How to Fill out an Iowa Marriage License with Examples & FAQs

Asked to officiate an Iowa wedding? Getting married in Iowa? Whether you're a new wedding officiant or soon-to-be newlyweds, here’s everything you need to know about the marriage license process, including cost, waiting period, and – most importantly – how to fill out an Iowa marriage license correctly the first time!

 

Wedding bells are ringing, so let’s take a look! 

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1. How to Fill out an Iowa Marriage License (for the Officiant)

 

In Iowa, wedding officiants must sign and complete the couple’s Certificate of Marriage after the wedding – then return it within 15 days to the same County Registrar’s office where it was originally issued. 

 

 

Iowa wedding officiant responsibilities: 

 

Before the wedding ceremony: 

 

• Confirm the couple has their License to Marry and Certificate of Marriage form with them at the ceremony.
• Confirm these documents are valid: confirm the couple’s names, the three day waiting period has passed, and the license has not expired.

 

Immediately after the wedding ceremony: 

 

• Use black ink to fill in the Certificate of Marriage, making sure that all fields are completed.
• Obtain the required signatures from the couple and two adult witnesses who were present at the wedding. 
• Couples should sign their first and last name in black ink as they appear on the application for license to marry – if they indicated a name change / new surname on the application, they will sign the certificate using their new surname.

 

Within 15 days after the marriage ceremony: 

 

• Return the completed Certificate of Marriage to the same County Registrar’s office where it was issued. This is the county office where the couple applied for their license, and might not be in the same county where the wedding took place.
• A completed Certificate of Marriage can be returned by mail or in person to the County Registrar.

If this is your first time performing a wedding in Iowa, this might feel like an intimidating set of responsibilities, but we’re here to help and we know you’ll do a great job! To help you sign the official documents with confidence, we’ll cover each part in detail below. 

 

 

Signing the Marriage License: Tips From the Iowa Department of Public Health & Other County Resources:

 

• Use black ink or dark ink only; print legibly (no cursive writing except for signatures)
• Do not cross-out or white-out any mistakes on the official document; this will invalidate the document. If you make a mistake, contact the registrar or recorder's office to ask about next steps to correct your error. 
• Certify the marriage by signing your name in the space marked – this field might be marked “Officiant Signature” or “17a.” depending on where the license was issued. 
• Couples should use their new names to sign the certificate, exactly as entered on the application for a License to Marry, as they will be known after the wedding.
• Couples will sign in the spaces marked – these fields might be marked “Party A Signature” and “Party B Signature”, or “13a” and “14a,” depending on where the license was issued. 
• Obtain signatures from two adult witnesses, but make sure they sign only on the fields indicated (or you’ll have to start over with a new form) – these fields might be marked “Witness A Signature” and “Witness B Signature,” or “15a” and “16a,” depending on where the license was issued. 
• Witnesses must be present at the wedding ceremony to sign the Certificate of Marriage form.
• Ask the couple to complete the Address Update statement if needed, so that they can receive copies of their marriage records. 
• If the form asks for the Officiant’s Address, use your personal home address. 
• If the form asks for the Officiant’s Title, write “Minister” if you are ordained with American Marriage Ministries.

 

• Learn more: How To Fill Out A Marriage License As An Officiant

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2. Iowa Marriage License Form Review Checklist (Certificate of Marriage Form)

 

Most Iowa County Registrar offices provide detailed instructions on how to complete the license when they issue the couple their License to Marry. Follow these instructions carefully, and reach out to the registrar with any specific questions you have. 

 

In the meantime, here are details about the certificate of marriage form (from the brochure "What Officiants Need to Know to Solemnize a Marriage Ceremony in Iowa," provided by Iowa HHS and the Story County Registrar – as well as a helpful review checklist for officiants and couples.

 

• Fields 1-12: These are completed by the Country Registrar. Do not alter these fields.
• Fields 13a and 14a (unless otherwise marked): The couple’s signatures go here; complete in order as Party A and Party B using full names as they will be known after marriage (new surnames, etc.). 
• Fields 13b and 14b (unless otherwise marked): The couple print their full names in these spaces, using their names as they will be known after marriage; make sure each party writes legibly, no cursive lettering, in order as Party A and Party B. 
• Fields 13c and 14c (unless otherwise marked): Each party to the marriage writes the date they signed the certificate in these spaces, in order as Party A and Party B.
• Fields 15a and 16a (unless otherwise marked): The two required witness signatures go here. 
• Field 17a (unless otherwise marked): The officiant signature goes here. 
• Complete all other fields as marked, remembering to print legibly (no cursive) and use black ink. You may also be asked for the date and location of the marriage ceremony, your home address, and officiant title, along with other important details. 

 

Above: Confirm that this important information is filled out correctly before submitting the Certificate of Marriage. See the original Iowa HHS version of this form here. 

 

3. What to Do if You Make a Mistake on an Iowa Marriage License?

 

If you make a mistake while filling out the marriage license – such as a misspelled name or incorrect date – the couple may need to purchase a replacement license to fill in with the accurate information. Contact the issuing office directly to ask about next steps. 

 

Do not cross-out answers or use white-out, correctional fluid or tape on the certificate of marriage, as this will invalidate the form.

