DEATH RECORDS

Death Certificates for insurance policies, estate settlement, real estate transfers etc…

To obtain a raised seal certified copy of a death certificate you can write to us or come into the office. We will have the record if the person died in Polk County or if they were a Polk County resident at the time of death. We do not have death records prior to July 1, 1941.

For records we do not have, you may contact the Iowa Department of Public Health. You can contact them by phone at (515) 281-4944. You may use the "Request a copy of a county Vital Record"* form provided below, write to us or come in and see us. A fee of $15.00 is required for each request, sorry no credit card orders. Cash, check or money orders are accepted.

Mail your request and photocopy of your ID to:

Polk County Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
111 Court Avenue
Suite #245
Des Moines IA 50309-2251

Once we receive your request we’ll mail it out the following day.

*Request For Copy of a County Vital Record