Guide
About Iowa public records
Iowa Division of Criminal investigation's History Record Dissemination unit offers the public various methods to request and receive information online. Individual departments offer access to records requested from the public with expanded indices to services. Iowa's Health department issues certificates with forms and fee information, other departments offer access to their search databases of business entities, mechanic's notice and lien registry, UCCs and local property information from county governments. The state's court case search is amongst the most frequented free online public searches for case filings available to all users. Iowa's 99 counties, state and city governments are the custodians of records requested on a regular basis.
Guide
Court records and filings
Access Iowa Courts online directly. Search court records; from Iowa county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Iowa dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Iowa state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
Guide
Court search routes
Criminal, civil and divorce records in Iowa can be held by more than one court, so search each court that may hold the case. The official court site below lists the Iowa courts and how to reach each one.
Guide
Criminal records and background checks
Iowa criminal records are maintained by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) under the Department of Public Safety. Iowa criminal history record checks cost $15 per last name through DCI. The DCI Sex Offender Registry was established in 1995 as the central repository for Iowa sex offender information. Court records are accessible through the Iowa Judicial Branch online case search system.
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Vital records
Certified copies of Iowa birth and death certificates are issued by Iowa Health and Human Services. Marriage records are also kept by the local office that issued the license, and divorce records by the court that granted the divorce.
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Property and asset records
Deeds and mortgages in Iowa are recorded at the county level, and property taxes are handled by county or local offices. Business and UCC filings are kept by the state, bankruptcy cases are federal court records, and the state runs a free search for unclaimed property.
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Government records and agencies
The Iowa Legislature keeps a list of state departments and agencies, and the Iowa Code is online from the Legislature.
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Driving and vehicle records
The Iowa Department of Transportation keeps driving records and vehicle records.
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Expungements and record clearing
Iowa Code chapter 901C lets a court expunge the record of a criminal case that ended in acquittal or dismissal. Under section 901C.3, a misdemeanor conviction can be expunged once in a lifetime if more than eight years have passed, all fines and costs are paid and no charges are pending. Operating while intoxicated (section 321J.2) and several other misdemeanors are excluded.
Guide
Genealogy and historical research
For family history, start with the State Historical Society of Iowa and the State Library of Iowa.
Guide
Missing children resources
The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse, in the Iowa Department of Public Safety, lists missing persons from Iowa.
- Iowa Missing Person Information ClearinghouseIowa Department of Public Safety
- NamUsU.S. Justice Department database of missing and unidentified people
Need a different Iowa record?
Browse county pages, search vital records, look up court filings, or run a background check from the main hub.