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Search for Death Records in Iowa
Free Iowa Death Records Lookup
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Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Iowa will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.
Death Records in Iowa -
The Ultimate Guide 2023
- UPDATED October 2023
Iowa Death Databases
Death records in Iowa started being recorded on a statewide level in 1899. However, it was not until 1917 that this acquired general compliance. Death record copies can also be found at county level.
Before 1880
There were no death records filed by state or county in Iowa before 1880. In order to locate your ancestor’s death records, you would need to make use of substitute records. Some obituaries and cemetery records have been indexed, but the quantity is quite limited. Other sources include bible records, church records, tax records and census data.
1880 to 1936
Statewide death record registration began in 1880 and it required deaths to be filed at both the state and county levels. There are a couple of databases that you can try for deaths that happened during this time period. At familysearch.org, you can find a free index to burial and death records from Iowa. From the Family History Centers and the Family History Library, you can find microfilm copies of the original records.
After 1936
The Iowa Department of Public Health can give you the copy of a death certificate for death that occurred in this time frame at a fee. All requests for death certificates for genealogical reasons should be done via mail. Applicants need to attach a valid proof of entitlement as they make their request. In case you are not certain of the date of death (exact), the department will do the search for you at a fee. You can also request for a death certificate at the county where death happened at the register of Deeds department.
Death Certificates in Iowa
In the state of Iowa, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 50 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 50 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:
- A registrant with whom the record is associated with
- Spouse
- Parents
- A descendant such as child / grandchild
- An individual with common ancestry (relative such as cousin, aunt, uncle, sibling or grandparent)
- Registrant’s legal guardian
- Agency / individual acting on the registrant’s behalf
- Legal representative to registrant’s estate
How to Find Iowa Death Records
Obtaining Iowa death records from Archives.com is the most dependable method of doing so. Following your registration for an account, you will have complete access to the death records for the state of Iowa as soon as you log in to the platform. The following are a few simple steps to get you started:
Step 1: Go to Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.
Step 2: Use the buttons at the very top of the user page to navigate through the options. When you click on the “Search” button, the Iowa state death records page is loaded.
Step 3: Check the box next to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button just below it. Thus, the site eliminates all other records and only displays death records, which you can then download.
Step 4: Key in as much information about the deceased as you can remember about them.
Step 5: The state of Iowa should be entered in the ‘Location’ box. As soon as you begin typing, you will notice that the website will provide a match for you.
Step 6: You will be presented with a list of records; you will need to scroll through the list until you find the person whose records you are interested in viewing.
Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online. In most cases, you will be able to obtain their full name as well as their maiden name if they were previously married. You can also find out about their burial arrangements, such as whether they were cremated or buried, and whether a biographical sketch is available.
Alternative Sources for Iowa Death Information
- Resourceful websites
- Obituaries
- Courthouses
- City Directories
- Tax Records
Iowa Death Records FAQs
What is an Official Death Certificate?
An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Iowa state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.
What are death records?
Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.
Are Iowa Death Records Open to the Public?
According to the Iowa Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.
What Information Do I Need to Search for Iowa Death Records Online?
Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including:
- Deceased’s name
- Valid reason for death record request
- Death date
- County or city of death
- Valid proof of identification
Conclusion
The state of Iowa is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Iowa death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.
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