Iowa's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 99 counties listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.
- Courts: The Iowa Supreme Court sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the District Court (8 districts). Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
- Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
- Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and may also be available locally.
- Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the county level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
- Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Population Estimates Program; 2022 ACS 5-year)
Vital Records Databases
13 official Iowa vital records sources.
Vital Records
Iowa Counties
99 Iowa counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free statewide criminal search in Iowa?▼
Iowa's official criminal-history repository is operated by the state law-enforcement agency. Free public access to a complete criminal history is generally not available; an official background check typically requires fingerprints and a fee. Countie-level court records can be searched at no cost through individual court websites.
How do I search Iowa court cases?▼
Iowa's court system is headed by the Iowa Supreme Court. Trial-court business is handled by the District Court (8 districts). Many Iowa courts publish docket searches and case lookups online — see the Court Records tab above for direct links.
Where do I search Iowa business entities?▼
The Iowa Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) operates the official business-entity search. You can typically search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other registered entities by name or registration number. See the Licenses or Business tab above.
What is the difference between Assessor and Recorder in Iowa?▼
The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some county offices combine these roles, others keep them separate. Check the specific county page for details.
How do I obtain a Iowa birth or death certificate?▼
Iowa vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates) are issued by the state Department of Health (or equivalent) and, in many cases, by local county clerks. Fees and ID requirements are set by the issuing agency.
Are Iowa property records free to search?▼
Most county-level property and recorded-document searches are free for basic information through the Assessor or Recorder website. Certified copies of deeds typically have a per-page fee. Direct links are in the Property Records tab above.
How do I check a Iowa sex offender?▼
The Iowa sex offender registry is maintained by the state law-enforcement agency under the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The registry is searchable by name, ZIP code, or address.