Plymouth County Court Records

Iowa Court Rules (ICR) Rule 20.1(2) describes Plymouth County court records as the contents of the court file. This includes the docket and similar documents created to record actions in a case, transcripts submitted to the clerk, documentary exhibits held by the clerk, and any record of court proceedings produced through methods approved by the Supreme Court. These records exist in various forms, like written and printed documents, audio and video recordings, photographs, data stored electronically and magnetically, and other items filed or created during legal proceedings. Plymouth court records are vital to the judicial process because they provide official documentation of legal cases like case filings, court orders, judgments, and related information, which supports transparency and accountability within the justice system.

Are Court Records Public in Plymouth County?

Iowa's Open Record Law, specifically Iowa Code section 22.2, generally allows the public to access Plymouth County public records, which include court records. This law grants citizens the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government entities, such as the courts. Nevertheless, this general rule has exceptions designed to protect privacy or for other legal reasons. Certain categories of court records remain confidential. These include:

• Adoption records,
• Juvenile records (covering both delinquency and non-delinquency matters),
• mental health records, and
• cases involving unexecuted search or arrest warrants.

Furthermore, courts can seal records by order, or they may fall under other exemptions specified in Iowa Code section 22.7. For instance, records containing personal details like social security numbers or materials prepared by attorneys for a case might also have restricted access. These limitations aim to safeguard sensitive information while still allowing broad public access to the majority of court records.

Plymouth County Court Records Search

Individuals seeking to access Plymouth County court records have several options, which include the following:

• Plymouth County Clerk of District Courts
• Plymouth County Recorder
• Plymouth County Assessor
• Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Record Search
• Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
• Third-party websites

Plymouth County Courts

Plymouth County is served by the Iowa District Court for the Third Judicial District, which operates a unified trial court system handling various legal matters. The courthouse is located at:

Plymouth County District Court
215 4th Avenue SE
Le Mars, IA 51031
Phone: (712) 546-4215
Fax: (712) 546-8430

Plymouth County Criminal and Civil Records

The County Clerk of Court's office manages access to all Plymouth County criminal court records and civil court records filed within the county. These include Plymouth County arrest records and civil case documents. Civil court records cover disagreements such as contract issues, civil wrongs, and minor financial claims. Individuals seeking these records may access general case information online through the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Record Search. For more detailed information or to obtain copies of documents, requesters must go directly to the clerk's office, where a fee of $0.50 applies.

Clerk of Court for Plymouth County
Plymouth County Courthouse
215 4th Avenue Southeast.
Le Mars Iowa, 51031
Phone: (712) 546-4215
Fax: (712) 546-8430

It is worth noting that Plymouth criminal records, such as the files for court cases, are not the same as criminal history records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), maintains criminal history information. To look up criminal history information, including Plymouth arrest records for charges that are more than 18 months old, individuals may contact the DCI through their website and pay the required fee.

Plymouth County Marriage Records

The Plymouth County Recorder's Office oversees and provides access to Plymouth County marriage records, a key component of the Plymouth County vital records. These records, encompassing marriage licenses and certificates, date back to 1880. Only those with a legal right to see the record, such as the person named on it, their lawful husband or wife, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers or sisters, or someone officially representing them legally, can ask for a Plymouth County marriage certificate. To get a copy of a marriage record, interested persons must submit a written application, a notarized form, and a $15 fee to:

Plymouth County Courthouse
215 4th Avenue Southeast
LeMars, Iowa 51031

If the record is not on file locally, the requester can try accessing it through the Iowa Department of Public Health by completing a vital records application form on the department's website. The cost for each certified copy is $15.00, payable in cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (additional processing fees may apply). Applications may be submitted in person or mailed to:

Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building – 1st Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

Plymouth County Divorce Records

Plymouth County divorce records are kept by the District Court, as divorces are legal proceedings. These records include divorce decrees and custody agreements. Individuals can access general case information through Iowa Courts Online or request specific documents from the clerk's office.

Plymouth County Birth Records

The Plymouth County Recorder's Office keeps Plymouth County birth records, which they have from 1880 up to now. Birth records are a part of Plymouth County's official records of important life events and are needed for securing an Identity Card, signing up for school, or applying for social benefits. Individuals who have the legal right to them, such as the person named on the record, their parents, legal guardians, or other officially approved individuals, can get certified copies of Plymouth County birth certificates. To ask for a copy, they need to write a request and send it with a $15 fee to the Recorder's Office at:

Plymouth County Recorder
Plymouth County Courthouse
Phone: (712) 546-4020
Fax: (712) 546-7304
E-mail: recorder@plymouthcountyiowa.gov

Records of births to single parents before July 1, 1995, adoptions, sealed records, or records from 1921 to 1941, are not accessible at the county level. To access these records, inquirers may query the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Plymouth County Death Records

The Plymouth County Recorder's Office maintains Plymouth County death records, which include death certificates from 1880 to the present. Eligible individuals can request certified copies by sending in a written request along with a $15 fee to the Recorder's Office. These records are vital for tasks such as settling estates, claiming insurance benefits, or doing family history research. Just like with birth records, death records from 1921 to 1941 or those that a court has sealed must be obtained from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Plymouth County Probate Court Records

The Iowa District Court in Plymouth County handles probate court cases and maintains its records. These records cover matters such as estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts. To access these records, interested persons may visit the clerk of court's office at the Plymouth County Courthouse or utilize the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Record Search to view general case information. If they want copies of particular documents, like wills or probate orders, they can request them from the clerk's office. Probate records are important for settling disagreements about inheritance, confirming how estates are divided, or managing the duties of a trustee.

Plymouth County Property Records

The Recorder's Office and Assessor's Office are charged with the custody of property records within Plymouth County. The Plymouth County Recorder's Office handles official documents like deeds, mortgages, and liens, while the Plymouth County Assessor's Office manages property tax evaluations. The Recorder's Office allows access to real estate documents, and the documents are organized by the names of the people involved, the document numbers, and the legal descriptions of the properties. People can also find recorded documents online through the Iowa Land Records website, which is a statewide system run by the Iowa County Recorders Association. Information about how properties are assessed, including their values and tax details, is available on the Plymouth County Assessor's website. These records are very important for buying and selling property, planning taxes, and confirming who owns a property.

Plymouth County Court Records Online

Some online platforms, like Iowacourtrecords.us, also provide Plymouth County court records. These platforms offer a convenient option for searching for specific cases using case numbers, the names of those involved, or dates, and they often let users see and download court documents directly. They gather public records from all 99 counties in Iowa, including details about crimes and vital records, which can be helpful for broad searches. Nevertheless, these platforms work separately from government offices, so there is no guarantee that the information is completely accurate, up-to-date, or has everything included.