began in 1880, as required by a state law. This law was generally complied with by 1924.


Clayton County (Iowa). Coroner. ''Coroner's Reports, 1855–1959''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990. (On five FHL films beginning with 1671795)
'''Marriages''': Most counties began keeping marriage records once they were organized. Compliance was high from the outset, although the couple may have married in a neighboring county or may have eloped.


== Marriage ==
'''Note:''' The Iowa State Board of Health was established on July 1, 1880. During the first meeting, they created an Iowa Vital Records system of birth, death, and marriage record keeping. At the same time, registration responsibilities were not well defined, resulting in poor record keeping in some areas of the state.<ref>Iowa Department of Public Health and Human Services. [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records Vital Records] Slide down to ''General Information''</ref>


Iowa county marriage records have been kept since about 1835. These marriage records may provide names, ages, races, residences, occupations, birthplaces, maiden name of wife, marriage date and place, parents’ names, and the name of person who performed the marriage. Some certificates give the number of times the groom has been married.
== Information in the Records ==


You may obtain copies of the original records by contacting the clerk of the district court in the county where the license was issued. Many marriage records have been transcribed and published by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and other organizations. See the Bible Records section of this outline for information on the DAR collection.
=== Birth Records ===
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
|-
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Iowa Birth Records May Include*'''
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Child'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Birth Date/Place'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Sex/Race'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Birthplace'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''# of Children Born/Living'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Residence/Occupation'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Midwife/Doctor'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| colspan = "2" | * Early records may have less<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;information
|}


The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage records from many counties, such as:
A few counties in Iowa began to register births and deaths during the 1870s, but most began in 1880, as required by a state law. Laws and forms over the years changed the information collected.<ref>State Historical Society of Iowa. [https://history.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/history-research-collections-vitalrecords-reference-18.pdf Researching Iowa Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records] .pdf.</ref>


Scott County (Iowa). Clerk of the District Court. ''Marriage Records, 1830–1956; Index, 1838–1860''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976, 1986, 1992. (On 57 FHL films beginning with 104414.)
For more information, see [[United States Birth Records|United States Birth Records]]
<br><br>
'''Delayed Birth Records'''<br>
In the 1940s, many adults applied for delayed birth certificates in order to be eligible for [[United_States_Social_Security_Administration_Records|Social Security]] benefits.
<br>
''See also:''
*[[GuidedResearch:Iowa|Iowa Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Iowa Birth Records|How to Find Iowa Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find Birth Information in the United States|How to Find Birth Information in the United States]]
*[[United States, How to Use Birth Records|United States How to Use Birth Records]]


Two partial indexes list early records of marriages in 39 Iowa counties. These indexes are:
<div style="clear:both"></div>


''Iowa Marriages, Early to 1850: A Research Tool''. Orem, Utah: Liahona Research, Inc., 1990. (FHL book 977.7 V22i.)
=== Marriage Records ===
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
|-
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="50" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Iowa Marriage Records May Include:*'''
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Names of Bride/Groom**'''  
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Date/Place of Marriage'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Presiding Official'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''# of Times Married'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Dates/Places of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Residences/Race'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" | x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| colspan = "2" |* Early records may have<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;less information<br>** May be previous married name<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;of bride
|-
|}
Iowa county marriage records have been kept since about 1835.  


''Marriage Records Early-1850''. Orem, Utah. Automated Archives, 1992. (FHL compact disc no. 9, pt. 227.) This disc also contains marriages in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and Texas.
There was no waiting period between the time of issuing a license and the performance of the marriage.
<br><br>
'''Gretna Greens'''<br>
Couples from Iowa wishing to elope often went to Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. It is located on the Mississippi River, making it easily accessible to those using the river as transportation.  
*[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Additional Gretna Green locations]]
<br>
''See also:''
*[[GuidedResearch:Iowa|Iowa Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Iowa Marriage Records|How to Find Iowa Marriage Records]]
*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]
*[[United States, How to Use Marriage Records|United States How to Use Marriage Records]]
*[[Iowa_Divorce_Records|Iowa Divorce Records]]''


The following book indexes marriages in 24 counties:
<div style="clear:both"></div>


Fretwell, Shela S. ''Iowa Marriages Before Statehood, 1835–1846''. Waterloo, Iowa: n.p., 1985. (FHL book 977.7 V2f.)
=== Death Records ===
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
|-
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="50" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Iowa Death Records May Include:*'''
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Decedent'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Date/Place of Death'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Sex/Race'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Occupation'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Age/Date of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''State/Country of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Length of Residence'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Spouse'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Birth Places of Parents'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Physician'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Cause of Death'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Informant'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Cemetery'''  
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| colspan = "2" | * Early records may have less<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;information
|}
A few counties in Iowa began to register deaths during the 1870s, but most began in 1880, as required by a state law.
<br><br>
For more information, see [[United States Death Records|United States Death Records]]
<br><br>
''See also:''
*[[GuidedResearch:Iowa|Iowa Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Iowa Death Records|How to Find Iowa Death Records]]
*[[United States, How to Find Death Records|United States How to Find Death]] records
*[[United States, How to Use Death Records|United States How to Use Death Records]]
<br>
'''Cause of Death'''
*[[Historical Causes of Death|Causes of Death]] - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate


