Frequently Asked Questions
Resources & Services
Birth Records Death Records Marriage Records Marriage License Hunting & Fishing Licenses Real Estate Documents & Recording Fees Recorder Forms Recreational Vehicles Transfer Tax Calculator Archived Books Links & Resources Military Records FAQ Department HomeBirth Records
Can I get my birth record if I was born overseas?
Birth records of persons born in foreign countries who are citizens at birth may write to:
Passport Services Correspondence Branch
US Department of State
1111 19th Street NW Suite 510
Washington DC 20522-1705
How do I get my birth certificate?
To obtain a copy of your birth certificate you can come in person or apply by mail. We should have your record if you were born in Boone County, your parents were married at the time of your birth and you were not adopted. We may not have your birth certificate if you were born in the years 1921 through 1941. We can now issue birth certificates even if you were born in another county going back to 1985.
If you apply in person, you will need to fill out an application, bring your photo I.D., and $15.00 cash/check/card. If you apply by mail, complete and sign* the Vital Record Application on the Iowa Department of Public Health website and enclose the $15.00 fee in the form of check or money order, copy of ID, and a stamped return envelop. Once we receive your request, we’ll mail it out, usually the same day, once we’ve processed your request.
*All signatures must be notarized if the request is by mail. The applicant must sign in front of a Notary Public and include a clear photocopy of the applicant's current government-issued photo identification. Please call our office 515-433-0514 with any questions concerning vital records.
Death & Marriage Records
How can we obtain a certified copy of death & marriage records?
- To obtain a copy of a death or marriage certificate you need to be entitled to it.
You can come in person or apply by mail. If you apply in person, you will need to fill out an application, bring your photo I.D., and $15.00 cash/check/card. If you apply by mail, complete and sign* the Vital Record Application on the Iowa Department of Public Health website and enclose the $15.00 fee in the form of check or money order. Once we receive your request, we’ll mail it out, usually the same day, once we’ve processed your request.
*All signatures must be notarized if the request is by mail. The applicant must sign in front of a Notary Public and include a clear photocopy of the applicant's current government-issued photo identification. Please call our office at 515-433-0514 with any questions concerning vital records.
Marriage License
How do I apply for a marriage license?
The Marrying Couple and one witness should come in to our office. All parties must be 18+ and have a valid photo ID. We can also send the application out as requested. When filling the Marriage Application out, we ask that the Prominent Named Person be Party A and the person who is changing their name be Party B. Once the application is filled out and the $35.00 fee is paid, we will process the application and print the licenses and certificate to be signed.
Marriage applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM. After 4:00 PM the application will not be processed until the next business day. The four-day waiting period will begin when the application is processed.
After the marriage, the completed Marriage Certificate is returned back to our office for filing. We will then make you a certified copy and mail back to you for your records and the changing of names. For any further questions, please contact our office at 515-433-0514.
Can a marriage license be applied for in Boone County if the marriage ceremony is to take place in a different county?
Yes! The license is valid anywhere in the state of Iowa.
Can we change our names through marriage?
Yes. The marriage application provides the opportunity to legally change your name. Because of this, it is important to complete the application correctly and in full. Do not use initials or nick names unless you wish them to become your legal name.
Do we need a blood test to get married?
No.
What is the legal waiting period for remarrying after a divorce?
None. A marriage can take place at any time once a divorce is final. However, you may not apply for the marriage license until the divorce is final.
Who is legally able to perform a marriage ceremony in the state of Iowa?
An individual ordained or designated as a leader of the person’s religious faith, regardless of the sate of residence or service. Or an Iowa Judge, Magistrate, or Associate Judge serving on the Iowa Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or District Court.
Officiants can view this state form for more information.
DNR
Do you process licenses for the Iowa DNR?
Yes, the Boone County Recorder’s Office does process transactions for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This includes: boat, snowmobile, ATV, ORM & OHV titles/registrations. We also sell hunting and fishing licenses, along with deer and turkey tags.
How do I get a landowner deer/turkey tag?
Make sure you have the "landowner" designation from the DNR and then come visit us.
What are the hunting season dates for pheasants, etc.?
Visit the Iowa DNR website for hunting season dates.
What do I bring to transfer a Boat/Atv/Snowmobile or OHV to your office?
If the vehicle or vessel is titled you will need to bring the signed title & bill of sale. Some vessels are only registered. In those sitiuations a signed registration and bill of sale. You may call ahead of time to make sure you have the needed documents or email them to recorder@boonecounty.iowa.gov.
What do I have to do if I bought a boat, ATV, snowmobile, or ORV, and I want to put it in my name?
Bring the required documentation and your photo ID to our office.
General Information
What are your hours of business?
General office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday via telephone or email. We stop processing real estate documents and marriage applications at 4:00 p.m. We will still accept them and process them the next business day.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Recording Documents: Cash, checks, money orders, or credit/debit card when in person
DNR Transactions: Credit cards, cash, checks, or money orders
Vital Records: Cash, checks, money orders, or credit/debit card when in person
What are the recording fees for a document?
Visit our Recording Fees page to view document recording fees.
Can I mail in a new document(s) for recording?
Yes, you can mail in a new document(s) with proper recording payment. Please call us at 515-433-0514 or email us at recorder@boonecounty.iowa.gov to confirm fees before mailing document(s) to our office.
Do you have property abstracts on file?
No. Abstracts are not filed in our office.
Does your office handle divorce records?
No. The Boone County Clerk of Court can help you with divorce records. You may contact them at 515-433-0561.
How do I add or take somebody off the title of my property?
You can file a deed in our office. We do not have blank forms available in our office. Many people have a lawyer create one, all documents recorded must meet our Iowa Document Formatting Standards.
How do I electronically file my new recording documents?
Please visit the Iowa Land Records website.
How do I find out if my mortgage has been released?
Call our office at 515-433-0514 and we can do a search in our local system. But keep in mind we do not guarantee that we have caught everything.
How do I get a copy of my deed to my property?
You can call our office at 515-433-0514, and we will be happy to look that up for you or email us at recorder@boonecounty.iowa.gov with your information, and we will be in touch.
How much for Transfer Tax?
Please see our Transfer Tax Calculator.
Is there a survey filed on my property?
Please contact our office at 515-433-0514, and we will be happy to look it up for you or email us at recorder@boonecounty.iowa.gov with your information and we will be in touch.
What are the other forms that may be needed with the transferring document?
A Declaration of Value and a Groundwater Hazard Statement may be needed. You can find these forms on the Recorder Forms page.
Where do I find out the recording information for my mortgage or if the release of the mortgage has been filed?
Contact the Recorder’s Office or email us with your names, dates, bank information, etc. to have us do a search, but keep in mind we do not guarantee that we have caught everything. If you want a complete search contact an abstract company and they will help you out for a nominal fee.
Who can get a copy of a Military Record?
Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have full access to the record. Next-of-kin includes the un-remarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran.
If you are entitled, please complete the Application for Certified Copy or Photocopy of Military Record form and bring it to our office. We will be happy to complete your record request if entitled to the DD214.
For more information, please contact us at 515-433-0514 or our Veteran’s Affairs Department at 515-433-4904.