 

According to Iowa Health & Human Services (HHS), reasons a completed certificate of marriage must be rejected include: 

 

“The original Certificate of Marriage must be rejected and resigned if: 
a. There are any cross-outs in the signatures of the parties to marry, witness, or officiant
b. There is more than one single line cross-out in any other fields
c. If there is white out on the document
d. Stains (coffee, beverage, other)”

 

How to amend a Certificate of Marriage in Iowa

 

To correct a minor error on your marriage certificate in Iowa, start by contacting the County Registrar’s office in the county where you submitted your application for a License to Marry. Depending on how much time has passed since your marriage date, you may need to complete an Amendment to Certificate of Marriage form, provide documentation to support the correction, and pay a small fee. If the change is made within a year of your wedding, there is usually no cost to amend your marriage record. (IAC § 641.99.4 ; § 641.99.6 ; § 641.99.11)

 

4. Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Iowa? 

 

You’ll be happy to know that you can officiate a wedding in Iowa with minister ordination through American Marriage Ministries (AMM)! Ministers who are ordained online through a reputable and recognized church, including AMM, can perform weddings in Iowa and sign the marriage certificate. Ordination with AMM is free and never expires.

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How long to become an officiant for a wedding in Iowa? 

 

Iowa does not require ministers to register with a local office before performing weddings. This means that once you’ve been ordained by a reputable online church like AMM, you can perform a marriage ceremony right away. Visit AMM’s Officiant Training pages for help preparing for the ceremony. 

 

• Learn more: See a list of all people who can officiate weddings in Iowa, including judges, clerks, and other authorized officiants: § 595.10 Who May Solemnize

 

5. How to Get a Marriage License in Iowa

 

All couples must apply for a “License to Marry in Iowa” to get married in Iowa; and marriage licenses are issued by any County Registrar or County Recorder Office. To get your marriage license, follow these steps: 

 

• Complete & submit an Application for a License to Marry form: This can be done by mail, or by visiting the Country Registrar / Recorder in person. If you complete the form my mail, it must be notarized. You can apply for your license in any county, regardless of where your wedding venue is located.
• Click here to see a sample Application for a License to Marry in Iowa from Cedar County, IA. 
• The helpful video below shows you how to fill out an Iowa marriage license application, provided by the folks in Scott County, IA. 

 

 

• You must have a witness sign your marriage license application in Iowa: more specifically, they will sign the "Affidavit of Competent and Disinterested Person" that accompanies your application to marry: Iowa requires a third person to sign the application documents, someone who knows you and your partner and confirms your desire and willingness to marry. (IAC § 595.4) 
• Pay the marriage license application fee. 
• After your application to marry has been approved, the registrar/recorder will give you two documents: a License to Marry in Iowa, and a Certificate of Marriage. Your License to Marry gives you permission to get married, and the Certificate of Marriage will serve as your official record of marriage after it has been completed and filed (after the wedding). 
• After your License to Marry is issued, wait the required three days before holding your wedding ceremony (mandatory waiting period). 

 

6. How much is a marriage license in Iowa?

 

Marriage license prices may vary by county, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. For the most-current Iowa marriage license cost, click the link below, or contact your local clerk’s office: 

 

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

 

7. How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in Iowa? (IA Marriage Waiting Period)

 

The amount of time you spend in the clerk’s office will vary depending on where you apply – some offices allow walk-ins, while others require each couple to make an appointment. After completing the application, there is a 3-day waiting period before you can use your marriage license in Iowa. This means you must wait three days to have your wedding ceremony.

 

• State-by-state marriage waiting periods should be part of your wedding plan

 

In some cases, couples may be able to skip the wait by applying for a waiting period waiver by meeting with a district judge, completing a waiver application, and paying a small fee. (Contact your registrar to learn more about marriage waiting period waivers.)

 

How soon before the wedding should you get a marriage license in Iowa? Once you know your wedding date, plan to apply for your marriage license at least three (3) days before the wedding, but no more than six (6) months early. In general, a couple weeks to a few months is a good timeframe in which to apply. 

 

 

8. How Long is a Marriage License Good For in Iowa?

 

Your “License to Marry in Iowa” is good for six (6) months after its issued by the clerk; this is called the marriage license “expiration period.” (In Iowa, this six months is counted from the effective date of the license, which begins after the 3 day waiting period has passed.)

 

This means you have six months to use your marriage license before it expires; if you don’t get married in this timeframe, you will need to apply for a new License to Marry. To see the more details about Iowa’s marriage license expiration period, waiting period, and return deadline, click the link below: 

 

• Officiant Training: Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return
• See all IA marriage license laws

 

9. How to get a copy of an Iowa marriage license

 

Need a certified copy of your Iowa marriage certificate? You have two options for obtaining your records: 

 

• Iowa marriage records by county: Request a copy through the County Recorder in the same county where the license was issued. There is a small fee (about $20), and requests can be made by mail or in person at the office.
• Iowa marriage records online: Request a copy through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. There is a small fee (about $20), and requests can be made by mail, in person, or using the online VitaCheck portal. 

 

 

To get an Iowa marriage certificate copy; contact the County Recorder in the county where the marriage license was filed, or order a copy from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. HHS has marriage records dating back to 1880!  (Photo: Samantha Gades / Unsplash , taken at Iowa State University in Ames, IA)

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