KeepMyProof
After a parent dies · Iowa
How to order a death certificate in Iowa
The Iowa vital records office has birth, death and marriage records since July 1880. A certified copy of a Iowa death certificate from the state vital records office is listed at $20.00. Mail requests for a Iowa death certificate go to: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Lucas Office Building 321 East 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0075.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- The Iowa vital records office has birth, death and marriage records since July 1880. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
- A certified copy of a Iowa death certificate from the state vital records office is listed at $20.00. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
- Mail requests for a Iowa death certificate go to: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Lucas Office Building 321 East 12th Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0075. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
- For mail requests in Iowa, checks or money orders are made payable to Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Iowa
- Creditor claim deadlines for an estate in Iowa
- Executor duties and deadlines in Iowa
- How probate works in Iowa after a parent dies
- Small estates in Iowa: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- How to order a death certificate: all states
Neighbouring states
- How to order a death certificate in Illinois
- How to order a death certificate in Minnesota
- How to order a death certificate in Missouri
- How to order a death certificate in Nebraska
- How to order a death certificate in South Dakota
- How to order a death certificate in Wisconsin
Questions
Where do these Iowa facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Iowa or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.