Records of 11 counties are given in the following collection:
<div style="clear:both"></div>


Iowa. State Department of History and Archives. ''Iowa Marriages, ca. 1844–1900.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978. (FHL film 1023609 items 11–21.) Contains marriage abstracts and newspaper marriage notices for Buena Vista, Chickasaw, Des Moines, Floyd, Freemont, Greene, Mills, Osceola, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, and Story Counties.
== Additional Information ==
''See also:<br>
*[[Iowa Guided Research|Iowa Guided Research]]
*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]
*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]
*''Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Iowa''. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Historical Records Survey, 1941. {{FSC|171080|disp=FS Catalog book 977.7 V2h; film 908988}}; {{WorldCat|4009345|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; '''''Online at:''''' {{FSDB|40057}} — Tells the history and availability of vital records in Iowa up to 1941.
*[http://iagenweb.org/state/research/bmdguide.htm Iowa] at USGenWeb.org - vital records resources and information


The Iowa Department of Public Health (address earlier in this section) has copies of marriage records from July 1880. They have an index to records after 1916.
==Strategy==
'''Tips for Using Vital Records'''<br>
*Certificate or record is not found:
#Couples often married in the county where bride lived or they may have eloped
#Search the towns and cities where the event took place. Also search surrounding counties to locate the document.
#The record may not exist because of record loss at the the county courthouse. See [[Iowa Vital Records#Burned, Lost, or Missing Records|Burned, Lost, or Missing Records]].
#The event may not have been recorded by the government at that time. [[Iowa Vital Records#Substitute Records|Substitute Records]].
*Examine the record to determine accuracy:
#Person providing information may not remember events accurately
#Informant may not have been present at the time of the event
#Informant may give false information to hide age, race, religion, or illegitimacy
#Grieving relatives may not have remembered correctly
*Review the informant on the document:
#Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record
#See if records about the informant may have clues about the family
#Verify vital information with other sources <br>
<br>
''See also:''<br>
* [[Iowa Research Tips and Strategies]]
* [[United States Basic Search Strategies]]
* [[United States Research Tips and Strategies]]


=== Divorce Records ===
===Burned, Lost, or Missing Records===
The following counties had record loss.  Click on the county for more information.<br>
{| style="width:70%; vertical-align:top;"
|-
|style="width:16%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Adair County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Adair]]
*[[Adams County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Adams]]
*[[Benton County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Benton]]
*[[Buena Vista County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Buena Vista]]
*[[Calhoun County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Calhoun]]
*[[Carroll County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Carroll]]
*[[Cass County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Cass]]
|style="width:16%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Chickasaw County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Chickasaw]]
*[[Decatur County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Decatur]]
*[[Des Moines County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Des Moines]]
*[[Dickinson County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Dickinson]]
*[[Fayette County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Fayette]]
*[[Floyd County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Floyd]]
*[[Fremont County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Fremont]]
|style="width:16%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Guthrie County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Guthrie]]
*[[Hardin County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Hardin]]
*[[Harrison County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Harrison]]
*[[Howard County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Howard]]
*[[Ida County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Ida]]
*[[Jones County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Jones]]
*[[Lee County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Lee]]
|style="width:16%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Madison County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Madison]]
*[[Muscatine County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Muscatine]]
*[[Page County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Page]]
*[[Ringgold County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Ringgold]]
*[[Sac County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Sac]]
*[[Story County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Story]]
*[[Union County, Iowa Genealogy#Record Loss|Union]]
|}


For divorce records, see the "[[Iowa Divorce Records|Divorce Records]]" section in this outline.
''See also:''
*[[Burned Counties Research|Burned Counties Research]] for strategies to find ancestors in spite of record loss.


'''Inventory of Vital Records'''
===Substitute Records===
For other records that may give birth, marriage, or death information see:
*[[Iowa_Substitute Records|Iowa Substitute Records]]
*[[Substitute_Records_For_United_States_Birth_Information|Substitute Records for United States Birth]]
*[[Substitute_Records_for_United_States_Marriage_Information|Substitute Records for United States Marriage]]
*[[Substitute_Records_For_United_States_Death_Information|Substitute Records for United States Death]]


For more information about the history and availability of vital records in Iowa up to 1941, see:
== References  ==


''Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Iowa''. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Historical Records Survey, 1941. (FHL book 977.7 V2h; film 908988.)
{{reflist}}


Birth, marriage, death, and coroner’s records and indexes for most Iowa counties are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
[[Category:Iowa_Vital_Records]] [[Category:United_States_Vital_Records]][[Category:Iowa, United States]]
 
IOWA - VITAL RECORDS
 
IOWA, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS
 
IOWA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - VITAL RECORDS
 
'''Websites:'''
 
http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/deathrecords.html  Scroll to Iowa
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