How to Search Iowa Public Records
Iowa public records are kept by official state and county agencies. Below are 82 verified statewide databases, organized by record type. Each link goes directly to the official Iowa government source — no third-party data brokers.
Population
3.2M
Households
1.3M
Median Income
$70,571
Median Home Value
$181,600
Statewide Databases
82 verified official Iowa government databases. Click a tab to filter by record type.
Court Records
Attorney General Opinions
Official Free Updated
Search the Iowa Attorney General's database of opinions from 1997 to the present by keyword.
Court Opinions | Appeals Court
Official Free Updated
Iowa Court of Appeals opinions. Search by by filing date, text, or case number.
Court Opinions | Supreme Court
Official Free
Iowa state Supreme Court opinions by filing date or search by case number. Provides summary and full text of each opinion.
Court Records
Official Free
Iowa Courts Online index of civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate court records.
Traffic Tickets
Official Free
Use this Iowa Courts Online service to search for traffic tickets by county and case number or name and make payments online.
Northern U.S. District Iowa PACER Bankruptcy Court Records
Official Free
Provided by: U.S. Northern District Court of Iowa. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal bankruptcy court records by case number, name, SSN/Tax ID, or case type. Provides d...
Northern U.S. District Iowa PACER Court Records
Official Free
Provided by: U.S. Northern District Court of Iowa. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal civil & criminal court records by case number, party name, filing date, or last upd...
Southern U.S. District Iowa PACER Bankruptcy Court Records
Official Free
Provided by: U.S. Southern District Court of Iowa. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal bankruptcy court records by case number, name, SSN/Tax ID, or case type. Provides d...
Southern U.S. District Iowa PACER Court Records
Official Free
Provided by: U.S. Southern District Court of Iowa. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal civil & criminal court records by case number, party name, filing date, or last upd...
Attorneys | Disciplinary and Disability Orders
Official Free Updated
Search Iowa Court Commissions Judicial Disciplinary and Disability Orders discipline orders imposed on Iowa lawyers.
Lawyers
Official Free Updated
Search for Lawyers licensed in Iowa by name, city, field of practice and license status.
Legal - Continuing Legal Education Sponsors
Official Free Updated
Search for Continuing Legal Education Sponsors in Iowa by name, Acronym, or city.
Legal - Shorthand Reporters
Official Free Updated
Search for licensed shorthand reporters in Iowa by name, county or judicial district.
Criminal Records
Child Support Payments
Official Free Updated
Search this database of child support payments in Iowa by SSN & case number to access payment information.
Criminal Histories | Official
Official Free
Go here for information from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on how to do a complete official Iowa Criminal History request by mail or fax. Requires a waiver signature from the subject.
Criminal Histories | Public Access
Official Free
Use this Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation service to do an online Iowa criminal history check for conviction information that is available to the public. Does not require a waiver signature...
Inmates & Offenders
Official Free Updated
Correctional facility, penitentiary, medical classification center, and judicial district inmate, offender, parolee, and probationer search from the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Legal - Weapons Laws
Official Free
Browse parts of the Iowa state code that have to do with owning, carrying, and using weapons (mainly chapter 724).
Cerro Gordo County | Inmates
Official Free Updated
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Office jail population report.
Cerro Gordo County | Warrants
Official Free Updated
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's list of persons with active warrants.
Vital Records
Births and Christenings 1830-1950
Official Free
Iowa births and christenings recorded between 1877 and 1920.
Deaths and Burials 1850-1990
Official Free
Search for Iowa deaths and burials recorded between 1850 and 1990.
Marriages 1809-1992
Official Free
Index of over 2 million Iowa marriage records filed between 1809 and 1992.
Story County Deaths | 1904-1916
Official Free
Search Story County death records by name. Gives date of death, gender, and death certificate number. Select Death Certificate Index (database only includes surnames A through I).
Census Records 1840 - 1860
Official Free
Provided by Access Genealogy. Browse Iowa census records from 1840 - 1860. Census information is listed by county and date.
Deaths | Cemetery Records
Official Free
Cemetery records in Iowa by county, including cemetery maps, interment records, and a substantial number of burial site photographs.
Rolfe Cemetery Records
Official Free Updated
Browse the cemetery records from Rolfe. St. Margaret's Cemetery, Old Rolfe Cemetery, Clinton/Garfield Cemetery, and Plover/Powhatan Cemetery.
Story County Births 1880-1908
Official Free
Search by surname for Story County births between 1880 and 1908.
Property Records
Liens
Official Free
Search for current Iowa tax liens filings in Iowa that have been submitted under the new RA9 rules.
Buchanan County Property Tax
Official Free Updated
Buchanan County, Iowa Treasurer's property database. Search property information and pay property taxes online.
Clayton County Property Tax
Official Free Updated
Clayton County, Iowa Treasurer's property database. Search property information and pay property taxes online.
Dickinson County Property Tax
Official Free Updated
Dickinson County, Iowa Treasurer's property database. Search property information and pay property taxes online.
Dickinson County | Treasurer
Official Free
Parcel search and online tax payments from the Dickinson County Treasurer.
Floyd County Property Tax
Official Free Updated
Floyd County, Iowa Treasurer's property database. Search property information and pay property taxes online.
Licenses Records
Banking | Financial Service Licenses
Official Free
Search for Iowa licensed currency exchanges, debt management companies, delayed deposit companies, education providers, industrial loan companies, money services, mortgage brokers, and mortgage ban...
