Iowa Marriage Laws
Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Iowa. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Iowa. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Iowa.
Quick Facts
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: Never Expires
- Marriage License Return Within: 15 Days
How To Perform a Wedding
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Iowa
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 How to Officiate a Marriage in Iowa
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.
Select your county to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county
Iowa's Top Wedding Spot
Festhalle Barn, in the Amana Colonies, is a classic restored dairy barn
3 License to Marry in Iowa
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Iowa to get an Ordination Package. While Minister registration is not technically required in Iowa you may be required to present proof of your ordination to the county clerk before the marriages you perform will be accepted as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination will also provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
4 How to Perform a Wedding in Iowa
Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Iowa marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is never expires, but there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Iowa and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 15 days of the completion of the wedding ceremony. At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Iowa, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Iowa wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
Iowa Marriage Code
Marriage in Iowa is governed by Chapter 595 of Title 15 of Iowa's Codified Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.595.10 Who may solemnize.
Marriages may be solemnized by:
1. A judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or district court, including a district
associate judge, associate juvenile judge, or a judicial magistrate, and including a senior judge
as defined in section 602.9202, subsection 3.
2. A person ordained or designated as a leader of the person's religious faith.
[C51, §1472; R60, §2524; C73, §2193; C97, §3145; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10436; C4
View the Iowa Statutes on the official state site⇓ Show the rest
Adair County
400 Public SquareGreenfield , Iowa
50849
Phone: (641) 743-2445
Fax: (641) 743-2411
Adair County website »
Adams County
500 9th St.P.O. Box 28
Corning , Iowa
50841
Phone: (641) 322-4711
Fax: (641) 322-3744
Adams County website »
Allamakee County
110 Allamakee StreetWaukon , Iowa
52172
Phone: (563) 568-2364
Fax: (563) 568-6419
Allamakee County website »
Appanoose County
201 North 12th StreetPO Box 400
Centerville , Iowa
52544
Phone: (641) 856-6101
Fax: (641) 856-8023
Appanoose County website »
Audubon County
318 Leroy StreetAudubon , Iowa
50025
Phone: (712) 563-2119
Fax: (712) 563-4677
Audubon County website »
Benton County
111 E 4th StreetPO Box 719
Vinton , Iowa
52349
Phone: (319) 472-3309
Fax: (319) 472-3647
Benton County website »
Black Hawk County
316 East 5th StreetWaterloo , Iowa
50703
Phone: (319) 833-3012
Fax: (319) 833-3170
Black Hawk County website »
Boone County
201 State StreetBoone, Iowa
50036
Phone: (515) 433-0514
Fax: (515) 433-4972
Boone County website »
Bremer County
415 E Bremer AvenueWaverly , Iowa
50677
Phone: (319) 352-0401
Fax: (319) 352-0518
Bremer County website »
Buchanan County
210 - 5th Ave NEIndependence , Iowa
50644
Phone: (319) 334-4259
Fax: (319) 334-7453
Buchanan County website »
Buena Vista County
PO Box 454Storm Lake, Iowa
