Vital Records

Vital records refer to official registration of births, deaths, and marriages.

Local registrars, located in county recorders offices, such as Scott County, maintain records of birth, death, and marriages that have occurred in that county.

Certified copies of vital records registered by the Scott County Recorder can be obtained from this office.

Statewide record searches are available from the state registrar, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics.

Use the chart below to determine the office to contact for your record.

Record Location
Vital Records: 1946 - Current Scott County Recorder's Office
Vital Records: 1880 - 1945 State Registrar
Single-parent births before January 1, 1986 State Registrar
Single-parent births after January 1, 1986 Scott County Recorder's Office
Legal name changes before January 1, 1986 State Registrar
Adoptions before January 1, 1986 State Registrar
Any record ordered seal by a court of law State Registrar

 

  • Birth Events 1942-1985 must be obtained from the county where the event occurred or the State Registrar.
  • Birth Events 1986-Present are available state-wide regardless of the county where the event occurred.
  • Marriage & Death Events 1942-1953 must be obtained from the county where the event occurred or the State Registrar.
  • Marriage and Death Events 1954-present are available state-wide regardless of the county where the event occurred.

 

County registrars, however, do not have code authority to have on record:

  • single-parent births prior to January 1, 1986;
  • adoptions prior to January 1, 1986;
  • legal name changes, other than marriage, ordered sealed by a court of law;
  • birth, death, and marriages between the years 1880 to 1941.