How to Get a Marriage License in Iowa

Everything Iowa couples need: where to apply, what it costs, the 3-day wait, witnesses and the paperwork after the wedding. Rules come from Iowa's official marriage guidance and county recorder offices.

Updated November 2026 · Free from Happily Ever Iowa

Fee
Usually $35 (+$5 to waive the wait)
Waiting period
3 calendar days after you apply
Where
Any Iowa county recorder; valid anywhere in Iowa
Witnesses
1 on the application, 2 at the ceremony
Bring
Photo ID (some counties require it for all signers)
Officiant files it
Within 15 days of the ceremony

Step by step

1. Get the application (2–4 weeks before the wedding)

Pick up a marriage application from any Iowa county recorder's office, or ask them to send you one. Most counties do not take applications online. Some, like Johnson County, also accept a notarized application by mail. You can apply in a different county than where your ceremony is.

2. Sign it with a witness, in front of a notary

Both of you sign, along with one adult who knows you both and has no stake in the marriage (Iowa calls this a "competent and disinterested person"). Everyone signs in front of a notary. Many recorder offices can notarize it when you come in.

3. Turn it in and pay the fee

Bring government photo ID and the fee, usually $35. Johnson County, for example, asks for photo ID for all three signers. Call your county to confirm hours, payment types and whether an appointment is needed.

4. Wait 3 days

Your license becomes valid after three calendar days, and the day you apply does not count. Johnson County's schedule: apply Monday, valid Friday; apply Tuesday, valid Saturday; apply Wednesday, valid Sunday; apply Thursday, valid Monday; apply Friday, valid Tuesday. A district judge can waive the wait for an emergency or unusual circumstances (extra $5 fee). If you never pick up your license, the application expires six months after you apply.

5. Have the ceremony

Give the license to your officiant before the ceremony. You, your officiant and two witnesses must all be there in person, and the witnesses and officiant sign the certificate. Iowa judges and people ordained or designated as leaders of their religious faith can officiate. Browse Iowa wedding officiants.

6. After the wedding: get your certified copy

Your officiant must return the signed certificate to the county that issued your license within 15 days. Once it is recorded, order a certified copy from that county recorder. You will need it to change your name with Social Security, at the DOT for your driver's license, and with banks and insurance.

Check with your county
Fees, office hours, ID rules and whether you need an appointment can change and vary by county. Call your county recorder before you go. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

Questions couples ask

How much is a marriage license in Iowa?
Usually $35, paid to the county recorder (for example in Johnson County and Linn County). Waiving the 3-day waiting period costs an extra $5 and needs a judge's approval. Check your county's page for current fees and payment types.
How long is the waiting period for an Iowa marriage license?
Three calendar days after the recorder accepts your application. The day you apply does not count. For example, apply on a Monday and the license is valid on Friday. A district judge can waive the wait for emergencies or unusual circumstances.
Can we use an Iowa marriage license in any county?
Yes. You can apply at any Iowa county recorder's office, and the license is good for a ceremony anywhere in Iowa. It is not valid for a ceremony in another state.
How many witnesses do you need to get married in Iowa?
Two witnesses must be at the ceremony and sign the certificate of marriage, along with your officiant (Iowa Administrative Code 641-98.6). Separately, your license application needs one adult who knows you both to sign as a witness in front of a notary.
Who can officiate a wedding in Iowa?
Iowa judges and people ordained or designated as leaders of their religious faith. Your officiant must return the signed certificate to the county that issued your license within 15 days of the ceremony.
How do we get a certified copy of our marriage certificate?
After your officiant returns the signed certificate and the county records it, order a certified copy from the county recorder. You will use it to change your name with Social Security, the Iowa DOT (driver's license), banks and insurance.

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