Dallas County Court Records Search
IowaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on IowaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Dallas County, Iowa, is part of the state’s 5th Judicial District, and all court matters—criminal, civil, family, and probate—are processed through the Dallas County District Court at the county courthouse in Adel. The county’s court records span decades of filings, dispositions, judgments, and related legal documents. Whether conducting background research, verifying a legal proceeding, or tracing property history, understanding where records are maintained and how to request them is essential.
Residents and researchers in Iowa can locate court case information through several channels: official clerk of court offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, the statewide electronic docket, and county government websites. The Iowa Judicial Branch maintains an online case search system that indexes filings and proceedings across all 99 counties, including Dallas County. Additional tools for locating court-related information are available through IowaCourts.us. For records not indexed online, direct contact with the Dallas County Clerk of Court or the Dallas County Recorder’s Office is the most reliable path.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dallas County?
Dallas County court cases are heard in the District Court, which maintains jurisdiction over criminal, civil, juvenile, probate, and small claims matters. Cases are filed and administered at the Dallas County Courthouse:
Dallas County District Court — Clerk of Court
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-7018
Email: countyclerk.dallas@iowacourts.gov
Juvenile Court Office
801 Court Street, Room 203
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5805
District Court Administrator: Jennifer Webster, (515) 561-5848
County office hours for open records requests are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding county-designated holidays. The clerk’s office processes record requests, accepts filings, and provides certified copies during these hours.
To look up a case, individuals may use one of three methods:
- Online docket search. Visit Iowa Courts Online and search by party name, case number, or citation number. Select “Dallas” from the county drop-down and choose the appropriate case type (civil, criminal, traffic, etc.). The electronic docket displays an index of filings, hearing dates, and dispositions but does not include the full text of documents.
- Public access terminal. At the Dallas County Courthouse, public access computers allow viewing and printing of electronic case documents maintained in the Iowa Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). This terminal provides broader access to case documents than the remote online docket.
- In-person or written request. Visit the Clerk of Court office or submit a written request by mail. Requests should include the full names of parties, the case number (if known), and the case type. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, and certification with the court seal costs $30 per document under Iowa Code § 602.8105.
Fines, surcharges, and court fees can be paid online through the Iowa Judicial Branch e-Payment portal using a major credit card.
Are Court Records Public in Dallas County?
Court records in Dallas County are generally public under Iowa Code Chapter 22, the state’s Open Records Law. This means that members of the public may examine, copy, and publish most court filings. The law places the burden on government custodians to provide records within a reasonable time—Dallas County’s open records policy commits to responding within 10 business days, with an additional 20-day extension permitted if confidentiality determinations are necessary.
Iowa’s court rules impose specific categories of confidentiality and restrictions on access. Under Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16, Division V, the following types of records are excluded from public access or carry restricted access:
- Civil commitment cases involving substance abuse or mental illness
- Children-in-need-of-assistance (CINA) and termination-of-parental-rights proceedings
- Unexecuted search warrants and arrest warrants
- Dissolution-of-marriage files prior to entry of the decree
- Juvenile delinquency records sealed by court order, per Iowa Code § 232.147
- Pre-sentence investigation reports
- Domestic abuse records the court has ordered sealed
- Denied-judgment docket entries
Chapter 16, Division VI, also imposes personal privacy protections requiring filers to redact protected information—Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, dates of birth (except the year), and names of minor children—from documents before filing. These redaction obligations apply to both electronically filed and paper-submitted documents. The Iowa Judicial Branch guidance on protecting personal information details what must be omitted or masked from public filings.
Dallas County’s Open Records Request page provides online forms for both law enforcement records and general government records. A reasonable fee may be charged for retrieval time exceeding 30 minutes, and copying costs may not exceed the actual cost of providing the service.
Dallas County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Dallas County are prosecuted and adjudicated in the District Court. The court’s criminal docket can be searched remotely through Iowa Courts Online by selecting “Criminal” as the case type and “Dallas” as the county. Results show charges, hearing dates, and disposition information for cases in the electronic docket.
Comprehensive criminal history records, however, are maintained by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), which serves as the state’s central repository. Under Iowa Code § 692.2, certain criminal history data is confidential and may only be disseminated to authorized recipients. Records that are subject to restricted access include:
- Arrest records with no disposition data after 18 months from the date of arrest
- Records of dismissals or acquittals by reason of insanity
- Records involving adjudications of mental incompetence to stand trial in cases alleging physical or mental injury
- Records of individuals who have completed deferred-judgment probation
To obtain a criminal history record check through the DCI, requesters may submit a request online, by mail, by fax, or in person. The fee is $15 per last name searched, with payment accepted in cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Each last name requires a separate form. In-person processing is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at:
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Support Operations Bureau, 1st Floor
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Fax: (515) 725-6080
The DCI typically processes requests within one to three business days. Results are mailed to U.S. and Canadian addresses or faxed to U.S. fax numbers only.
