Black Hawk County Court Records

Court clerks in Black Hawk County maintain records for all cases filed at their respective courts and make them available to interested members of the public. Documents obtainable during a court record search include briefs, court dockets, exhibits, appeals, pleadings, orders, judgments, and transcripts. Iowa court records serve several functions in the judicial system, including the establishment of legal precedence and the preservation of justice.

The maintenance of these records also plays an important role in informing the public about judicial decisions and preserving legal history. People search court records for both personal and professional reasons, including due diligence, background checks, and different types of research.

Are Court Records Public in Black Hawk County?

Yes. All Black Hawk County court records are public under the Iowa Public Record Law (Iowa Code 2024, Chapter 22 (41, 2)). Per this law, members of the public may visit the court clerk in charge of the courthouse that presided over a case of interest or any responsible public record custodian to inspect or copy the related court records. This law also permits record custodians to charge certain fees to cover any costs expedited by searches.

Only in special cases are requestors required to state the reason for their search. Note that the public availability of court records is subject to court orders, state statutes, and the content of the document in question. General exemptions from the public record law include

• Juvenile records
• Mental health proceedings
• Personal information (e.g., license numbers and SSN)
• Adoption and child custody records
• Sealed records
• Records that could endanger witnesses or law enforcement officers.

Black Hawk County Court Records Search

Individuals who have the case number or the name of any of the participants in a court case may search for related records using any of the following methods:

• Physical inspection of case documents at the presiding court
• By mail or Phone: (for specific courts)
• Online search indexes maintained by the court clerk
• Private websites.

Black Hawk County Court Records Search by Name

A person's first and last name is sufficient information to aid the retrieval of records on any court case to which they were a party. However, locating a specific case record with the name as the only search parameter may be difficult since multiple individuals may bear the same name or the named individual may be a party to several cases. As such, record requesters are advised to possess additional information, including a case number, filing date, or hearing date.

Aside from the name of litigants in a case of interest, an attorney’s name may be used to search for records depending on the search method and the record custodian. Name-based searches are common with online lookup tools, including third-party and government-operated websites. Upon satisfying the fee and other requirements associated with a search website, enter a case party’s first or last name in the appropriate fields and proceed with the search. Although not always necessary, websites may require additional party details, such as date of birth and the case’s filing date.

The district court clerk’s office also performs name-based searches for a fee at the courthouse. Individuals who wish to obtain certified copies of case documents are required to pay additional fees depending on the number of pages to be reproduced.

Black Hawk County Courts

The District Court handles all legal cases in Black Hawk County. Appeals from this court go to the state supreme Court or the Court of Appeals. Juvenile cases are filed at the juvenile court office. Find the addresses and contact information of these courts below:

Black Hawk County Courthouse
316 East 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 833-3331
Fax: (319) 833-3251
Email: countyclerk.blackhawk@iowacourts.gov

Juvenile Court Office
818 Lafayette
P.O. Box 1468
Waterloo, IA 50704
Phone: (319) 291-2506

Black Hawk County Superior Court Case Search

There are no superior courts in Black Hawk County. The judicial equivalent is the county’s district court—discussed in the next header.

Black Hawk County District Court Records

The Black Hawk District Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. This means that it hears all kinds of criminal, civil, probate, and family cases. The Clerk of Court preserves records for all cases filed in this court and also facilitates public access to them. Records maintained by this court are available online. Note that this online resource covers case information for all courts in the state. Furthermore, users are required to register on the site and fulfill the stipulated fee requirements to access records.

Alternatively, record requesters may use the public terminal at the courthouse or contact the court clerk’s office for guidance on accessing these records:

Black Hawk County Clerk of Court
316 E. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 833-3331
Fax: (319) 833-325
Email: countyclerk.blackhawk@iowacourts.gov.

Black Hawk County Criminal Records

Black Hawk County maintains public databases for public access to criminal records. The County Sheriff’s office and the district court are the primary agencies responsible for creating and maintaining these records. Although generally classified as public, the public availability of criminal records is subject to certain state privacy laws. Affected records are redacted from public repositories and websites. More so, criminal information related to juveniles and ongoing investigations are non-public.

Black Hawk County criminal records include different record types, including criminal court records and Black Hawk County arrest records. Researchers should contact the county sheriff’s office for criminal records and related information, such as current county jail inmates or recent arrests. A criminal record search helps researchers to find active arrest warrants, and identify persons wanted for crimes.

