What are Iowa Family Court Records?

Iowa family court records are official documents detailing the litigation processes of Iowa state family courts. Managed by the court clerks at the court's location, these records are primarily generated to provide an official account of the court's processes. Like most Iowa court records, they are located at the relevant court or judicial district. They typically hold general court case information, including details of court actions, filed motions, court orders, judgments, and decrees, as well as all court-issued and accompanying conditions.

The data contained in these records is maintained for accuracy and official use. The records may differ depending on the kind of case or legal matter involved. Under Iowa public record laws, these records can be provided to interested parties upon request. However, the right of public access to Iowa family court records is not absolute. As such, the eligibility requirements for accessing family court records generally vary depending on the requested record(s) and the judicial district where the case was heard.

What Cases Are Heard By Iowa Family Courts?

The Iowa judicial system comprises four state courts of varying authorities. They include the Iowa Supreme Court, the Iowa Court of Appeals, the Iowa District Court, and the state Juvenile Courts. District Courts operate from the 8 judicial districts and serve as the state’s primary court of general jurisdiction. Iowa’s Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort, which entertains various trials and appeals. At the same time, the Iowa Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court and the state’s second-highest courts. In keeping with this judicial stratification, family-related cases are generally heard by the state’s district courts. Family court cases are civil in nature and do not include criminal cases, which are handled by different courts within the criminal justice system. The kinds of cases heard by Iowa’s family courts include:

• Alimony/spousal support and child support cases
• Cases pertaining to child adoption, custody and/or child visitation
• Guardianship, minor emancipation, and related interventions
• Matters relating to marriages, divorces, separation, and annulment
• Domestic abuse/assault
• Cases relating to wills, trusts and domestic financial rights and settlements

In Iowa, family/domestic matters are heard by the family law division of the state district courts. Thus, cases pertaining to domestic relations and children, as well as selected probate cases, typically proceed from one of Iowa’s district courts. Following the district court’s verdict, interested participants may request an appeal from the state court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, depending on the case type. While judgments issued by the Court of Appeals are subject to review by the Supreme Court, the verdict issued by the Supreme Court is final.

What is Included in Iowa Family Court Records?

Iowa family court records are designed by the state judiciary to provide official accounts of the court’s litigation processes. As such, these records primarily contain general court case information. The data in these records is collected and maintained for legal and administrative purposes. The kind of information included may vary by case type. Given the unique processes employed by various courts, family court records may differ depending on the case type or the judicial district where the case was heard, or the concerned record custodian. Records of family law cases often feature details of the case, such as personal information of the parties involved, the place and date the suit was originally filed, and details of the court proceedings including court actions and motions, motion arguments, witness statements/court appearances and filed evidence.

Additionally, family court records feature information pertaining to the court’s final verdict, the court’s rights, as well as the conditions of any rights or settlements. Details of alimony settlements, spousal and child support as well as issues such as child custody, visitation or adoption rights are also indicated. Where the court’s original judgment is appealed to a higher court, details of the revised verdict are also included in the court record by the appellate court. This update may be made by the administrative arm of the appellate court.

Are Family Court Records Public in Iowa?

Pursuant to Iowa’s public record laws, family court records are provided to interested members of the public upon request. The data contained in these records is subject to public record laws, which determine what information is accessible. This includes Iowa marriage records, divorce records, case records pertaining to child support and alimony hearings, etc. However, while the state supports the right of the public to access these records, the right of public access to Iowa family court records is not absolute. All records deemed public by state statutes can be accessed without additional permissions. However, selected records require additional authorization to access and may only be released following a court's order. The following kinds of records are considered confidential in Iowa:

• Records containing the personal and contact information of a minor or juvenile
• Adoption records and documents filed child protective services and related institutions
• Psychological and mental health evaluations filed as evidence or part of witness statements
• Identifying information about domestic violence/assault victim
• Records pertaining to parental rights, guardianship records, minor emancipation record
• Income tax returns and documents detailing the financial status or property inventory of selected persons

To obtain the above-listed records, the requesting party must request and present a subpoena or a court's order from an Iowa-licensed judge.

How Do I Get Family Court Records in Iowa?

The state of Iowa by law provides a variety of channels through which family court records can be accessed. Generally, interested and eligible persons can access Iowa family court records through public terminals available in various courthouses across the state or by making mail-in requests to the record custodian. Records may be located at different courthouses or online repositories, so searching for records can be done either through online case search systems or by visiting the courthouse in person. However, the protocol for accessing these records depends primarily on the case and the record custodian.

Additionally, publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical areas of record availability and can serve as a starting point when researching a specific or multiple records. When searching for a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties must provide:

• The name of someone involved, providing it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Users should follow the instructions provided by third-party websites for record retrieval, which may include downloadable forms or step-by-step procedures.

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; the data retrieved from these sources may differ from official channels.

Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. However, because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and Iowa divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.

How to Obtain Iowa Family Court Records Online

The Iowa State Judiciary offers a number of solutions for accessing court records online. Searching for records online requires following the court's procedures, and records are located in the court's online repository. While most courts in the state operate independent online repositories containing records generated within their respective jurisdictions, the state-managed alternative allows interested persons to obtain court records generated across all participating state courts.

The Iowa Courts Online Search is a service provided by the Iowa Judicial Branch that offers remote online access to family court records generated by Iowa appellate courts and trial courts. The data available online is maintained by the court's system.

To use this portal, interested persons must register online by providing the requested information and preferred login information. Upon completing the registration, the registered user may perform up to 1,000 searches per calendar day. Users should follow the instructions provided on the website.

