Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 144.13 (2026)

Birth certificates

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. Certificates of births shall be filed as follows: a. A certificate of birth for each live birth which occurs in this state shall be filed as directed by the state registrar within seven days after the birth and shall be registered by the county registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this chapter. b. When a birth occurs in an institution or en route to an institution, the person in charge of the institution or the person’s designated representative, shall obtain the personal data, prepare the certificate, and file the certificate as directed by the state registrar. The physician in attendance or the person in charge of the institution or the person’s designee shall certify to the facts of birth either by signature or as otherwise authorized by rule and provide the medical information required by the certificate within seven days after the birth. c. When a birth occurs outside an institution and not en route to an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and filed by one of the following in the indicated order of priority: (1) The physician in attendance at or immediately after the birth. (2) Any other person in attendance at or immediately after the birth. (3) The father or the mother. (4) The person in charge of the premises where the birth occurred. The state registrar shall establish by rule the evidence required to establish the facts of birth. d. The state registrar may share information from birth certificates for the sole purpose of identifying those children in need of immunizations. e. If an affidavit of paternity is obtained directly from the county registrar and is filed pursuant to section 252A.3A the county registrar shall forward the original affidavit to the state registrar. 2. If the mother was married at the time of conception, birth, or at any time during the period between conception and birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child unless paternity has been determined otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction, in which case the name of the father as determined by the court shall be entered by the department. 3. If the mother was not married at the time of conception, birth, and at any time during the period between conception and birth, the name of the father shall not be entered on the certificate of birth, unless a determination of paternity has been made pursuant to section 252A.3, in which case the name of the father as established shall be entered by the department. If the father is not named on the certificate of birth, no other information about the father shall be entered on the certificate. 4. The state registrar shall make all of the following available to child support services, upon request: a. A copy of a child’s birth certificate. b. The social security numbers of the mother and the father.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:26:36 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 144 (52, 1) §144.13, VITAL STATISTICS 6\n\n c. A copy of the affidavit of paternity if filed pursuant to section 252A.3A and any subsequent rescission form which rescinds the affidavit. d. Information, other than information for medical and health use only, identified on a child’s birth certificate or on an affidavit of paternity filed pursuant to section 252A.3A. The information may be provided as mutually agreed upon by the state registrar and child support services, including by automated exchange. 5. A certificate of birth filed under this section shall include a designation of the sex of the person. “Sex” for purposes of this chapter means the same as defined in section 4.1A. If the sex of the child cannot be determined at birth, the time period for filing a certificate of birth shall be extended for a period of no more than six months to allow the parents to obtain any diagnosis or testing from a health care provider as defined in section 144.29A, subsection 7, paragraph “a”, that is necessary to determine the child’s sex. [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2397, 2398, 2399, 2400, 2401; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §144.12 – 144.16; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §144.13] 88 Acts, ch 1158, §36; 90 Acts, ch 1052, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1097, §2; 93 Acts, ch 79, §9; 93 Acts, ch 116, §1; 94 Acts, ch 1171, §2, 3; 95 Acts, ch 94, §1; 97 Acts, ch 159, §10 – 12; 97 Acts, ch 175, §223 – 225; 99 Acts, ch 141, §16; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §76; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §251; 2025 Acts, ch 1, §3 Referred to in §144.13A, 233.2, 252A.3A, 331.611 NEW subsection 5

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 18 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1993–2024 · leading case: Heather Martin Gartner & Melissa Gartner, Individually & as Next Friends of Mackenzie Jean Gartner, a Minor Child v. Iowa Dep't of Pub. Health, 830 N.W.2d 335 (Iowa 2013).

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Heather Martin Gartner & Melissa Gartner, Individually & as Next Friends of Mackenzie Jean Gartner, a Minor Child v. Iowa Dep't of Pub. Health, 830 N.W.2d 335 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 102× “Iowa Code § 144.13 (1)(a). The state uses the birth certificate to establish the fact a birth occurred, as well as to identify the child for immunization purposes.”

In the Interest of J.c, Minor Child. D.C., Father, 857 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 18× “, Iowa Code § 144.13 (2) (“If the mother was married at the time of .”

Callender v. Skiles, 591 N.W.2d 182 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code section 144.13 states in pertinent part: If the mother was married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child.”