Black Hawk County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal cases are within the jurisdiction of the Black Hawk District Court. They include felonies and misdemeanors. The court clerk maintains all records pertaining to these cases physically and on the Iowa Courts Online database. Interested parties can search this database or visit the courthouse to request records. Record request requirements include a government-issued ID, case specifics (defendant’s name or case number), and search fees.

Get Black Hawk County Civil Court Records

Civil court cases are those related to personal claims, marriages, marriage dissolutions, adoption, alimony, probate, and custody proceedings, among others. The Black Hawk County District Court handles these cases and its clerk creates and maintains all the resulting records. Although the state of Iowa operates under the public record law, certain civil case records are exempt, such as those related to juveniles, probate, and adoption.

Interested parties may view non-exempt civil case records on the court’s website, using public terminals at the courthouse, and by perusing documents at the court clerk’s office. To do this, they must possess the name of the plaintiff, the defendant, or the case number. In addition, they must carry the required search fees and a means of identification (for requesters at the court clerk’s office).

Black Hawk County Family Court Records

Family court cases include marriage dissolutions, child-related matters, alimony, guardianship, and domestic violence. Black Hawk County does not have a specialized family court. All family law cases are filed at the Black Hawk County District Courthouse and the associated records are obtainable online and at the courthouse. Online researchers must possess the case number or a party name to view available records.

Individuals inspecting records in person at the court clerk’s office should carry a means of identification and any applicable fees. Note that privacy laws apply to certain family court records, making them non-public (e.g., those related to minors and guardianship). These records are typically only available to record subjects, their attorneys, and their designees.

Black Hawk Dissolution of Marriage Records

Marriage dissolution records include documents pertaining to divorces and other legal proceedings by which marriages are terminated. They are available at the courthouse that presided over the dissolution. See the next header for more information.

Black Hawk County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Black Hawk County Recorder maintains copies of marriage certificates and licenses issued in the County and may facilitate record issuances. This office also grants public access to related information such as the participants of a marriage and the date a marriage license was issued. The County's district court presides over divorce hearings and maintains records created in the course of proceedings. Interested parties should query the court clerk’s office for any divorce record of interest.

Marriage and divorce record searches require that a researcher possesses the name of a participant in the marriage and meets the eligibility requirements. Note that marriage records only become public after 75 years. Marriage records that are 75 years and younger are only available to the participants, immediate family members, and certain authorized persons. The County Recorder’s office provides certified marriage records to eligible parties at $15 per copy.

Black Hawk Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are classified under Black Hawk County vital records. The Black Hawk County Department of Health’s Vital Records Office maintains all such records from 1880 to the present. Records for the years 1921 to 1941 are unavailable. Certified copies of birth records are only available to the non-minor person named on the record, their father or mother (named on the record), or other immediate family members (e.g., siblings, grandparents, or spouse).

Note that the record seeker must present a government-issued means of identification. Furthermore, only notarized applications are accepted. Certified copies of both record types are available for a $15 fee. For further inquiries, visit this office at

Black Hawk County Department of Health
316 East 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 833-3000
Email: info@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov.

Black Hawk County Probate Court Records

The Black Hawk County District Court adjudicates all matters of probate filed in the county. Probate court cases include will administration, guardianship and conservatorship, and trust administration. Public probate court records are available on the Iowa Courts Online website and at the court clerk’s office. Note that searches may involve a fee.

Black Hawk County Property Records

Several agencies are responsible for maintaining property records for Black Hawk County, including the County Assessor, Auditor, and Recorder’s offices. Property records contain information about taxes, ownership, legal encumbrances, location, and valuation of real properties in the county. Documents found during a property search include deeds, plats, mortgages, orders, and liens.

The Recorder’s office maintains an online index where interested parties may view images of property documents. The above-named offices are located at:

Black Hawk County Courthouse
316 E 5th Street
Room 208
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 833-3012 (Recorder)
Phone: (319) 833-3002 (Auditor).

Black Hawk County Court Records Online

Aside from court websites, interested parties may view images of court records on private websites (e.g., Iowacourtrecords.us). These websites contain information gathered from official resources and typically require fees for usage. Users may search for records using case number or party name. Some third-party sites have features that allow users to filter search results using a filing date range. They typically contain record information for multiple courts and jurisdictions.

Search fees apply and may be slightly higher than those for official websites. The applicable fees depend on the number of searched names and the depth of information needed. Basic case information such as case number, party names, and case types may be viewed for free. Users should verify information obtained from these websites against official sources for accuracy and completeness.