VITAL RECORDS DEPARTMENT

Welcome to Polk County Vital Records! We can help with:

All applications for certified copies of vital record events must be in writing and completely identify the record, as well as satisfactorily establish entitlement to the record being requested. Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person's spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. A photo ID including signature must be provided.

Application for a certified copy requires a fee of $15.00 for the record search and includes one certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record is also $15.00. If the record is not located, the applicant receives a notification to that affect. The $15.00 fee is retained for the search. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order made out to "Polk County Recorder".

NOTICE: 

-The Recorder's Office does not have Divorce Records. They are handled by the Clerk of Court. 515-286-3762

-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.

-How to request a certified record online:  You can place an order on line at http://www.vitalchek.com.  Your identity will be authenticated, the credit card screened and the fee will be $13.00 in addition to the $15.00 fee for the certified copy charged by the department. It may take 7-21 business days to process your request. (This service is not affiliated with Polk County)