Braunschweig v. Fahrenkrog, 773 N.W.2d 888 (Iowa 2009). · cites it 4× “”); see also Iowa Code § 144.13 (3). 4 Iowa Code section 144.”

In Re Name Change of Reindl, 671 N.W.2d 466 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 5× “Pursuant to Iowa Code section 144.13(3), Jessica was prohibited from naming Logan's father on the certificate because there had not been a *468 determination of paternity under Iowa Code section 252A.”

Sanon v. City of Pella, 865 N.W.2d 506 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 2× “Iowa Department of Public Health, we held the department lacked interpretive authority as to the vital records statute, noting the "legislature did not expressly authorize the Department to interpret section 144.13(2).” 830 N.W.2d 335, 343 (Iowa 2013); but see Birchansky Real…”

In Re the Marriage of Gulsvig, 498 N.W.2d 725 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 144.13 . Our legislature has also provided the law for changing names.”

Dye v. Geiger, 554 N.W.2d 538 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 144.13 (2). The presumption of legitimacy attending that legal designation reflects long established social policy and legislative respect for the integrity of the family unit.”

Treimer v. Lett, 587 N.W.2d 622 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 4× “[2] Jena's birth certificate lists Darrin as her father, as required by Iowa Code section 144.13(2). This section provides, in pertinent part: If the mother was married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the…”

Benjegerdes v. Reindl, 671 N.W.2d 466 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 5× “Pursuant to Iowa Code section 144.13(3), Jessica was prohibited from naming Logan’s father on the certificate because there had not been a *468 determination of paternity under Iowa Code section 252A.”

Jenkins v. Palmer, 902 F. Supp. 180 (N.D. Iowa 1994). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 144.13 (4) (1991). Jesse's birth certificate was not filled out in compliance with this law.”

Amended: March 10, 2015 in the Interest of J.C., Minor Child. D.C., Father (Iowa 2014). · cites it 8× “, Iowa Code § 144.13 (2) (“If the mother was married at the time of .”

Show all 18 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 144.13(1)(a) — 1 case

Heather Martin Gartner & Melissa Gartner, Individually & as Next Friends of Mackenzie Jean Gartner, a Minor Child v. Iowa Dep't of Pub. Health, 830 N.W.2d 335 (Iowa 2013). “Iowa Code § 144.13 (1)(a). The state uses the birth certificate to establish the fact a birth occurred, as well as to identify the child for immunization purposes.”

— Iowa Code § 144.13(2) — 7 cases

Callender v. Skiles, 591 N.W.2d 182 (Iowa 1999). “Iowa Code section 144.13 states in pertinent part: If the mother was married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the father of the child.”

In the Interest of J.c, Minor Child. D.C., Father, 857 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 2014). “, Iowa Code § 144.13 (2) (“If the mother was married at the time of .”

Sanon v. City of Pella, 865 N.W.2d 506 (Iowa 2015). “Iowa Department of Public Health, we held the department lacked interpretive authority as to the vital records statute, noting the "legislature did not expressly authorize the Department to interpret section 144.13(2).” 830 N.W.2d 335, 343 (Iowa 2013); but see Birchansky Real…”

Treimer v. Lett, 587 N.W.2d 622 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998). “[2] Jena's birth certificate lists Darrin as her father, as required by Iowa Code section 144.13(2). This section provides, in pertinent part: If the mother was married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the husband shall be entered on the certificate as the…”

— Iowa Code § 144.13(3) — 3 cases

In Re Name Change of Reindl, 671 N.W.2d 466 (Iowa 2003). “Pursuant to Iowa Code section 144.13(3), Jessica was prohibited from naming Logan's father on the certificate because there had not been a *468 determination of paternity under Iowa Code section 252A.”

Braunschweig v. Fahrenkrog, 773 N.W.2d 888 (Iowa 2009). “”); see also Iowa Code § 144.13 (3). 4 Iowa Code section 144.”

Benjegerdes v. Reindl, 671 N.W.2d 466 (Iowa 2003). “Pursuant to Iowa Code section 144.13(3), Jessica was prohibited from naming Logan’s father on the certificate because there had not been a *468 determination of paternity under Iowa Code section 252A.”

— Iowa Code § 144.13(l)(a) — 1 case

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