State guide
Iowa
Iowa marriage licenses are handled through county recorders, who also act as county registrars for marriage records. Iowa has a built-in three-day wait, but a district judge can waive it for emergency or extraordinary circumstances, and several large counties publish courthouse-ceremony instructions or judge lists.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who issues licenses
- county recorder / county registrar
- Waiting period
- 3 days
- License valid for
- no expiration after issuance; application void if not issued within 6 months
- Witnesses
- 2 required at ceremony
- License fee
- $35 statewide
Official resources in Iowa
Official Iowa marriage statute covering issuance, waiting period, solemnization, and filing.
Official state portal with Iowa marriage forms, recorder guidance, and officiant materials.
State consumer page linking Iowans to official marriage-license and record resources.
County-level instructions on application, fees, waiver, and courthouse marriages.
Key facts for Iowa
- Iowa Code 595.4 imposes a 3-day waiting period after issuance; a district judge may waive it for emergency or extraordinary circumstances.
- County recorders issue Iowa marriage licenses; the statewide application fee shown in county and officiant materials is $35.
- Iowa requires at least 2 ceremony witnesses physically present with the couple and officiant.
- Authorized officiants are Iowa judges/magistrates and persons ordained or designated as religious leaders under Iowa Code 595.10.
- Iowa licenses do not expire after issuance, but an application is void if the license is not issued within 6 months.
- Iowa does not provide a self-uniting marriage option in chapter 595; an authorized officiant is required.
Courthouse ceremonies in Iowa
| County | Details |
|---|---|
| Polk County | Recorder page links to Polk County judges who perform courthouse or other wedding ceremonies. |
| Johnson County | Courthouse ceremonies may be scheduled with magistrates; no fee during normal business hours at the courthouse. |
| Linn County | Clerk of Court performs courthouse marriage ceremonies on Mondays by scheduler assignment. |
| Scott County | Recorder publishes magistrate judges who perform marriage ceremonies in Scott County. |
What to do next
- Ask the county recorder for the current application packet; many Iowa counties do not post the license form online.
- If you need to marry sooner than the 3-day wait, request the waiver form from the recorder and take it to a district judge.
- If you want a courthouse ceremony, contact a county judge or court scheduler only after confirming your license valid date.
Helpful guides
- How to get married at the courthouse
- What to bring when you apply for a marriage license
- Marriage license waiting periods and expiration dates
- Do you need witnesses for a courthouse wedding?