50588
Phone: (712) 749-2539
Fax: (712) 749-2539
Buena Vista County website »
Butler County
428 Sixth StreetP.O. Box 346
Allison , Iowa
50602
Phone: (319) 267-2735
Fax: (319) 267-2675
Butler County website »
Calhoun County
416 Fourth StRockwell City, Iowa
50579
Phone: (712) 297-8121
Fax: (712) 297-5000
Calhoun County website »
Carroll County
114 East Sixth StreetP.O. Box 782
Carroll, Iowa
51401
Phone: (712) 792-3328
Fax: (712) 792-9493
Carroll County website »
Cass County
Five West Seventh StreetAtlantic , Iowa
50022
Phone: (712) 243-1692
Fax: (712) 243-6660
Cass County website »
Cedar County
400 Cedar StTipton , Iowa
52772
Phone: (563) 886-2230
Fax: (563) 886-2120
Cedar County website »
Cerro Gordo County
220 North WashingtonMason City , Iowa
50401
Phone: (641) 421-3056
Fax: (641) 421-3154
Cerro Gordo County website »
Cherokee County
520 West Main StreetDrawer G
Cherokee , Iowa
51012
Phone: (712) 225-6735
Fax: (712) 225-6754
Cherokee County website »
Chickasaw County
8 East ProspectPO Box 1468
New Hampton, Iowa
50659
Phone: (641) 394-2336
Fax: (641) 394-2816
Chickasaw County website »
Clarke County
100 S. MainOsceola , Iowa
50213
Phone: (641) 342-3313
Fax: (641) 342-3313
Clarke County website »
Clay County
300 West Fourth StreetSpencer , Iowa
51301
Phone: (712) 262-1081
Fax: (712) 264-3983
Clay County website »
Clayton County
111 High Street NEPO Box 418
Elkader , Iowa
52043
Phone: (563) 245-2204
Fax: (563) 245-1175
Clayton County website »
Clinton County
1900 North Third StreetClinton , Iowa
52733
Phone: (563) 244-0565
Fax: (563) 242-8412
Clinton County website »
Crawford County
1202 BroadwayDenison , Iowa
51442
Phone: (712) 263-3643
Fax: (712) 263-3413
Crawford County website »
Dallas County
801 Court StreetAdel , Iowa
50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
Dallas County website »
Davis County
100 Courthouse SquareBloomfield , Iowa
52537
Phone: (641) 664-2321
Fax: (641) 664-3082
Davis County website »
Decatur County
207 North Main StreetLeon , Iowa
50144
Phone: (641) 446-4322
Fax: (641) 446-7159
Decatur County website »
Delaware County
301 E Main StreetPO Box 157
Manchester , Iowa
52057
Phone: (563) 927-4665
Fax: (563) 927-3641
Delaware County website »
Des Moines County
513 North Main StBurlington , Iowa
52601
Phone: (319) 753-8221
Fax: (319) 753-8721
Des Moines County website »
Dickinson County
1802 Hill AveSpirit Lake, Iowa
51360
Phone: (712) 336-1495
Fax: (712) 336-2677
Dickinson County website »
Dubuque County
720 Central AvenueDubuque , Iowa
52001
Phone: (563) 589-4434
Fax: (563) 589-4484
Dubuque County website »
Fayette County
114 North Vine StPO Box 226
West Union, Iowa
52175
Phone: (563) 422-3687
Fax: (563) 422-3739
Fayette County website »
Floyd County
101 South Main StreetCharles City, Iowa
50616
Phone: (641) 257-6154
Fax: (641) 228-6458
Floyd County website »
Franklin County
12 First Avenue NWPO Box 26
Hampton , Iowa
50441
Phone: (641) 456-5675
Fax: (641) 456-6009
Franklin County website »
Fremont County
506 Filmore StreetPO Box 549
Sidney , Iowa
51652
Phone: (712) 374-2232
Fax: (712) 374-2826
Fremont County website »
Greene County
114 North ChestnutJefferson , Iowa
50129
Phone: (515) 386-5670
Fax: (515) 386-5274
Greene County website »
Grundy County
706 G AveGrundy Center, Iowa
50638
Phone: (319) 824-3234
Fax: (319) 824-0000
Grundy County website »
Guthrie County
200 North Fifth StreetGuthrie Center, Iowa
50115
Phone: (641) 747-3412
Fax: (641) 747-3081
Guthrie County website »
Hamilton County
2300 Superior StreetPO Box 126
Webster City, Iowa
50595
Phone: (515) 832-9535
Fax: (515) 832-8620
Hamilton County website »
Hancock County
