George Boyle
If you're planning a courthouse wedding in Iowa, there are a few things you need to know and some steps you need to take. Firstly, you'll need to obtain a marriage license from your local County Registrar, which can be done in-person or online, depending on the county. Both parties must be at least 18 years old, or have parental consent if they are under 18. You'll also need to bring valid identification and pay a fee, typically $35. After obtaining your license, there is a three-day waiting period before your ceremony, and you'll need two witnesses and an officiant. If you're getting married at the courthouse during business hours, there is usually no fee, but you'll need to bring your marriage certificate and license, and have two witnesses of legal age with you.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage License | Required by law and is valid for six months from the date of issuance |
| Marriage License Fee | $35 |
| Application | Can be done in-person or online depending on the county recorder's office |
| Third Party | Some counties require a third party that knows the couple to be present when applying for the license |
| Age | Both parties must be 18 years old or older. If either or both are 16 or 17 years of age, a legal guardian or parent is required to sign a "Consent to Marriage of a Minor" form |
| Identification | A valid form of identification, such as a driver's license or passport |
| Courthouse Wedding Fee | No fee for wedding ceremonies performed during normal business hours at the Courthouse |
| Witnesses | Two witnesses of legal age |
| Officiant | A judge or an ordained minister |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage license and certificate
To get married in Iowa, you must first obtain a marriage license from the local County Registrar. This can be done at any County Recorder's office in Iowa, as long as the ceremony is performed in Iowa. Both parties must be at least 18 years old, not already married, not closely related by blood, and legally competent to enter into a civil contract. If either party is a minor (16 or 17 years old), they will need special permission from a judge in the form of a "Consent to Marriage of a Minor" form, which must be signed by the minor's parents or guardian and presented to a judge within the same judicial district as the county where the marriage license is being requested.
When applying for a marriage license in Iowa, the couple and one witness (who must be 18 or older) must appear in person at the County Recorder's office with valid photo identification (such as a driver's license or government-issued ID). There is a $35 fee for the marriage license, which includes a certified copy of the marriage certificate. This copy will be mailed to the couple after the marriage certificate has been returned to the Recorder's office. The certified copy can be used for any name change procedures after the marriage. There is a 3-day waiting period before the license is issued and before the marriage can take place.
If you wish to be married at a courthouse in Iowa, you will need to contact the local County Magistrates or a judge to schedule a date and time for the ceremony. Wedding ceremonies are usually performed during normal business hours and are subject to the Court's schedule. You will need to bring the marriage certificate and license, as well as two witnesses of legal age, to the ceremony. Due to COVID protocols, attendance may be limited to the couple and the two witnesses, and masks may be required for all present.
After the marriage, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate from the county where the application occurred. These can be requested by telephone, in person, online, or through the postal service. Each copy costs $15, and there may be additional fees for online or phone orders and shipping. Only entitled individuals, such as the married couple, their children, or legal representatives, can request certified copies and may need to provide proof of entitlement.
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Witnesses and officiant
Witnesses and an officiant are required for a courthouse wedding in Iowa. The number of witnesses required varies depending on the county. For example, in Johnson County, two witnesses of legal age are required to be present at the wedding ceremony. In Polk County, one witness who is 18 or older and acquainted with the couple is required when applying for a marriage license.
The witnesses must be present at the signing of the marriage certificate, and their presence is also necessary to fulfil the three-day (business day) waiting period after applying for a marriage license. This waiting period must elapse before the wedding ceremony can take place.
The officiant, or person who solemnizes the marriage, must be authorised to do so. Authorised individuals include judges, judicial magistrates, and ordained ministers. Couples can make prior arrangements for a judge or judicial magistrate to perform the wedding ceremony outside of normal business hours or away from the courthouse, although a fee will normally be charged in these cases.
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Identification
To get married at a Polk County Courthouse in Iowa, you must first obtain a marriage license from the local County Recorder's Office. This applies to both Iowa residents and out-of-state couples. The license is valid for six months from the date of issuance and only within the state of Iowa.
