- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
- Marriage License Validity Period: Never Expires
- Marriage License Return Period: 15 Days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Iowa
The first step to officiate a wedding is to become ordained with the Universal Life Church. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is free and takes about 1 minute to complete. We recommend that you obtain an Ordination Credential showing your valid ordination record. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
How to Officiate a Wedding in Iowa
While ministerial registration is not required to perform marriages in Iowa, we recommend that you still double check by contacting any Registrar or Recorder's Office. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding and ask them what documents they will need from you. There is a chance that they may ask to see proof of your ordination. Any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
Adair County
400 Public Square, Suite 6
Greenfield, IA 50849
(641) 743-2411
(641) 343-0121
Adair County website »
Adams County
500 Ninth Street
Corning, IA 50841
(641) 322-3744
(641) 322-3744
Adams County website »
Allamakee County
110 Allamakee St NW
Waukon, IA 52172
(563) 568-2364
(563) 568-6419
Allamakee County website »
Appanoose County
201 N 12th St, Room 5
Centerville, IA 52544
(641) 856-6103
Appanoose County website »
Benton County
1st Floor Courthouse
111 E. 4th St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 472-3309
(319) 472-3647
Benton County website »
Bremer County
415 E. Bremer Avenue
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-0401
(319) 352-0518
Bremer County website »
Buchanan County
210 5th Ave NE - 1st Floor
Independence, IA
(319) 334-4259
(319) 334-7453
Buchanan County website »
Buena Vista County
215 E. 5th
Storm Lake, IA
(712) 213-7430
(712) 749-2708
Buena Vista County website »
Calhoun County
Calhoun County Courthouse
416 Fourth Street, Suite 3
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8121
Calhoun County website »
Cedar County
400 Cedar Street Suite 105
Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-2230
(563) 886-2120
Cedar County website »
Cerro Gordo County
220 North Washington
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 421-3056
(641) 421-3154
Cerro Gordo County website »
Chickasaw County
8 East Prospect
New Hampton, IA 50659
(641) 394-2336
(641) 394-2816
Chickasaw County website »
Clarke County
100 S Main St.
Osceola, IA 50213
(641) 342-3313
(641) 342-1124
Clarke County website »
Clayton County
111 High Street Northeast
Elkader, IA
(563) 245-2710
(563) 245-2454
Clayton County website »
Clinton County
1900 North Third Street
Clinton, IA
(563) 244-0565
(563) 242-8412
Clinton County website »
Crawford County
1202 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3643
(712) 263-3413
Crawford County website »
Dallas County
801 Court Street, Room 203
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-5804
(515) 993-5970
Dallas County website »
Davis County
100 Courthouse Square, Suite 7
Bloomfield, IA 52537
(641) 664-2321
Davis County website »
Delaware County
301 E Main Street Rm. 204
Manchester, IA
(563) 927-4665
(563) 927-3641
Delaware County website »
Des Moines County
513 N. Main
Burlington, IA
(319) 753-8221
(319) 753-8721
Des Moines County website »
Dubuque County
720 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 589-4434
(563) 589-4484
Dubuque County website »
Emmet County
609 1st Avenue North, Suite 7
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-4115
(712) 362-7454
Emmet County website »
Fayette County
114 North Vine Street
West Union, IA 52175
(563) 422-3687
(563) 422-3739
Fayette County website »
Floyd County
101 S. Main St. Suite 306
Charles City, IA 50616
(641) 257-6154
(641) 228-6458
Floyd County website »
Franklin County
12 - 1st Ave. NW
Hampton, IA
(641) 456-5675
(641) 456-6009
Franklin County website »
Fremont County
506 Filmore St.,
Sidney, IA 51652
(712) 374-2315
(712) 374-2826
Fremont County website »
Greene County
114 N. Chestnut Street
Jefferson, IA 50129
(515) 386-5670
(515) 386-5274
Greene County website »
Guthrie County
200 North 5th Street
Guthrie Center, IA
(641) 747-3412
(641) 747-3081
Guthrie County website »
Hamilton County
2300 Superior Street, Suite 6
Webster City, IA
(515) 832-9535
(515) 832-8620
Hamilton County website »
Hancock County
855 State Street
Garner, IA 50438
(641) 923-2464
(641) 923-3912
Hancock County website »
Hardin County
1215 Edgington Avenue Suite 4
Eldora, IA
(641) 939-8178
(641) 939-8245
Hardin County website »