855 State StreetGarner , Iowa
50438
Phone: (641) 923-2464
Fax: (641) 923-3912
Hancock County website »
Hardin County
1215 Edgington Ave.P.O. Box 443
Eldora , Iowa
50627
Phone: (641) 939-8178
Fax: (641) 939-8245
Hardin County website »
Harrison County
111 N. 2nd AvenueLogan , Iowa
51546
Phone: (712) 644-2545
Fax: (712) 644-3157
Harrison County website »
Henry County
100 E WashingtonP.O. Box 106
Mt Pleasant , Iowa
52641
Phone: (319) 385-0765
Fax: (319) 385-3601
Henry County website »
Howard County
137 North Elm StreetCresco , Iowa
52136
Phone: (563) 547-3621
Fax: (563) 547-1103
Howard County website »
Humboldt County
203 Main StreetPO Box 100
Dakota City , Iowa
50529
Phone: (515) 332-3693
Fax: (515) 332-3694
Humboldt County website »
Ida County
401 Moorehead StreetIda Grove, Iowa
51445
Phone: (712) 364-2220
Fax: (712) 364-2746
Ida County website »
Iowa County
901 Court AvenuePO Box 185
Marengo , Iowa
52301
Phone: (319) 642-3622
Fax: (319) 642-5562
Iowa County website »
Jackson County
201 West Platt StreetMaquoketa , Iowa
52060
Phone: (563) 652-2504
Fax: (563) 652-6460
Jackson County website »
Jasper County
101 First Street NorthNewton , Iowa
50208
Phone: (641) 792-5442
Fax: (641) 791-3680
Jasper County website »
Jefferson County
51 West BriggsPO Box 984
Fairfield, Iowa
52556
Phone: (641) 472-4331
Fax: (641) 472-5094
Jefferson County website »
Johnson County
913 S Dubuque StIowa City, Iowa
52240
Phone: (319) 356-6093
Fax: (319) 339-6181
Johnson County website »
Jones County
500 West Main StreetAnamosa, Iowa
52205
Phone: (319) 462-2477
Fax: (319) 462-5802
Jones County website »
Keokuk County
101 South Main StreetSigourney , Iowa
52591
Phone: (641) 622-2540
Fax: (641) 622-3789
Keokuk County website »
Kossuth County
114 West State StreetAlgona, Iowa
50511
Phone: (515) 295-5660
Fax: (515) 395-3660
Kossuth County website »
Lee County
933 Ave. HPO Box 322
Ft. Madison, Iowa
52627
Phone: (319) 372-4662
Fax: (319) 372-7033
Lee County website »
Linn County
930 1st Street SWCedar Rapids, Iowa
52404
Phone: (319) 892-5420
Fax: (319) 892-5459
Linn County website »
Louisa County
117 South MainPO Box 264
Wapello, Iowa
52653
Phone: (319) 523-5361
Fax: (319) 523-5364
Louisa County website »
Lucas County
916 Braden AvenueChariton, Iowa
50049
Phone: (641) 774-2413
Fax: (641) 774-1619
Lucas County website »
Lyon County
206 South Second StreetRock Rapids , Iowa
51246
Phone: (712) 472-2381
Fax: (712) 472-8523
Lyon County website »
Madison County
112 N John Wayne DriveWinterset, Iowa
50273
Phone: (515) 462-3771
Fax: (515) 462-5006
Madison County website »
Mahaska County
106 South 1st StreetOskaloosa, Iowa
52577
Phone: (641) 673-8187
Fax: (641) 673-8979
Mahaska County website »
Marion County
214 E. Main StreetKnoxville, Iowa
50138
Phone: (641) 828-2211
Fax: (641) 828-3538
Marion County website »
Marshall County
1 East Main StreetMarshalltown, Iowa
50158
Phone: (641) 754-6355
Fax: (641) 754-6349
Marshall County website »
Mills County
418 Sharp StreetGlenwood, Iowa
51534
Phone: (712) 527-9315
Fax: (712) 527-1507
Mills County website »
Mitchell County
508 State StreetOsage , Iowa
50461
Phone: (641) 732-5861
Fax: (641) 732-5218
Mitchell County website »
Monona County
610 Iowa AvenuePO Box 53
Onawa, Iowa
51040
Phone: (712) 433-2575
Fax: (712) 423-3034
Monona County website »
Monroe County
10 Benton Avenue EastAlbia, Iowa
52531
Phone: (641) 932-5164
Fax: (641) 932-5905
Monroe County website »
Montgomery County
105 Coolbaugh StreetPO Box 469
Red Oak, Iowa
51566
Phone: (712) 623-4363
Fax: (712) 623-8915
Montgomery County website »
Muscatine County
401 East Third StreetMuscatine, Iowa
52761
Phone: (563) 263-7741
Fax: (563) 263-7248