For local arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports, requests should be directed to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office using the county’s law enforcement open records request form:
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
28985 Thin Blue Line Lane
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4771
Fax: (515) 993-6966
Administrative Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dallas County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Dallas County—including contract disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant actions, and property disputes—are filed with the District Court. The Clerk of Court maintains the official case file for each civil action, and most records are available for public inspection.
Filing fees for common civil actions (set by the Iowa Legislature under Iowa Code § 602.8105):
| Action Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Petition (general) | $195 |
| Dissolution of Marriage | $265 |
| Domestic relations action (modification, annulment, separate maintenance) | $110 |
| Small Claims ($6,500 or less in damages) | $95 |
| Foreign Judgment | $195 |
| Name Change | $195 |
| Appeal of Small Claims judgment | $195 |
Additional fees include $60 for filing statutory liens, $30 for certification with court seal, $60 for filing a lis pendens, $60 for contempt motions, $100 for a jury trial demand, and $0.50 per page for copies. Individuals who cannot afford filing fees may request a deferral by submitting an Application to Defer Costs through the Iowa Interactive Court Forms system.
Civil cases can be searched electronically through Iowa Courts Online by selecting “Civil” and “Dallas” from the drop-down menus. Searches can be performed by party name, alias, case number, or citation number.
Small claims cases—covering disputes of $6,500 or less—are heard by judicial magistrates. The Iowa Judicial Branch provides free small claims forms and instructions for self-represented litigants. All filings must be submitted electronically through the Iowa eFile system unless the court grants an exception for paper filing.
Property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements, are maintained by the Dallas County Recorder’s Office and can be searched online through the Recorder’s eSearch portal.
Dallas County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Dallas County are handled by the District Court and encompass dissolutions of marriage, child custody and support, domestic violence protective orders, adoptions, and terminations of parental rights. The Juvenile Court division, located in Room 203 of the courthouse, addresses cases involving juvenile delinquency, children in need of assistance, and families in need of services.
Divorce records. Until a decree of dissolution is entered, the contents of a divorce file remain confidential under Iowa court rules. Even after entry of the decree, certain materials—financial agreements, bank statements, and settlement terms—may remain sealed. Requests for divorce records should be directed to the Clerk of Court at (515) 993-7018 and must include the full names of both parties and the date the divorce was finalized.
Marriage records. The Dallas County Recorder’s Office issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records from 1851 to the present. Certified copies are available to entitled persons (the record subject, spouse, child, legal parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or legal representative) for $15 per certified copy. Requests must include a completed Vital Records Request Form, a photo ID, and payment. In-person requests are accepted during office hours; mail requests require a notarized copy of the requester’s photo ID.
Dallas County Recorder’s Office
801 Court Street, Room 203
P.O. Box 38
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Birth and death records. The Recorder’s Office holds birth records from 1880–1920 and from July 1, 1941 to the present, along with death records for the same periods. Under Iowa Administrative Code 641-95, birth records become public 75 years after filing, and death records follow a similar restriction. Eligible requesters can obtain certified copies for $15 each. For records outside the locally held date ranges—particularly between 1920 and 1941—contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Vital Records, at (515) 281-4944, or submit the state vital record application form by mail to:
Iowa HHS – Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Juvenile records. Under Iowa Code § 232.147, juvenile court social records are confidential. Official juvenile court records of delinquency proceedings may also be sealed by court order. Access is limited to parties, their attorneys, and agencies authorized by statute or court order.
Dallas County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Dallas County are administered by the Probate Division of the District Court. The division handles the probate of wills, estate administration, appointment and supervision of guardianships and conservatorships, trust matters, and related accounting proceedings. Iowa does not maintain a separate probate court; all filings are processed through the Clerk of Court at the Dallas County Courthouse.
To initiate a probate case or access existing probate records, contact the Clerk’s office:
Dallas County District Court — Probate
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-7018
Email: countyclerk.dallas@iowacourts.gov
Probate cases can be searched through Iowa Courts Online by selecting “Probate” as the case type. The electronic docket shows filing dates, appointed fiduciaries, and case status. Full documents may be viewed at the courthouse public access terminal or requested through the clerk’s office.
Filing fees for guardianship and conservatorship petitions fall under the general civil petition fee of $195 pursuant to Iowa Code § 602.8105(1)(a). The Iowa Judicial Branch offers interactive court forms to assist self-represented individuals with preparing guardianship, conservatorship, and other probate-related filings. All probate documents must be filed electronically through Iowa eFile unless an exception is granted.
Under Iowa Court Rules Chapter 20, the clerk of court may purge civil case files—including certain probate files—ten years after final disposition, though permanent records such as wills admitted to probate and final decrees are typically retained indefinitely. Researchers seeking older probate records not available through the electronic system should contact the clerk’s office directly or consult the Iowa State Historical Society and the Iowa Genealogical Society for archival collections.