Marshall County Court Records

As defined in Chapter 20 of the Iowa Court Rules, a "court record" is any item generated by courts to document activity in an action or proceeding. In Marshall County, court records further transparency and accountability in the judicial system and are crucial resources for uncovering case outcomes and judgments. Marshall County court records include a broad range of documentary materials stored in physical and electronic formats, including complaints, pleadings, interrogatories, orders, subpoenas, calendars, dockets, summonses, and answers.

Are Court Records Public in Marshall County?

Yes, court records are publicly accessible in Marshall County. Under the Iowa Open Records Act, the general public has the legal authority to see court records maintained within the Marshall judicial system. Requesters of Marshall court records do not have to hold a residence in the vicinity or be citizens of Iowa, for that matter. However, certain documents are not considered "public" and are only disseminated to eligible parties or for legitimate purposes under the law. They include:

• Juvenile delinquency records
• Grand jury transcripts
• Medical records
• Expunged records
• Personally identifiable information, such as a Social Security number

Marshall County Court Records Search

Members of the public researching Marshall court records have the following options:

• Request the record from its official custodian—the Clerk of the District Court.
• Access electronic case search systems provided by the Iowa Judiciary.
• Access online public records databases maintained by private businesses.

Marshall County Courts

Marshall County belongs to Iowa's Judicial District 2 and comprises a single District Court that hears all legal matters in the county. The court is located at the following address:

Marshall County District Court
Marshall County Courthouse
1 East Main Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158

Marshall County Criminal and Civil Records

Marshall County civil court records are produced from noncriminal proceedings that usually involve one party filing a claim for money against another. To find a Marshall County civil court record, an individual can query the Clerk of the Court's Office. A case party's name or case number will be needed to process a request, and fees may be assessed if the requester needs copies of a court record. Below is the District Clerk's contact information:

17 East Main Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158
Phone: (641) 754-1603
Fax: (641) 754-1600
Email: countyclerk.marshall@iowacourts.gov

Another way to access a Marshall County civil record is via the Iowa Courts Electronic Docket Record Search. The system is searchable by case party name, docket number, or other criteria. However, users cannot download or print case documents from the system; they can only view case information. One may visit a public access terminal at the local courthouse to view public case documents. However, case parties can access the Iowa Courts eFile system to obtain case-related documents.

Criminal court records can be obtained in the same manner specified for civil court records. However, if a request pertains to a criminal history record, which is a different type of governmental record, the interested party can approach the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Each DCI criminal history record check costs $15. Such Marshall County criminal records can also be retrieved from local law enforcement departments, like the Sheriff's Office, under the Iowa Open Records Act.

Marshall County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Marshall County marriage records are available to legally entitled persons under Rule 641, Chapter 95 of Iowa's Administrative Code. These include the spouses named on the record, their immediate family members (parents, grandparents, children, siblings, grandchildren), and their legal guardians or representatives. All other persons can only obtain uncertified (plain) copies of a Marshall County marriage certificate.

The Recorder's Office in Marshall County processes requests for Marshall County marriage records. Each certified copy costs $15, whereas an uncertified copy costs $5 and bears the stamp "Not for Legal Purposes".

Requesters are expected to complete and download the Application for an Iowa Vital Record, and the following should be noted:

• Applicants can only order a certified copy in person or by mail.
• Each applicant will need to submit a valid government-issued photo identification and additional proof of entitlement if they are a sibling, legal guardian, or legal representative ordering a certified copy. If applying by mail, a clear photocopy of the requester's ID must be included.
• Mail applications must be signed before a Notary Public and include a check or money order for the proper fee payable to the Marshall County Recorder.
• The public can inspect Marshall County vital records, including marriage records, during regular working hours at the Recorder's Office.
• Applications should be made at the address below.

Marshall County Recorder
1 East Main Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158

Marshall County Divorce Records

To obtain divorce records generated in Marshall County, Iowa, an individual can visit the local courthouse to view records on a public access terminal or access the Iowa Courts Electronic Docket Record Search online. One can also query the Marshall County District Court Clerk's Office for certified or plain copies of divorce records. Regardless of the request method, it will be crucial for the requester to have at least a case party's name, divorce date, or case number to retrieve relevant records. A fee per page or document typically applies to reproduce divorce records.

Marshall County Birth Records

Marshall County birth records are accessible through the local Recorder's Office. However, the Recorder only issues certified copies to persons legally entitled to obtain Marshall County vital records, such as registrants, their next of kin, or their representatives.

A Marshall County birth certificate can be requested by submitting a completed Application for an Iowa Vital Record, as explained in the "Marshall County Marriage Records" section. Each certified copy costs $15, and each uncertified copy costs $5. However, the Recorder does not maintain certain records, including birth records between 1921 and 1941 and single-parent births before 1986. For records unavailable locally, a person can contact the Iowa Department of Public Health, i.e., the State Registrar.

Birth records are commonly used for identification purposes, including when enrolling in school, requesting a passport or driver's license, and applying for a job.

Marshall County Death Records

Death records have vital uses in Marshall County. They help the government establish mortality rates and causes and assist citizens in settling estates, claiming pension benefits, canceling financial accounts, and more.

In Marshall County, plain and certified copies of death records are accessible through the Recorder's Office. Only legally entitled parties (e.g., a decedent's next of kin) can obtain certified copies by completing an Application for an Iowa Vital Record, providing valid identification, and paying the $15 fee. Everyone else can request an uncertified copy for $5, but it cannot be used for legal purposes.

Marshall County Probate Court Records

Probate records in Marshall County are products of probate proceedings adjudicated in the county's District Court. These proceedings cover various legal matters, such as guardianships and conservatorships, estate administration, and will contests.

To obtain a probate court record, individuals can submit a search request to the Marshall County District Court Clerk's Office or visit a public access terminal at the courthouse during regular business hours. One can also access the Iowa Courts Electronic Docket Record Search to look up probate court cases.

Marshall County Property Records

The Marshall County Recorder's Office preserves the region's official real estate (property) records. These records contain important information about real estate transactions and include plats & surveys, deeds, mortgages, tax liens, contracts, easements, etc. An individual can stop by or contact the Recorder's Office within the local courthouse building to obtain a Marshall County property record. They can also access different search tools listed on the Marshall County government's website to view property records.

Marshall County Court Records Online

Members of the public have different ways of finding Marshall County court records online, including through third-party websites like Iowacourtrecords.us. Third-party websites streamline the process of accessing public documents, providing a convenient location for retrieving numerous records, including the Marshall County arrest records, case information, property data, etc.

A third-party database can be searched for court records using an individual's first and last name or case number. However, obtaining extensive information may necessitate a fee or subscription, and it is crucial to independently verify any information obtained from these websites, as the search results may be subject to data inaccuracies.