Getting Married in Iowa
Congratulations! We at One Iowa are overjoyed you are able to celebrate your relationship and make such an important commitment to one another. This is your day and we want to help make sure that it's everything you want it to be.
List of Iowa county recorders
List of LGBT-friendly vendors
Here are some tips for getting married in Iowa:
- Two eligible people (at least 18 years old, not already married) must submit an application at the County Recorders office.
- A person, acquainted with both parties, must be present to sign an affidavit.
- Once the signed, notarized application and your $35 fee are submitted, you must wait three business days for your license to be valid. You can pick up your license on the fourth day.
- If you seek a waiver for the three-day waiting period, you must find a judge in the same district you filed your application. If the waiver is granted you can return to the County Recorder and pick up your license.
- Once your license is valid, you must have a marriage ceremony in Iowa within six months. Both parties must be physically present with an officiant and two witnesses, all of whom must sign the marriage certificate. The officiant is required to file your certificate with the County Recorder within 15 days.
