Iowa County Court Information

The court system of Iowa is three-tiered, consisting of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the District Court. Iowa County, in the Cedar Rapids Division, is a part of the Northern District of Iowa. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa exercises jurisdiction over the 52 counties, including Iowa County, in this district.

The District Court forms a part of the unified trial court system of Iowa. 

Authority of the Iowa County Court

The Iowa County Court exercises general jurisdiction rights over all civil and criminal cases, except in certain special circumstances. There are divisions for Juvenile Court, Small Claims, and Probate Court.

The Juvenile Court division has original jurisdiction rights over most cases of juvenile delinquency, termination of paternal rights, adoption, children and families needing assistance, and those involving abortion notification waiver hearings. The court also possesses the right to preside over proceedings related to voluntary foster care placement.

The Small Claims division deals with claims where the amount of controversy is not more than $4,000. This amount does not include interests and costs. The court also hears landlord-tenant cases.

The Probate Court division possesses judicial rights over the estates of descendents and absentees, the creation of wills, trusts and trustees, conservatorships and guardianships, and actions that demand accounting. It also hears all other kinds of probate matters.

Judges at the Iowa County Court

Cases are heard by the District Judge, District Associate Judge, Associate Probate Judge, Associate Juvenile Judge, or by a Judicial Magistrate. The District Judges are empowered to rule over all cases that come up in the court, but the other ranks of judges can only preside over limited kinds of cases. 

The District Judges are appointed for six years by the governor who chooses from amongst the nominations from the district nominating commissions. Those appointed have to stand for election after they have completed at least one year in office.

 

Accessing Iowa County Court Records

Iowa County court records are documented and preserved and may be accessed by the public at the office of the clerk of court. http://www.iowacourts.gov/Online_Court_Services/Online_Docket_Record/. Dockets are indices of proceedings and filings of the court cases maintained by the office of the clerk of the court. Information regarding confidential cases like mental health cases and those involving a child in need of assistance are not kept here.

Basic details about a case like the case title and filings, disposition of cases, criminal charges, fine payments, and child support amounts are available free of cost. A monthly registration fee of $25 will enable you to access the “advanced search” section where additional details about a case like case schedules, judgment and lien indices, bonds, exhibit lists, and service returns, are stored.

Location

The courthouse building of the Iowa County Court is situated in Marengo, the seat of the county. It is located on 901 Court Avenue and operates from Monday to Friday from eight in the morning to half-past four in the afternoon.
 

Specific Iowa County Court Information:

Polk County Court