When applying for a marriage license, both parties must be at least 18 years old and provide a valid form of identification, such as a government-issued photo ID (e.g., a driver's license or passport). If either party is under 18, parental consent is required, and a "Consent to Marriage of a Minor" form must be completed and notarized. This form must be signed by the minor's parents or, in the case of divorced parents, the parent with legal custody. If both parents are deceased or incompetent, the guardian of the minor may sign the form.
It is important to note that the marriage license application must be completed in person at the County Recorder's Office, and both parties must be present, along with a witness who is acquainted with the couple and is 18 or older. The cost of the marriage license is $35, and this can be paid by cash, check, or credit/debit card.
Once you have obtained your marriage license, you can schedule your wedding ceremony at the courthouse. Remember to bring your marriage certificate and license, as well as two witnesses of legal age, on your wedding day.
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Consent forms
To get married at the courthouse in Iowa, you will need to obtain a marriage license from the local County Registrar. This can be done in person or online, depending on the county recorder's office. Both parties must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent if they are under 18. If either or both parties are aged 16 or 17, a "Consent to Marriage of a Minor" form must be completed and signed by the minor's parents or legal guardian. This form can be obtained from the Recorder's Office or online. The form must be notarized and presented to a judge within the same judicial district as the county where the marriage license is being requested.
In addition to the consent form, both parties must apply in person and bring valid forms of identification, such as a driver's license or passport. There is a fee of $35 for the marriage license application, which can be paid by cash, check, or credit/debit card. After submitting the application and paying the fee, the couple will receive their marriage license, which is valid for six months from the date of issuance.
Once the marriage license is obtained, the couple can schedule their wedding at the courthouse. Wedding ceremonies at the courthouse are usually performed during normal business hours and are subject to the Court's schedule. There is no fee for ceremonies conducted during regular business hours. However, there may be a fee for ceremonies performed outside of normal business hours or away from the courthouse. For such arrangements, the couple must contact the Judge or Judicial Magistrate directly.
On the day of the wedding, the couple must bring their marriage certificate and license, as well as two witnesses of legal age. Due to COVID protocols, attendance may be limited to the couple and the two witnesses, and masks may be required for all present. After the ceremony, a certified copy of the marriage certificate can be obtained from the Recorder's Office for a fee of $5.
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Courthouse contact
To get married at the Johnson County Courthouse during normal business hours, you must contact the Johnson County Magistrates at 319-356-6060 x 3228. Call on the Monday morning of the week you want to get married and leave a message. The Magistrate Judge on duty that week will call you back, and if the Court's schedule allows for it, they will schedule a date and time with you.
Please note that wedding ceremonies are performed only when the regular Court Docket permits; there is no guarantee that your wedding will be scheduled. There is no fee for wedding ceremonies performed during normal business hours at the Courthouse. For weddings at the Courthouse, you will need to bring the Marriage Certificate and license and have two witnesses of legal age with you. Due to COVID protocols, attendance at the ceremony will be limited to the couple and the two witnesses only. Properly worn masks will be required for all present.
If you wish to be married by a Judge or Judicial Magistrate outside of normal business hours and/or away from the Courthouse, you must contact the Judge or Judicial Magistrate directly to make these arrangements. There will normally be a fee charged for these wedding ceremonies.
If you are unable to go to the office in person to apply for a marriage license, you can download the application and mail it in. The application must be signed by all three parties and notarized, and you must include your phone number and address. The cost to file is $35. Checks should be made payable to the Johnson County Recorder and mailed to Johnson County Recorder, 913 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240.
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Frequently asked questions
To get married at a courthouse in Iowa, you will need to bring a marriage certificate, a marriage license, and two witnesses of legal age. You will also need to bring a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license or passport.
To obtain a marriage license, both parties must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent if under 18. Both parties must apply in person and pay a fee of $35. You can do this at your local County Recorder's Office.
There is a three-day waiting period once you apply for a marriage license in Iowa before you can move forward with your ceremony.
Yes, but you should contact the courthouse to see if the Court's schedule allows for it. Some courthouses may only perform ceremonies during normal business hours.