Muscatine County website »
O'Brien County
155 South Hayes AvenuePO Box 340
Primghar, Iowa
51245
Phone: (712) 957-3045
Fax: (712) 957-3046
O'Brien County website »
Osceola County
300 Seventh StreetSibley, Iowa
51249
Phone: (712) 754-3345
Fax: (712) 754-3743
Osceola County website »
Page County
112 East Main StClarinda, Iowa
51632
Phone: (712) 542-3130
Fax: (712) 542-3636
Page County website »
Palo Alto County
1010 BroadwayP.O. Box 248
Emmetsburg, Iowa
50536
Phone: (712) 852-3701
Fax: (712) 852-3704
Palo Alto County website »
Plymouth County
215 Fourth Avenue SELeMars , Iowa
51031
Phone: (712) 546-4020
Fax: (712) 546-7304
Plymouth County website »
Pocahontas County
99 Court SquarePocahontas, Iowa
50574
Phone: (712) 335-4404
Fax: (712) 335-4502
Pocahontas County website »
Polk County
111 Court AvenueDes Moines, Iowa
50309
Phone: (515) 286-3160
Fax: (515) 323-5393
Polk County website »
Pottawattamie County
227 S. 6th StreetPO Box 476
Council Bluffs, Iowa
51502
Phone: (712) 328-5612
Fax: (712) 328-4738
Pottawattamie County website »
Poweshiek County
302 East Main StreetPO Box 656
Montezuma, Iowa
50171
Phone: (641) 623-5434
Fax: (641) 623-2928
Poweshiek County website »
Ringgold County
109 West MadisonMount Ayr, Iowa
50854
Phone: (641) 464-3231
Fax: (641) 464-2568
Ringgold County website »
Sac County
100 Northwest State StreetSac City, Iowa
50583
Phone: (712) 662-7789
Fax: (712) 662-6298
Sac County website »
Scott County
600 West Fourth StreetDavenport, Iowa
52801
Phone: (563) 326-8621
Fax: (563) 328-3225
Scott County website »
Shelby County
612 Court StreetPO Box 67
Harlan, Iowa
51537
Phone: (712) 755-5640
Fax: (712) 755-7556
Shelby County website »
Sioux County
210 Central Avenue SWPO Box 48
Orange City , Iowa
51041
Phone: (712) 737-2229
Fax: (712) 737-2230
Sioux County website »
Story County
900 6th StreetP.O. Box 55
Nevada, Iowa
50201
Phone: (515) 382-7231
Fax: (515) 382-7239
Story County website »
Tama County
104 W. State StreetPO Box 82
Toledo , Iowa
52342
Phone: (641) 484-3320
Fax: (641) 484-8246
Tama County website »
Taylor County
405 Jefferson StreetBedford , Iowa
50833
Phone: (712) 523-2275
Fax: (712) 523-2274
Taylor County website »
Union County
300 North PineCreston , Iowa
50801
Phone: (641) 782-1725
Fax: (641) 782-1709
Union County website »
Van Buren County
406 DodgePO Box 455
Keosauqua, Iowa
52565
Phone: (319) 293-3240
Fax: (319) 293-6327
Van Buren County website »
Wapello County
101 West Fourth StreetOttumwa, Iowa
52501
Phone: (641) 683-0046
Fax: (641) 683-0001
Wapello County website »
Warren County
301 N BuxtonIndianola, Iowa
50125
Phone: (515) 961-1089
Fax: (515) 961-1079
Warren County website »
Washington County
224 West MainPO Box 889
Washington, Iowa
52353
Phone: (319) 653-7727
Fax: (319) 653-7754
Washington County website »
Wayne County
101 FranklinPO Box 435
Corydon, Iowa
50060
Phone: (641) 872-1676
Fax: (641) 872-2843
Wayne County website »
Webster County
701 Central AvenueFort Dodge, Iowa
50501
Phone: (515) 576-2401
Fax: (515) 576-2401
Webster County website »
Winnebago County
126 South Clark StForest City, Iowa
50436
Phone: (641) 585-2094
Fax: (641) 585-1094
Winnebago County website »
Winneshiek County
201 West Main StreetDecorah, Iowa
52101
Phone: (563) 382-3486
Fax: (563) 387-4083
Winneshiek County website »
Woodbury County
620 Douglas StSioux City, Iowa
51101
Phone: (712) 279-6528
Fax: (712) 233-8946
Woodbury County website »
Worth County
1000 Central AveNorthwood , Iowa
50459
Phone: (641) 324-2734
Fax: (641) 324-3682
Worth County website »
Wright County
115 North Main StreetPO Box 187
Clarion , Iowa
50525
Phone: (515) 532-3204
Fax: (515) 532-2669
Wright County website »
