Death Records
Deaths from 1954 to the current date are available electronically in all counties in Iowa, regardless of where the event occurred.
When requesting a certified death record by mail, all completed applications must be notarized and a photocopy of the applicant's valid driver's license or other government-issued picture ID is required. We also request a check, postal money order (or bank certified check) made payable to the Wapello County Recorder. All certified copies are $15 each.
If the event occurred in Wapello County, and you would like us to process it, please mail your completed application to:
Wapello County Recorder
101 W 4th Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Non-certified copies of death records are available for a fee of $3.00 per record. For more information on genealogical requests, please contact our office at (641) 683-0045.
Wapello County has limited records from 1921 to 1941. The application may be brought into our office or mailed to the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services (IDHHS) in Des Moines, Iowa:
Iowa Department of Health & Human Services
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
To order a death record via phone through the IDHHS, please follow the instructions on the back of the Vital Record Application or by calling VitalChek toll-free at (866) 809-0290 from 6:00 a.m. CST through 7:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, except holidays. VitalChek is the only third-party vendor authorized by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to accept orders for Iowa vital records. There is an additional fee to order over the phone using VitalChek; fees start at $9.00 per order.
