Johnson County Court Records

Johnson County court records are official documents on court case proceedings, judicial actions, and information related to court operations. The records may exist as microfilms, hand-written notes, photographs, audio or video recordings, or paper documents.

Court records may also contain different information due to the case type and record format. The case status also determines what you will find in a court record. A typical court case record will contain data about the record subject, case number, and case summaries.

Note: Iowa court records ensure the courts are impartial in their rulings. In addition, legal representatives or interested public members may use these records as evidence or precedents for future legal cases.

Are Court Records Public in Johnson County?

Yes. Public members can examine and obtain copies of Johnson court records unless the record is exempt under Iowa Open Records Law. State laws determine which records are open to the public. Furthermore, they assign government agencies as record custodians of public records in Johnson County.

Chapter 22.7 of the Open Records Law classifies certain records as “exempt” from public view. Most exempt documents contain data that may breach a record subject's right to privacy or security. For instance, the law exempts the personal data of court officials from public court records. Other exempt court records in Johnson County include:

• Records that contain documents created by attorneys in relation to a claim made against or by a public agency
• Medical examiner reports in court documents.
• Court documents which were exempt from public access due to court orders or laws
• Court files that may reveal the identity of minors or juveniles.
• Preliminary notes, drafts, or memoranda prepared by court officials in a decision-making process.

Johnson County Court Records Search

There are multiple options for searching court records in Johnson County. Local or state record custodians may provide access to court records via online or offline request channels. For example, Johnson County's court clerks allow in-person viewing of court records. It also produces copies of court records upon request.

Irrespective of the request channel, requesters must search court records by providing information about the case. The search information may include the case party's name, case number, or filing date.

Johnson County Court Records Search by Name

Record seekers can conduct name-based searches for Johnson court records through the Iowa Courts’ online search portal. The portal contains court dockets generated by state court clerks.

Alternatively, you can name-search court records at the court clerk’s office. You only need to provide the case party's name to view the record.

While it is free to view court records, record custodians may charge fees for producing copies of the documents. Note that the fees may differ based on the record format and number of copies printed.

Johnson County Courts

Johnson County's court system consists of only the district court. The county court is located at:

Johnson County District Court
417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060

Johnson County District Court Records

The Johnson County district court hears all court cases filed in the county. The court has different divisions that handle specific court cases. For example, the district court's probate division handles probate court cases.

In Johnson County, the court clerk is the record custodian for district court records. You can obtain copies of the records by visiting the court clerk's office at:

417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Fax: (319) 356-6032

You may also find some court records on the Recorder of Deeds online portal. The portal provides information on some probate and civil court cases.

At the state level, Iowa Courts’ website has a unified database for all court records generated within the state. The database contains court docket information for trial and appellate court cases.

To find Johnson County district court records on the portal, requesters must select “trial court search” and proceed to provide the search information.

Johnson County Criminal Records

Johnson County criminal records contain information on arrest histories, criminal convictions, and inmate records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety, via the Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), is the state's custodian of criminal records.

The agency allows online, mail, in-person, or email requests for criminal records in their custody. To access criminal records via online request, the requester must complete the DCI Billing and Records Check online form. For mail or walk-in request options, requesters send a completed request letter and the applicable fees to the DCI at:

Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Criminal Investigations
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa
Email: dciaccounts@dps.state.ia.us

Note that each criminal background search costs $15. The fees must be paid by money order or check for mail requests.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office, via the Records Department, may provide access to arrest data. Johnson County arrest records may be found under the officer's investigative report.

John County Sheriff's Office
511 South Capitol Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 3566020

Johnson County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Johnson County, the clerk of courts keeps records of criminal cases filed at the district court. Thus, record seekers must visit the clerk's office to obtain the court records. Note that the clerk's office attends to in-person requests during business hours.

Alternatively, the Iowa Courts’ website also provides online repositories for criminal court cases. You can obtain the court documents by selecting “trial court case search” and inputting the required search data.

Get Johnson County Civil Court Records

In Johnson County, civil court records are official files that contain data on disputes and lawsuits. They contain information on cases such as civil equity, small claims, general civil, foreclosure and liens, and ordinance violations.

The clerk of court stores and issues copies of civil court records to interested parties. So, visit the clerk's office during business hours at:

417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Fax: (319) 356-6032

The county’s recorder of deeds also maintains online records of civil cases, such as liens, foreclosures, and agreements. You can find the records through the agency’s online search portal.

The Iowa Courts’ website also maintains online access to civil court records in Johnson County.

