Birth, Death, & Marriage Certificates

Obtaining a Certified Copy

Certified copies of births, deaths, and marriages, which occurred in Dubuque County, may be obtained from this office by immediate family members only. Certified copies are $15 each.  Requests may also be received through the mail. Mailed requests must also include a notarized signature and a copy of the applicant’s photo ID. 

We accept checks, cash, money orders or credit cards for payment. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Dubuque County Recorder. Credit card payments are subject to an additional fee by the credit card company based on the amount charged.

Available Vital Records

  • Birth and Death records are available at the Recorder office for the years 1880 to Present.  
  • Marriage records are available in the Record office for the years 1839 to Present.  You must have applied for a marriage license in Dubuque County for it to be on file in our office.

Exceptions

  • Do not have some birth records from 1921 through 1941
  • Do not have death records from 1904 through 1907 and from 1917 through 1941
  • Do not have adoptions or legal name changes
  • Do not have single-parent births prior to January 1, 1986

If these records are needed, please contact the Iowa Department of Public Health.

How to Request

Requesting a Certified Copy of an Iowa Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate?  Please download and complete the Application for Copy of Vital Record form:

Mail the completed application to:
Dubuque County Recorder
720 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 5001
Dubuque, Iowa 52004-5001

Marriage Application

You may apply for a Marriage License at any County Recorder in Iowa as long as the ceremony is to be performed in Iowa. Office hours are 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Monday through Friday.

If you mail in the application, PLEASE include your contact information. Marriage Applications are accepted either in person or through the mail at:
Dubuque County Recorder
720 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 5001
Dubuque, Iowa 52004-5001

Payment

We accept checks, cash, money orders or credit cards for payment. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Dubuque County Recorder. Credit card payments are subject to an additional fee by the credit card company.

Notarized

To apply for a Marriage License, both parties and one witness (all must be 18 years or older) must complete the application and sign in front of a notary public. The fee of $35 includes a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate. Iowa law requires a three day waiting period before the marriage license is valid for a ceremony to be performed from the date it is filed in the Recorders Office (i.e. Must be filed on Tuesday to be valid for a Saturday ceremony).

Certified Copy

Once the Certificate of Marriage has been returned to the Recorder’s Office and placed on record, a certified copy will be mailed to the couple.

State Certified Copies

How to Obtain a State Certified Copy of Birth, Death or Marriage