How Do We Go About It?

If the following information and directions seems to be too much of a hassle to negotiate, let us walk you through the things you have to do and let us take care of all the rest for you. Contact us for more information.

Same-sex couples go through the identical process as different-sex couples:

Both parties must have a photo identification such as a driver's license and fill out an application form at the county court house listing name and Social Security numbers. A disinterested third party, acquainted with the couple and of legal age must also be present. The couple and third party must sign the application in the presence of a commisioned notary public. The couple pays a nonrefundable fee of $35 to the recorder's office. Three business days later, they can pick up the license. It is possible to have this three day period waived under emergency or extraordinary circumstances. See Iowa Code 595.4. It is not necesary to be an Iowa resident and no blood test is required.
The marriage ceremony then takes place. Any Iowa state judge, magistrate, or associate judge can officiate although it is not mandatory for any judge to do so. Any person ordained or designated as a leader of a religious faith may also perform the ceremony even if the person doesn't live in Iowa.

The new application form now lists "applicant a" and "applicant b." rather than bride and groom. It optionally asks for the applicant to check "bride," "groom," or "spouse." It also asks each applicant to designate "gender" but this is also optional. Per Iowa Code section 595.5 applicants may adopt a legal name change through marriage (first, middle, and/or last name). However an individual may only have one legal name at any one time. Once the name change takes effect after the marriage ceremony, a court order or another legal action is required to change it again, except for obvious typographical errors.

Attention, transgendered persons!

Unless I am mistaken this is an excellent opportunity for you to legally change your first and middle names from a male to female or female to male name.

If you want a church wedding, the Unitarian Universalist churches are very likely to be more than willing to officiate. In Sioux City, the First Unitarian Church has done non-legally binding ceremonies for same-sex couples for years and will happily perform marriage ceremonies for same. On 4/19/09 this church adopted the following resolution:

Whereas same-sex couples now have the legal right to marry in Iowa . . .
Whereas many committed same-sex couples are interested in embracing the institution of marriage . . .

In order to provide support to committed same-sex couples and in hopes of strengthening the institution of marriage, be it hereby resolved that the First Unitarian Church of Sioux City will:

provide support and encouragement to committed same-sex couples who wish to get married,

advertise this commitment on our website and through other appropriate methods, and

facilitate, host, and provide a community witness to committed same-sex couples who ask us for such.