OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. For criminal history, DCI is the agency — not the Iowa State Patrol, which handles traffic enforcement only.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through Iowa Courts case search
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through Iowa DCI
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in Iowa

Iowa's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels. The state judiciary under the Iowa Supreme Court maintains court records through the statewide case search. Iowa DCI within the Department of Public Safety holds statewide criminal history (not the State Patrol, which handles traffic enforcement only). Most local records — deeds, marriage licenses, District Court filings — are held at the county level.

Iowa has 99 counties organized into eight judicial districts. Each county has its own Clerk of the District Court, sheriff, recorder, and assessor maintaining separate records. The statewide case search provides good coverage for District Court cases across all 99 counties; older records and specialized filings may require a clerk's office visit.

Counties in Iowa

Iowa has 99 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. While the statewide case search provides strong coverage, some older records and specialized filings require a clerk's office visit. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026