Records can be obtained on the portal by performing an appellate court case search, a trial court case search, a paid search, or an advanced case search (either appellate or trial court). The kind of records available may vary by court. Case searches require that the requestor provide some information regarding the cases. However, there are a limited number of fields available. Payment searches provide requestors with case information in exchange for a nominal payment, while advance case searches allow users access to up-to-the-minute information. The information required to facilitate all searches includes the full name(s) of either or both parties, the place in which the case was heard, and the case file number of the record (if known).

How to Make in-person Requests for Iowa Family Records

The Iowa state judiciary allows interested persons access to family court records following their in-person requests to the courthouse where the case was heard. In-person requests are especially recommended for persons interested in obtaining full court case information. Given the state’s restriction on electronically accessible records, all confidential or sealed court case information can only be accessed by making in-person requests to the record custodian. To request a record, interested persons are required to:

Locate the Record Custodian

Following Iowa public record laws, all court records are generated and maintained by the court clerk of the court where a case is heard. As such, records can only be obtained by confirming the judicial district in which the case was heard and locating the record custodian, who is located at the courthouse where the case was heard. Records are best found by considering the location where the suit was filed and the most current status of the case. Records of court cases that have been concluded are typically maintained by the clerk of the presiding court, while records of cases appealed to a higher court may also be maintained by the administrative arm of the appellate court. To obtain information regarding court locations and contact details, interested persons may use the resources available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

Prepare the Requirements

After confirming the location of the record custodian, requestors are advised to inquire about any unique record retrieval processes for the judicial district where the case was filed/heard. Requestors should follow the instructions provided by the court for record retrieval. Typically, the requesting party is expected to provide the information required to facilitate the record search. This includes the personal information of the plaintiff/defendant as well as the case number, docket number, or appellate file number of the record. The litigants’ names, details of the filing, and their respective state bar numbers may also be required. Where the record is confidential, the requestor will be required to obtain the required legal authorization to access the record of interest.

Make the Request

Requests are generally made during working hours to the office of the county clerk of courts. However, requestors may be required to schedule their visit to the courthouse beforehand. When searching for records in person, the requesting party may need to provide specific data, such as case numbers or party names, to the clerk to assist in locating the correct records. In addition to general case information, the requesting party may also be required to present a government-issued photo ID or other forms of identification to confirm the requestor’s eligibility. Most record custodians also charge a standard search/copy fee depending on the record requested and the copies required.

How to Access Iowa Family Court Records via Mail

The Iowa state judiciary also allows interested persons to request and obtain family court records via U.S. mail. Requestors should follow the instructions provided by the clerk's office for mail requests. The address where requests should be sent is located on the court's website. Typically, a written record request must be accompanied by a cheque or money order payment of any applicable fees, as well as a copy of the requestor’s government-issued photo ID and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Additional information regarding any unique requirements of the judicial districts may be obtained by contacting the office of the clerk of courts before making the request. The written request must contain the following data, which must be accurate to facilitate the search:

• The full name of the parties involved
• General court case information
• The case file number, docket number, or appellate file number of the record
• Details of the suit, including the place and date it was filed
• The legal representatives of either party
• The name and contact information of the requesting party

How Do I Access Sealed Family Court Records in Iowa?

Family court records that are sealed by court order may be made available to eligible persons if the record is proven relevant for legal purposes, civil, or for making financial claims. To obtain a sealed record, the interested party must follow the instructions for petitioning an Iowa-licensed judge, ensuring that all required data for the petition is provided. Eligible requestors will be issued a court order authorizing their access to the record of interest.

Family Court Records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain personal information of those involved and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records, and may not be available through government sources or third party public record websites. Sealed records are located at the court where the case was heard.

Are Child Custody Records Public in Iowa?

In Iowa, child custody cases are overseen under Iowa Code Chapter 598. Court records are presumptively public, but access is limited when the case involves minors. Iowa Court Rules permit sealing or restricting documents that could endanger the welfare of children. Parents and their legal representatives can access full records, while the general public may only view docket summaries or non-sensitive orders. Custody evaluations and child protection reports remain confidential.

Specialized Family Court Records

Along with maintaining records of trial transcripts, Iowa Family Courts maintain a variety of specialized records, including different kinds of court decrees and documents (generated by the state’s superior court and other minor courts). The data contained in these records provides legal proof of various court-issued rights and decrees pertaining to family matters and juvenile cases, including annulment, separation, divorce, alimony and child support, adoption and child custody, and authorization for will and trust fund execution. These records are located at the relevant court or administrative office. Like court records, some of these documents may be made available to interested and eligible persons.

How to Obtain Iowa Adoption Records

Following the provisions of chapter 600 of the Code of Iowa, adoption records are not public information. However, adult adoptees may access selected information if authorized by their birth and/or adoption records. Pursuant to the 1999 amendment of the law, adoptee, their birth parents and their adult biological siblings may access full adoption information. Requests for adoption records can be made to the Iowa Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry. Requestors should follow the instructions provided by the Bureau of Vital Records and ensure that all required data is included in their written request. Written requests must be made to:

Bureau of Vital Records
Iowa Department of Public Health
located at the Lucas Office Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
515–281–4944

How Do I Access Divorce Records in Iowa?

Iowa divorce records are managed by the court clerk for the court where the divorce was granted. These records are deemed public information and can be accessed by interested members of the public upon request. To obtain a divorce court record, requestors should follow the instructions provided by the court clerk for obtaining divorce records. The data required for the request includes the full names of the parties involved, the place and date where the divorce occurred, and the record’s case file number (if known). The records are located at the court where the divorce was granted, so requestors must verify the judicial district and court before proceeding. Requestors may then request the desired record in person, via mail, or online. In addition, requesters may be required to cover the cost of copying and certification (if applicable). Where the record has been deemed confidential or sealed on request from the record subject or the court, requestors may also be required to obtain written permissions from the record subject and/or a court order authorizing the record’s release.