Iowa Court Records

The Iowa court system comprises the supreme court, court of appeals, and the district courts. Most legal proceedings in the Iowa judicial system are held in the district courts. These courts handle more than 700,000 cases every year.

The Iowa Supreme Court is the state's highest court and is primarily responsible for reviewing decisions made by lower courts, interpreting the Iowa Constitution, and issuing final rulings on important legal and constitutional questions. The court also supervises the judicial branch, sets rules of procedure, and handles attorney and judicial discipline matters.

Below the supreme court is the court of appeals, serving as the intermediate appellate court in the state. It reviews appeals from the district courts in both civil and criminal cases, helping to ease the caseload of the supreme court. The court of appeals issues written decisions, many of which set legal precedent unless reviewed and overturned by the supreme court.

At the trial level are the Iowa district courts, which are general jurisdiction courts located throughout the state. These courts handle the broadest scope of cases, including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, family law matters (such as divorce and child custody), probate cases, juvenile matters, and small claims.

Magistrate courts and juvenile courts are specialized courts within the district court. Magistrate courts are responsible for handling minor criminal offenses, small claims (up to $6,500), traffic violations, and simple misdemeanors. Magistrates may also issue search and arrest warrants. Juvenile courts preside over cases related to children, including child in need of assistance proceedings, termination of parental rights, delinquency matters, adoption, and commitment proceedings.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Iowa?

Court records serve as the official documentation of legal proceedings and judicial actions within Iowa courts. As cases move through the courts, these records are created and are maintained by the clerks in each court. The following records are created and maintained in each court type in the Iowa court system:

• Iowa Supreme Court
• Opinions and Rulings: Final decisions on significant legal or constitutional issues in the state, binding on all lower Iowa courts.
• Case Dockets: Listings of filings, motions, briefs, and rulings in cases before the Court.
• Attorney and Judicial Disciplinary Records: Decisions involving ethics violations or professional misconduct, typically in coordination with the Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board.
• Administrative Orders and Rules: Issuances regarding statewide judicial procedures, rules of court, and guidance for lower courts.
• Petitions for Writs of Certiorari: Requests for review of decisions from the Iowa Court of Appeals.
• Iowa Court of Appeals
• Appellate Case Dockets: Detailed records of civil and criminal appeals, including all procedural filings and court actions.
• Published Opinions and Orders: Final rulings on cases that establish legal precedent.
• Motions and Briefs: Arguments submitted by parties contesting lower court decisions.
• Oral Argument Summaries: Available for cases where the Court hears oral arguments.
• Iowa District Courts
• Criminal Case Records: Includes misdemeanors and felonies, charging documents, plea agreements, trials, and sentencing.
• Civil Case Files: Disputes involving contracts, personal injury, landlord-tenant matters, and small claims.
• Family and Domestic Records: Divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, and adoption proceedings.
• Probate and Guardianship Cases: Wills, estate administration, conservatorships, and mental health commitments.
• Iowa Juvenile Courts
• CINA Records: Child in Need of Assistance cases
• TPR Records: Termination of Parental Rights cases
• Delinquency Case Records: These include details of cases involving acts that would typically be considered criminal if committed by an adult.
• Commitment Proceeding Records: Records related to the placement of a child in a hospital or other treatment facility for the treatment of substance abuse or mental illness
• Adoption records

Are Iowa Court Records Public?

Codified under Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code, the Iowa Open Records Law makes Iowa judicial records open to the public. Accordingly, Iowa court records are generally public and may be accessed by interested persons online or offline. While most court records are available to the public, certain documents are exempt from disclosure due to privacy or legal protections. Examples of exempt records include juvenile records, adoption records, certain criminal records, victim or witness identities in some criminal proceedings, and mental health commitment records. In addition, Iowa courts may seal certain records, making them inaccessible to the public. Court records may be sealed in Iowa for several reasons, including protecting personal privacy, ensuring fair trials, or restricting access to information containing details of national security or public safety.

How Do I Search Iowa Court Records?

You may search Iowa court records online in the following ways:

• Iowa Courts Online: Members of the public may use the Iowa Courts Online system to view public information in Iowa court cases, but not court documents. This system provides access to search cases of the appellate and trial courts. Appellate court docket records may be searched using the appellate docket number, short case title, and party information. Trial court docket records may be searched by name, case ID, or citation number information.
• Iowa Judicial Branch Electronic Document Management System (EDMS): This system may only be used by parties in a court case to access documents and records in their cases.
• Appellate Opinions Search: Opinions of the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court may be accessed online via the Iowa Courts website.
• Easy Access to Adult Criminal Data (EZAACD): The EZAACD system provides access to multiple years of adult-court convictions and disposed charges, including information on the charge details, county, sex, age, and ethnicity of defendants.

