Iowa Divorce Records

To begin, add a divorce record or view a list of locations and resources for Iowa divorce records.

Iowa divorce records can often seem unfairly hard to find. This is because, in Iowa, divorce records aren't considered vital statistics, and thus aren't gathered and archived in the same way that birth, death, and marriage records are.

While state databases for these other records reach back to 1880, there's no real way to know how far back divorce records go, because there's no state governing body. This means that the only way to get divorce records directly is to apply to the county where the divorce in question occurred-a difficult process especially for those doing historical or genealogical research.

For those that aren't sure which county to search in, or who need an easier alternative, there may be a better way to get Iowa divorce records. Whereas this search process may seem long and arduous, using an online public records finder can really streamline your research. This way, you may be able to find and retrieve divorce records without having to spend a lot of time finding what you're looking for.

Iowa divorce records have been kept by the state department since 1906, but Iowa Divorce Certificate copies are only available through the County Clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted. There will be a small fee of $6.00, and possibly other fees if a search is needed. You will have to provide proof of eligibility to receive requested information, government issued photo ID, and your notarized signature. For more information visit: Iowa Department of Public Health