Johnson County Family Court Records

In Johnson County, family court records contain records of domestic relations and juvenile court cases. Record seekers can request and obtain the documents at the clerk's office. As the custodian of family court records, the agency attends to walk-in orders for court records during business hours.

You can also view Johnson County family court documents on the Iowa Courts’ statewide database.

Note: You must present a valid ID when requesting confidential family court records. The court clerk will only release the record to persons with a tangible and direct interest in it.

Johnson Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Johnson County, dissolution of marriage records consists of divorce events. Record seekers can obtain these records through these general guidelines:

• Find the agency keeping the record
• Check available request options and select your preferred option
• Fulfill the requirements for obtaining the record through the request option.

Johnson County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records are accessible through local and state agencies. At the local level, the Recorder of Deeds maintains Johnson County marriage records from 1839 until the present, while the clerk of courts is the custodian of divorce records. In contrast, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is a state-level record custodian of these documents.

Requesters must follow these steps to obtain marriage records from the Record of Deeds:

1. Download, print, and complete the apppcation form for marriage records. Attorneys representing the record subject must fill out an Attorney Proof of Entitlement form
2. Notarize the completed request form
3. Include a $15 fee for a certified copy of the record. The fee must be a money order or check.
4. Attach a copy of a vapd photo ID.

Note: The Johnson County Recorder of Deeds will only issue the certificate to persons legally epgible to obtain the record. Those in this category include the record subject and immediate family members.

5. Mail the documents and fee to:
Johnson County Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
913 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-4273

You can also order marriage records via phone at (866) 809-0290.

In contrast, you must visit the clerk of courts to obtain divorce court records. Requesters may view the records at public terminals or obtain copies of the documents in person at:

417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Fax: (319) 356-6032

The IDPHHS is also a custodian of marriage records. The agency allows mail or in-person requests for the records. To obtain marriage records via mail or in person, record seekers must follow these steps:

1. Download and print the record request form for Johnson County marriage records
2. Include a clear copy of a government-issued ID card
3. Notarize the request form and ID card
4. Include a $15 money order or check payable to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
5. Send the documents via mail or present it in person at:
   Iowa Department of Public Health
   Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
   Lucas State Office Building
   1st Floor
   321 East 12th Street
   Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

Johnson Birth and Death Records

The Records of Deeds Office enables access to Johnson County vital records like birth and death certificates. Furthermore, the agency will only issue birth records to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include the record subject, immediate family members, and legal representatives.

To obtain birth or death records, requesters must send a notarized request letter via mail or in person to this address:

417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Fax: (319) 356-6032

The mail or in-person request must contain the following:

• An application for Johnson County birth or death certificates.
• Attorney Proof of Entitlement form (for attorneys requesting these records on behalf of the record subject).
• A copy of a government-issued ID.
• A $15 search fee for a certified copy of the record. For mail requests, send the fees as money orders or checks.

Alternatively, the IDPHHS also keeps records of birth and death certificates. Eligible applicants can obtain the records via these steps:

1. Download, print, and fill out the request form for Johnson County birth or death records
2. Include a $15 money order or check payable to the Iowa Department of Public Health
3. Attach a copy of a government-issued identification card
4. Notarize the request form and ID card.
5. Send these documents via mail or in person to the agency at:
   The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
   Lucas State Office Building
   1st Floor
   321 East 12th Street
   Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075.

Johnson County Probate Court Records

Johnson County's district court hears probate cases, such as probate of wills, conservatorships and guardianships, name changes, and administration of wills and estates. Furthermore, records of these cases are publicly accessible at the Recorder of Deeds Office. The agency maintains access to the records via an online, searchable database.

The clerk of courts also enables in-person requests for probate court records. So, visit the clerk's office to obtain physical copies of the court documents.

417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Fax: (319) 356-6032

In contrast, the Iowa Courts’ website maintains an online database for probate court dockets.

Johnson County Property Records

Johnson County's Recorder of Deeds stores and maintains access to property-related records. The agency maintains an online searchable database that provides information on deeds, land patents, liens, mortgages, plats, and tax deeds. To obtain property records on the platform, requesters must select one of these search options:

• Search by name
• Search by book/page
• Search by file number
• Search by date range
• Search by parcel ID
• Search by deeds

Johnson County Court Records Online

Johnson County court records are typically available online on government-owned websites. For example, the Iowa Courts website maintains online court docket records. That said, record seekers may also be able to find some information on third-party search sites like Iowacourtrecords.us. These sites are generally easy to access and do not restrict out-of-country requesters from accessing court documents. Nevertheless, third-party search sites are not substitutes for official search platforms as the accuracy of records cannot be guaranteed.