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

Submitting requests offline is another method of obtaining court records in Iowa. This may be done by visiting the clerk of the court's office in the county where the case was filed. The process involves submitting a request for the desired records by providing information such as case number, party name, case type, and any other information that may be used by the office of the clerk to locate the file.

Standard copy fee for court records is typically $0.50 per page, while certification costs between $15 and $30 per document. Requests are typically attended to promptly or as soon as practicable, depending on the size and nature of the request. Simple requests may be processed immediately, while more extensive searches or requests for older records may take up to several business days to process.

Can I Seal or Expunge an Iowa Court Record?

The terms "expungement" and "sealing" are used interchangeably when referring to relief options for adult criminal records in Iowa. While many states in the United States define expungement to mean the destruction of a record, Iowa does not destroy an expunged record. According to Section 907.1 of the state code, expungement removes certain criminal records from public view, making them inaccessible to the general public. However, law enforcement agencies and courts may still access these records under specific circumstances. Sealing, as a separate term, is primarily used for juvenile records.

Eligibility for expungement in Iowa is available in the following situations:

• Acquittals and Dismissals:
• The charges were public offenses
• All charges must have been acquitted or dismissed.
• A waiting period of 180 days post-judgment, unless waived for good cause.
• All court costs and fees must be paid.
• Ineligible if you were found not guilty because of insanity or deemed incompetent to stand trial.
• Deferred Judgments:
• Successful completion of probation.
• Payment of all associated costs and fees.
• Automatic expungement of the court's criminal record related to the deferred judgment.
• Specific Misdemeanor Convictions:
• Applies to misdemeanors only, with several exceptions.
• More than eight years have passed since the conviction.
• No pending criminal charges.
• All financial obligations related to the case are paid.
• No more than one prior deferred judgment.
• Only one expungement is allowed under this provision in a lifetime, unless multiple convictions arose from the same incident.
• Public Intoxication and Underage Alcohol Possession:
• No criminal convictions (excluding traffic tickets) during the two years following the conviction.
• Juvenile Prostitution Convictions:
• Offense committed under the age of 18.
• No criminal convictions (excluding traffic tickets) during the two years following the conviction.
• Adult cases transferred to Juvenile Court
• Adult cases transferred after 2018 should be automatically sealed

Upon determining that you are eligible for expungement and have fulfilled the waiting period requirement, you may proceed to submit a request in the following way:

• Gather Required Documents: Obtain court records related to the case, including sentencing orders and proof of completed obligations, such as fines or probation.
• Complete the Expungement Application: Fill out the appropriate form based on the type of expungement. The form varies depending on the circumstances in your case:
• Not Guilty or Dismissed Charges Expungement Application
• Public Intoxication Expungement Application
• Possession of Alcohol Under the Legal Age (PAULA) Expungement Application
• Prostitution Court Record Expungement Application
• Misdemeanor Expungement Application

If you are requesting an expungement for a record related to a misdemeanor, review the Instructions for Application to Expunge Misdemeanor Court Records.

• File the Application with the Court: Submit the completed form to the clerk of court in the county where the case was handled. You may also file the request electronically via the Iowa courts website. A copy of the application must be submitted to the court and the county attorney.
• Pay the Filing Fee: While there is no filing fee to request expungement for the record of cases resulting in acquittal or dismissal, expunging records of eligible misdemeanor convictions may cost up to $200
• Notify the County Attorney: The prosecutor and all parties involved in the case must be informed of the expungement request.
• Attend a Court Hearing (if required): Some cases may require a hearing before a judge grants expungement.
• Receive the Court's Decision: If your request is approved, the record will be sealed or removed from public access.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Iowa

Federal court records in Iowa may be accessed online via PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) or in person at the federal courthouses in the state. There are two federal courts in the state: Northern District Court of Iowa and the Southern District Court of Iowa. These courts handle cases such as disputes involving federal laws, criminal violations of federal laws, and bankruptcy matters.

To use PACER to access Iowa federal court records online, registration is required. Accessing case information on PACER costs $0.10 per page, with a maximum charge of $3.00 per document. However, if your total charges do not exceed $30 in a quarter, fees may be waived.

To access federal court records offline, you may submit a request online at the clerk's office of the federal district court maintaining the record you need. You will be required to provide information such as the case number and the party name. You should contact the clerk's office in advance to inquire about record availability, copying fees, and any identification requirements.

How To Get Iowa Court Records Online for Free?

You may use the Iowa Courts Online System to access public court case information for free by providing a case number or party name. In addition, opinions of the supreme court and court of appeals are published online for free. If you are a party to a case, you may use the Electronic Document Management System on the Iowa Judicial Branch website to access documents and records in such cases for free.

Alternatively, you may use a reliable third-party public record website such as PublicRecords.us to obtain Iowa court records online for free.