About Iowa Public Records

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.

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. Link to Iowa probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Iowa state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

Court search routes

As there may be more one source to obtaining Iowa criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Iowa State Court Structure:

Iowa's juvenile court is a specialized court within the district court that presides over four kinds of cases related to children. Iowa's district court has exclusive civil jurisdiction (including trial court appeals). Iowa's small claims jurisdiction extends to cases with an amount in controversy of $5,000 and below. The district courts have exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction, exclusive criminal jurisdiction (including criminal appeals), and exclusive traffic or other violation jurisdiction except for uncontested parking violations matters. The district court has exclusive juvenile jurisdiction, and holds venue over preliminary hearings. Iowa's courts of appeal have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases assigned by the supreme court. It has no discretionary jurisdiction. Iowa's highest court is the Iowa supreme court, which has mandatory jurisdiction in various civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, and original proceeding cases. It has discretionary jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases.

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.

Background check access

Iowa criminal background checks and public records searches. Court records access links and resources and look up divorces. Begin you employment screening with license verification. Personal history, judgments and liens, free instant UCC searches online. Link to many government agencies that provide public records. Request bankruptcy records, drivers records, find property and real estate ownership or find an address. Order birth certificates, marriage, death and recorded documents. Research among the most complete directory of databases with how to instructions, inquiry forms and step by step process of obtaining public information. Background Checks Help And Frequently Asked Questions Plus Other Related Information

Vital records

Statewide Iowa vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Iowa and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Iowa to conduct research online. Births, deaths, marriages registered with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Iowa official registration of births, deaths, and marriages begriming July 1, 1880. All original records that have been registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Family history centers in Iowa that offer the most genealogy resources, including census records, death records, family history records, obituaries, marriage records, vital records, court records, and various other public records.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in Iowa and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Iowa owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access Iowa government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Direct Iowa official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your Iowa criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Iowa. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Iowa criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

Iowa genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Resources and data from the State Archives Holdings, State Historical Society Special Collections, Online Catalog, Des Moines Library, Fire Insurance Maps of Cities and Towns, State University Archives for Women in Science and Engineering, USGenWeb Project and National Archives Central Plains Region.

Missing children resources

Many resources are available to the citizens of Iowa to assist in the recovery and safe return of a missing child. Law enforcement and other public agencies are well organized and prepared to act when a child is reported missing in Iowa. The Iowa Amber Alert System is set up to broadcast speedy alerts to the public when a child has been abducted, as well as to post current alerts online. Multiple internet sites offer missing children search databases, and provide photos and details of children previously reported missing. The Iowa Missing Children's Clearinghouse has a telephone hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive information and inquiries regarding missing children. The Iowa Department of Public Safety provides a website detailing multiple resources available to Iowans dealing with a missing child and also contributes assistance to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in locating missing children. Information is also readily available to assist parents with safety tips for their children and methods to prevent child abduction.