Contractors
Official Free Updated
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) contractor license verification search.
Insurance
Official Free
Use this Iowa Insurance Division site to research fraud investigation, company regulation, consumer information, insurance agents and companies.
Insurance Companies
Official Free
Iowa Insurance Division search for licensed Iowa insurance companies.
Insurance Agents
Official Free Updated
Use this Iowa Insurance Division service to search for licensed Iowa insurance agents.
Kegs
Official Free Updated
We're not sure what this is used for, but it is intriguing. Enter a keg registration number and it will tell you what store the keg was from.
Liquor Products
Official Free
Iowa Department of Commerce - Alcoholic Beverage Commission liquor product list.
Business Records
Banking | Banks, Trust Companies, Holding Companies
Official Free
Regulated state-chartered banks, bank holding companies, and trust operations in Iowa
Company Search
Official Free
Search Iowa Secretary of State records for Iowa business entities by name or business number. Included are corporations, nonprofits, assumed and fictitious names, LLCs, and LLPs.
Uniform Commercial Code
Official Free
Search Iowa Secretary of State UCC and federal tax lien records by individual name, business name, or filing number. Access to the certified database, searches, and document copies are all free.
Civic Records
Campaign Disclosure Sanctions and Actions
Official Free Updated
The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board provides listings of campaign actions (administrative dissolutions, adjusting entries and remedial actions), sanctions (reprimands, admonishments and d...
Department Directory
Official Free Updated
Use this State of Iowa service to search for State Government departments.
Jobs - Government
Official Free Updated
Browse government job vacancies by general category. Gives job title, vacancy number, salary, location, minimum qualifications, closing date, job description, and application information.
Legislation
Official Free Updated
Search or browse for legislation (files, bills, resolutions, amendments, reports, etc.) by the Iowa state House or Senate (1995-Present). Gives full text, summary, sponsor, and history (dates, acti...
Lobbyist Directory
Official Free Updated
Browse alphabetically by last name for registered lobbyists in Iowa. Provides name, address, and phone number.
Lobbyists and Declarations
Official Free Updated
Search for lobbyists, declarations, or lobbyist clients by name. Lists may be sorted by lobbyist or client.
Personal Financial Disclosure Search
Official Free
Under Iowa Code section 68B.35, Personal Financial Disclosure statements are required by certain members and representatives of Iowa State government. Search by name or document number.
Other Records
Bill History
Official Free Updated
Search or browse for files, resolutions (concurrent, joint, etc.), or conference committee reports by Iowa state House or Senate (1995-Present). Gives full text, summary, sponsor, and history (dat...
Code
Official Free
Provided by the Iowa General Assembly. Search this version of the Iowa Code by Chapter and/or Section. Gives full text and cross-referencing.
Codes
Official Free Updated
Search past and present Iowa state codes by chapter & section or keyword. Gives full text and cross-referencing.
Crash Reports
Official Free
Use this Iowa State Patrol Department of Public Safety service to search for Iowa State Patrol Crash Reports by date, type, or county.
Electronic Employee Register
Official Free Updated
Search the State of Iowa government electronic employee register by name, department, or address.
Missing Persons
Official Free Updated
Iowa Department of Public Safety missing persons clearinghouse.
Official Website of the State of Iowa
Official Free
Visit this official Iowa State site to find the information you need about government officials, offices, agencies, programs, and services.
Iowa Counties
All 99 Iowa counties.
Adair
Adams
Allamakee
Appanoose
Audubon
Benton
Black Hawk
Boone
Bremer
Buchanan
Buena Vista
Butler
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Cedar
Cerro Gordo
Cherokee
Chickasaw
Clarke
Clay
Clayton
Clinton
Crawford
Dallas
Davis
Decatur
Delaware
Des Moines
Dickinson
Dubuque
Emmet
Fayette
Floyd
Franklin
Fremont
Greene
Grundy
Guthrie
Hamilton
Hancock
Hardin
Harrison
Henry
Howard
Humboldt
Ida
Iowa
Jackson
Jasper
Jefferson
Johnson
Jones
Keokuk
Kossuth
Lee
Linn
Louisa
Lucas
Lyon
Madison
Mahaska
Marion
Marshall
Mills
Mitchell
Monona
Monroe
Montgomery
Muscatine
O Brien
Osceola
Page
Palo Alto
Plymouth
Pocahontas
Polk
Pottawattamie
Poweshiek
Ringgold
Sac
Scott
Shelby
Sioux
Story
Tama
Taylor
Union
Van Buren
Wapello
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Webster
Winnebago
Winneshiek
Woodbury
Worth
Wright
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free statewide criminal search in California?▼
No. California does not offer a free public criminal history database. You can search individual county Superior Court websites for court-level criminal cases. For a full background, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the California Department of Justice - this requires the subject's consent.
How do I search California court cases?▼
Each county runs its own Superior Court case search - there is no single statewide court portal. Go to the county Superior Court website where the case was filed. Major counties like LA (lacourt.org), San Diego (sdcourt.ca.gov), and SF (sf.courts.ca.gov) have online case search.
Where do I search California business entities?▼
The Secretary of State at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. Search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other business entities filed in California.
What is the difference between Assessor and Recorder in California?▼
The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some counties combine them into one office (San Diego, Sonoma, Marin). Others keep them separate (LA, Santa Clara). Check the specific county page for details.
Last updated: 2026