Welcome to the new Hancock County website!
DNR
Does the Recorder's office license boat trailers?
When do hunting/fishing licenses go on sale?
How old do I need to be for a lifetime hunting/fishing license?
Do I need a habitat stamp?
Yes, you will be required to have a habitat stamp until you reach the age of 65.
Marriage Licenses
Can a marriage license be applied for in Hancock County if the marriage ceremony is to take place in a different county?
Yes, the license is valid in any county in the state of Iowa. It is not valid outside of Iowa. The marriage license must be returned to the same county you applied in.
Can we change our names through marriage?
Yes. In fact, a marriage provides the opportunity to legally change your name. Because of this, it is important to complete the application correctly and in full. Do not use initials or nicknames unless you wish them to become your legal name.
How does an officiant register to perform marriages in Iowa?
There is no formal “registration” of Officiants in Iowa. You are authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in Iowa if you are:
- An Iowa judge, magistrate, or associate judge serving on the Iowa supreme court, court of appeals, or district court; or
- An individual ordained or designated as a leader of the person’s religious faith, regardless of the state of residence or service (595.10)
Is there a fee to get married at the courthouse?
There is no fee to get married at the courthouse in front of a Magistrate Judge. Please contact the Clerk of Court to set up an appointment by calling 641-424-6431.
Once we pick up our marriage license, how long is it valid?
Once it is picked up from the Recorder’s Office, it is good until you are married. The Recorder’s Office will hold the paperwork for six months. If not picked up before the expiration of six months, it will expire and be unusable.
What do I need to bring in to get a marriage license?
- Both parties need a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license) or passport.
- $35 fee, cash or credit card only accepted (3% fee applies for credit card).
- One witness, 18 years of age or older. Witness needs a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license) or passport. They must know both parties.
Where do I get a marriage license?
Military Records
Is there a fee to record military discharge records or to get certified copies of them?
No. We will record your military documents at no fee and provide certified copies at no fee.
Request a Record
Where can I get a copy of my military discharge papers?
Military discharge records are not available to anyone who cannot prove they are entitled to the record. Identification must be given to prove entitlement (unless the record is 62 years or older).
Request a Record
Real Estate Records
Are abstracts recorded or stored in the Recorder's Office?
No, the Recorder’s Office does not record or store abstracts. Usually, the abstract is given to the property owner to keep in a safe place at the time of purchasing the property.
Are wills recorded in the Recorder’s Office?
No. Wills are generally filed at the Clerk of Court’s office.
Hancock County Clerk of Court
855 State St. (2nd floor)
Garner, IA 50438
How do I add or remove a name from my property?
The Recorder’s Office cannot assist property owners in preparing documents. It is wise to contact an attorney for advice on adding or removing names to property records.
How do I change the mailing address of my property tax bill?
What is the current real estate transfer tax for real estate sales?
This calculation is based on a $1.60 tax per thousand and the first $500 is exempt.
Where can I get a replacement abstract?
Hancock County Abstract Company
130 East 8th Street
Garner, Iowa 50438
United States
Phone: (641) 923-2454
Vital Records
How can I obtain a certified copy of a death certificate?
If the death occurred between 1954 and the present you can obtain the record at any County Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa. Prior to 1954, please contact the county office where the death occurred.
Requesting Death Records
How can I obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate?
If the marriage occurred between 1954 and the present you can obtain the record at any County Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa. Prior to 1954, please contact the county office where the marriage application was filed.
Requesting Marriage Records
How can I obtain a certified copy of my birth certificate?
What is the fee for a certified copy of a birth, death or marriage record?
$15 per certified copy. Cash, checks, and credit/debit cards are accepted (fee applies to credit card transactions).
Who can request a birth, marriage, or death certificate?
Entitlement to a record includes the person named on the record, or the person’s spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian (legal guardians and representatives must provide proof of guardianship or representation). Applicant must be 18 years old or older.
What's the difference between a certified copy and an uncertified copy?
A certified copy has what most refer to as a “raised seal” and states that the copy is a true and correct reproduction of the original record. An uncertified copy or a “plain” copy has no seal or verbiage indicating authenticity. An uncertified copy also has a stamp noting “not for legal purposes.”
Other Questions
Where can I get a passport?
Passport Agents in our local area:
- Winnebago County Recorder: 641-585-2094
- Kossuth County Recorder: 515-295-5660
- Cerro Gordo County Treasurer: 641-421-3033
- Mason City Post Office: 641-423-5231
Please contact the agents for hours of service.
More agents & information on the passport process can be found at travel.state.gov.
A Century Farm is officially recognized as a farm that has been continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. Visit the Century & Heritage Farm Program page on the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewarship website for more information.
Where can I obtain a divorce record?
Divorce records are court actions, so they are kept at the Clerk of Court: 641-923-2532.
Can I get a document notarized in the Recorder's office?
Our office does not have a Notary Public.
