Frequently Asked Questions
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Do you have property abstracts on file?
No. Abstracts are not filed in our office.
Does your office handle Divorce Records?
No. The Lucas County Clerk of Court can help you with divorce records. You may contact them at 641-774-4421.
How do I add or take somebody off the title of my property?
You can file a deed in our office. We do not have blank forms available in our office. Most people have an attorney create one. All documents recorded must meet Iowa document formatting standards.
What are your hours of business?
- Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- When applying for a marriage license, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
What forms of payment do you accept?
- Cash
- Check
- Money order
- Credit cards
Where are you located?
Lucas County Courthouse
First Floor
916 Braden Ave
Chariton, IA 50049
Who can get a copy of a Military Record?
Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have full access to the record. Next-of-kin includes the un-remarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran. For more information, please contact our Veterans Affairs Department at 641-774-4611.
Birth
How do I get my birth certificate?
To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you can come in person or apply by mail. We should have your record if you were born in Lucas County, your parents were married at the time of your birth and you were not adopted. We also have single-parent birth's after July of 1995 through the present day.
We may not have your birth certificate if you were born in the years 1921 through 1941. If you apply in person, you will need to fill out an application, bring your photo I.D., and $15.00 cash/check. If you apply by mail, complete and sign* the Vital Records Application Form . Please enclose the $15.00 fee in the form of cash, check, or money order. Once we receive your request, we’ll mail it out the following business day.
*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.
I was not born in Lucas County. How can I get a copy of my birth certificate?
The Iowa Department of Public Health has birth certificates for all Iowa births. Their phone number is 515-281-4944. For births outside of Iowa, you will need to contact the vital records department in the state of your birth or visit the National Center for Health Statistics website.
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.”
Marriages
Can a marriage license be applied for in Lucas 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.
Can we change our names through marriage?
Yes, 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.
Do we need a blood test to get married?
No
What is the legal waiting period for remarrying after a divorce?
None. A marriage can take place at any time once a divorce is final. However, you may not apply for the marriage license until the divorce is final.
Map · Lucas County Recorder
916 Braden Ave · Chariton, IA 50049
