Official
Court records
Iowa Divorce and Family Law
In Iowa, divorce is formally known as "dissolution of marriage," a term that is legally synonymous with divorce.
Open official site Iowa Divorce and Family LawStart here
Official Iowa court record sources
Every card below goes to the government office responsible for that record. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
Official
Court records
Iowa District Courts
Nearly all cases begin in the district (trial) court and there is one district court in every county in Iowa.
Open official site Iowa District Courts
Official
Court records
Iowa Juvenile Court
The juvenile court is a specialized court within the district court that presides over cases solely related to children, which include:
Open official site Iowa Juvenile Court
Official
Court records
Iowa Court of Appeals
Iowa Judicial Branch Building 1111 East Court Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 348-4700 (Clerk of Court)
Open official site Iowa Court of Appeals
Official
Court records
Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Judicial Branch Building 1111 East Court Avenue Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 348-4700 (Clerk of Court)
Open official site Iowa Supreme Court
Official
Court records
Online Iowa Court Services
The Iowa Judicial Branch dedicates itself to providing independent and accessible forums for the fair and prompt resolutions of disputes, administerin
Open official site Online Iowa Court Services
Official
Court records
Iowa Court Rules and Forms
Free official Iowa Judicial Branch court forms to fill in, print, save, and download.
Open official site Iowa Court Rules and Forms
Official
Court records
Iowa Trial Courts Case Search
Official site, iowacourts.state.ia.us.
Open official site Iowa Trial Courts Case Search
Official
Court records
Iowa Domestic Violence Law
Official site, iowacourts.gov.
Open official site Iowa Domestic Violence Law
Official
Court records
PACER, federal court records
PACER provides information about accessing and filing federal court records electronically.
Open official site https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
Official
Court records
United States Courts
Official site, uscourts.gov.
Open official site https://www.uscourts.gov/federal-court-finder
Official
Federal
NCSC: Browse by State, NIC Web Link
"NCSC is the organization courts turn to for authoritative knowledge and information, because its efforts are directed by collaborative work with the
Open official site https://www.ncsc.org/information-and-resources/browse-by-stateNothing in this category on this page.
Guide
Free Access To All Iowa Court Records And Court Information
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.
Guide
Federal & National Authoritative Sources
These federal and national sources complement Iowa's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Iowa state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
PACER, Public Access to Court Electronic RecordsThe U.S. federal judiciary's unified electronic records system. Every federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate case docket is here.
https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (pacer.uscourts.gov) U.S. Courts, Federal Court Finder
The official directory of every federal district, bankruptcy, and circuit court. Use it to identify the correct Iowa district(s) before searching PACER.
https://www.uscourts.gov/federal-court-finder (uscourts.gov) National Center for State Courts
The NCSC's directory of state court websites, technology standards, and public-access policies.
https://www.ncsc.org/information-and-resources/browse-by-state (ncsc.org) Frequently Asked Questions Iowa Court Records, FAQ Last reviewed: April 2026 Updated: April 2026
Record guide
About Iowa court record sources
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
At a glance
Iowa Court Records
- State
- Iowa
- Official sources
- 12
- Court records
- 11
- Federal
- 1
- Links checked
- Sep. 22, 2026
Using these court record sources
More Iowa records on this site: Iowa public records, Free Background Checks.
Straight answers
Iowa court record questions
Open only the answer you need.
Are court records free?
State court records are usually free to view at the courthouse and often free online, with per-page fees for certified copies. PACER charges $0.10 per page (capped at $3.00 per document), waived under $30 per quarter.
Do sealed cases show up?
No. A sealed case is hidden from the public docket index by court order. Its existence may still be confirmable by number, but documents are not accessible.
What's the difference between civil and criminal court records?
Civil cases involve disputes between parties (contracts, torts, family). Criminal cases are brought by the government. Both are indexed by the same court clerks but tracked in separate sub-dockets.
Can I search every court at once?
Not in one search. PACER covers all federal courts. Most states have a statewide judiciary portal that covers their state courts, but a few require per-county lookups. This page links to Iowa's official portal.
All states
Court Records by state
Every state page lists that state's official court record sources, each opened and verified.
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