How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Divorce Decree in Iowa

Many post-divorce updates require a certified copy of your dissolution decree — not a photocopy, not a printout from the court's online system. Banks, insurance companies, and other institutions may want to see an official, court-stamped document. For a name restoration, use the standalone name-change document issued under HF 2720 for SSA, DOT, and passport updates rather than the full decree. Order enough copies upfront or you'll end up making multiple trips back to the courthouse.

Where to Request Certified Copies

Clerk of District Court (Primary Source)

Contact the Clerk of District Court in the county where your divorce was finalized. This is the fastest and most direct option. You can request copies in person, by mail, or in some counties through the Iowa Judicial Branch's electronic system.

Every Iowa county courthouse processes these requests through the Clerk's office. Find contact information for your county's Clerk of Court on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

County Recorder (Not the Source)

County Recorders do not maintain divorce records. Use the Clerk of District Court in the county where the divorce was finalized, including for older cases.

How Much Does a Certified Copy Cost?

The stated fee is $12.00 for certification plus $0.50 per page. Confirm the current copy and certification charge with the Clerk when ordering.

If you filed your divorce through the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), you can access unofficial copies online through the Iowa Courts Online system — but these aren't certified and won't be accepted by most agencies.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

Order four to six certified copies, depending on how many institutions need an original. A five-copy decree order can cover:

1. Mortgage lender or county recorder — for the quitclaim deed or refinance
2. Retirement plan administrator — for filing a QDRO or dividing an IRA
3. Vehicle or other institution — when the county treasurer or institution requests the decree
4. Bank or insurer — when an institution requests a certified decree
5. Your personal records — keep one certified copy permanently in your files

If you're restoring a name, separately obtain two to three standalone name-change documents when applicable. If you're dividing multiple retirement accounts, transferring multiple vehicle titles, or dealing with several financial institutions, order additional decree copies. Getting the recommended copies upfront costs far less than making separate trips to the courthouse each time another institution asks for one.

The Standalone Name Change Certificate (HF 2720)

If your decree includes a name restoration under Iowa Code § 598.37, the Clerk of Court must issue the standalone name change certificate separately. As of July 1, 2026, under House File 2720, this document proves your name change without revealing any other details of your divorce. Ask the Clerk how to obtain copies and what certification or copy fee applies.

Use this certificate — not the full decree — for name change updates at the SSA, DOT, and passport office. It protects your privacy by keeping custody arrangements, support amounts, and asset details confidential.

What If Your Divorce Was Years Ago?

If your divorce was finalized years ago and you need copies now, contact the Clerk of District Court in the finalization county. Iowa courts maintain dissolution records permanently. Older records may take longer to locate, especially if they predate electronic filing, but they're available.

For very old records (pre-EDMS), the Clerk's office may need to pull the physical case file, which can take a few business days.

The Iowa After-Divorce Checklist includes a document tracking worksheet where you can log how many certified copies you've ordered, which agencies have received them, and which ones still need a copy.

See more Iowa guides →