Ordering From the State Instead
You can also order from the state office. Ordering methods, fees and wait times are on our Iowa death certificate guide.
Who Can Order a Certified Copy
Iowa limits certified copies to close family and people with a legal or property interest. Under Iowa's rules and the Iowa HHS vital records page, these people can order:
- The surviving spouse
- Children of the person who died
- A mother or father listed on the person's birth certificate
- Adult siblings
- Grandparents (paternal grandparents only if the father is listed on the birth certificate). The Iowa HHS page and application form also list grandchildren
- A step-parent or step-child, in limited cases
- A legal representative, such as an executor, attorney, or court-appointed guardian
- The funeral director, for up to one year after the date of death
- Others who show the copy is needed to protect a personal or property interest that benefits the person named on the record
Every applicant must prove they are entitled to the record. Iowa HHS says siblings, legal guardians, and legal representatives (such as an executor) must provide additional proof. Iowa HHS does not list which documents it accepts as that proof, so contact the office to confirm before you apply.
What to Bring or Send
- Application: Form 470-5451. You check your relationship to the person (the form includes an "Executor" box) and state why you need the record.
- Photo ID: a current, unexpired, government-issued photo ID. Show it in person, or send a clear photocopy by mail. The name must match your current name.
- Notarized signature: required for mail applications only.
- Proof of entitlement: required from every applicant, and the state or county office may ask for more. Siblings and legal representatives must provide additional proof. Contact the office to confirm what it accepts.
- Payment: $20 per copy. If no record is found, the $20 is kept as a search fee and you receive a notice instead.
If you do not have a current photo ID, Iowa HHS's identity documents sheet for notaries allows copies of two to three other documents showing the same name and current address.
Certified vs. Informational Copies
A certified copy is the official copy. Under Iowa law it is treated the same as the original, and it is what banks, insurers, courts, and agencies ask for.
Iowa does not sell a separate "informational" certified copy. County recorders can provide uncertified copies on plain paper stamped "not for legal purposes." These cannot be used for estate business. Certified copies issued for genealogy are marked "for genealogical purposes only."
When Certificates Are Available
The funeral director who first takes custody of the body files the death certificate in Iowa's electronic statewide system. The funeral director gathers personal details from the family and gets the cause of death from the doctor or medical examiner.
Iowa law requires the certificate to be filed within three days after the death and before burial or cremation. The doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner has 72 hours after receiving the certificate to complete the cause of death. If the cause is still under investigation, the certificate can be filed as "pending investigation" and updated later.
Iowa HHS does not publish how soon after filing copies can be ordered. Because funeral directors can order certified copies for up to one year after the death, many families get their first copies through the funeral home.
How Many Copies You Need
Banks, insurers, retirement plans, and the probate court often each want their own certified copy. In Iowa every copy costs the same $20, so there is no discount for ordering extras at once. See our guide on how many copies to estimate your count.
Fixing an Error
Only the state office (Iowa HHS) changes a death record, under Iowa's correction rules.
- Within the first year: minor errors can be corrected at no charge. The request can come from (in order of priority) the surviving spouse shown on the certificate, a parent shown on it, the informant shown on it, or the data provider for a data-entry error. It needs a notarized statement, a copy of current photo ID, and supporting evidence if asked.
- After one year: changes are made with the "Amendment to Certificate of Death or Fetal Death" form, documentary evidence, and a $15 administrative fee.
- Cause of death: only the doctor or medical examiner who signed the certificate can change it. After 12 months, a court order is required.
New certified copies of the corrected record cost $20 each. Call Iowa HHS at 515-281-4944 to confirm the steps for your situation.
Only Order From Official Sources
In Iowa, certified death certificates are sold only through official channels:
- Any Iowa county recorder office
- The Iowa HHS Bureau of Health Statistics in Des Moines, in person or by mail
- VitalChek, the only third-party vendor Iowa HHS authorizes, linked from the Iowa HHS ordering page
Other websites may offer to "process" your order. These sites may add their own fees on top of the $20 state fee for an order you could place yourself. If a site is not one of the channels above, order directly instead.