Harrison County
111 N 2nd Ave.
Logan, IA 51546
(712) 644-2545
(712) 644-3157
Harrison County website »
Henry County
100 E. Washington St. Suite 201
Mt. Pleasant, IA
(319) 385-0765
(319) 385-0770
Henry County website »
Howard County
137 North Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136
(563) 547-9210
(563) 547-9252
Howard County website »
Humboldt County
203 Main St
Dakota City, IA 50529
(515) 332-3693
(515) 332-3694
Humboldt County website »
Ida County
401 Moorehead Street
Ida Grove, IA 51445
(712) 364-2220
(712) 364-3929
Ida County website »
Jackson County
201 West Platt Street, Room 206
Maquoketa, IA 52060
(563) 652-2504
(563) 652-6460
Jackson County website »
Jasper County
101 1st St. N, Room 205
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-5442
(641) 791-3680
Jasper County website »
Jefferson County
Courthouse
51 W. Briggs, Suite 4
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-4331
(641) 472-5094
Jefferson County website »
Johnson County
913 S Dubuque St, Room 202
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 356-6093
(319) 339-6181
Johnson County website »
Kossuth County
114 W. State Street
Algona, IA 50511
(515) 295-5660
(515) 395-3660
Kossuth County website »
Lyon County
206 S. 2nd Ave.
Rock Rapids, IA 51246
(712) 472-8528
(712) 472-8523
Lyon County website »
Madison County
112 N. John Wayne Dr.
Winterset, IA
(515) 462-3771
(515) 462-5006
Madison County website »
Marion County
214 E Main Street, Suite 8
Knoxville, IA 50138
(641) 828-2211
(641) 828-3538
Marion County website »
Mills County
418 Sharp Street
Glenwood, IA 51534
(712) 527-9315
(712) 527-1507
Mills County website »
Montgomery County
105 E Coolbaugh St
Red Oak, IA 51566
(712) 623-4363
(712) 623-8915
Montgomery County website »
Muscatine County
414 E. Third St. Suite 103
Muscatine, IA 52761
(563) 263-7741
Muscatine County website »
O'Brien County
155 S Hayes Ave.
Primghar, IA 51245
(712) 957-3045
(712) 957-3046
O'Brien County website »
Palo Alto County
1010 Broadway
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
(712) 852-3701
(712) 852-3704
Palo Alto County website »
Pocahontas County
99 Court Square, Suite 5
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4404
Pocahontas County website »
Polk County
111 Court Avenue, Suite 250
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 286-3160
(515) 323-5393
Polk County website »
Pottawattamie County
227 S 6th St, Room 251
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-5612
Pottawattamie County website »
Poweshiek County
302 E. Main St
Montezuma, IA 50171
(641) 623-5434
(641) 623-2928
Poweshiek County website »
Ringgold County
109 W Madison St # 204
Mt Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-3231
(641) 464-0654
Ringgold County website »
Sac County
100 NW State Street, Box 2
Sac City, IA
(712) 662-7789
(712) 662-6298
Sac County website »
Shelby County
612 Court Street, Room 201
Harlan, IA 51537
(712) 755-5640
(712) 755-7556
Shelby County website »
Sioux County
210 Central Ave SW
Orange City, IA 51041
(712) 737-2229
(712) 737-3032
Sioux County website »
Tama County
104 W. State Street, P.O. Box 82
Toledo, IA
(641) 484-3320
(641) 484-8246
Tama County website »
Union County
300 N Pine Street, Suite 5
Creston, IA 50801
(641) 782-1725
(641) 782-1709
Union County website »
Warren County
301 North Buxton, Suite 109
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-1089
Warren County website »
Washington County
224 W Main Street, First Floor
Washington, IA 52353
(319) 653-7727
(319) 653-7754
Washington County website »
Webster County
701 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
(515) 576-2401
(515) 574-3723
Webster County website »
Winneshiek County
201 W. Main Street
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-3486
(563) 382-5437
Winneshiek County website »
Woodbury County
620 Douglas Street, Room 106
Sioux City, IA 51101
(712) 279-6626
Woodbury County website »
Worth County
1000 Central Ave
Northwood, IA 50459
(641) 324-2734
(641) 324-3682
Worth County website »
Wright County
115 N. Main St.
Clarion, IA 50525
(515) 532-3204
(515) 532-2669
Wright County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Iowa
If you need proof of your ordination, all you need to do is log in to your ULC account and order the materials from our online catalog. The Classic Wedding Kit is the best choice if you are solemnizing your first marriage. Be sure you have left a sufficient amount of time to order and receive your documents before the date of the ceremony. The couple may also want to view proof of your ordination.
How to Get a Iowa Marriage License
We encourage you as a ULC minister to familiarize yourself with the state laws regarding marriage licenses, particularly if you will perform more than one wedding in Iowa. For example, only the couple can pick up the license. It does not matter where within the state the wedding will take place, a license can be obtained from any county of Iowa. For example, the couple could obtain a Cedar Rapids marriage license in Linn County but then have the wedding in Clay County. The marriage license does not expire, but there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between when the couple applies for it and when the ceremony can be legally performed. After the wedding, the officiant has 15 days to submit it back to the office that issued the license.
How to Perform a Wedding
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple and their witnesses. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Iowa Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Iowa are primarily directed by Chapter 595 of Title 15 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Iowa, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
595.10 Who may solemnize. Marriages may be solemnized by: 1. A judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or district court, including a district associate judge, associate juvenile judge, or a judicial magistrate, and including a senior judge as defined in section 602.9202, subsection 3. 2. A person ordained or designated as a leader of the person's religious faith. [C51, §1472; R60, §2524; C73, §2193; C97, §3145; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10436; C4