Dubuque County Court Records Search
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Dubuque County sits in northeastern Iowa along the Mississippi River and falls within the First Judicial District of the Iowa court system. The county has a single trial court — the Dubuque County District Court — which exercises general jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, juvenile, probate, and small-claims matters. The Clerk of Court, located at the Dubuque County Courthouse, serves as the custodian of all case files and is the primary point of contact for anyone who needs to search, inspect, or obtain copies of court records.
In Iowa, court records from every county can be searched through official clerk offices, public-access terminals at courthouses, and online tools operated by the state judiciary. The Iowa Judicial Branch website, accessible at IowaCourts.us, provides links to the statewide electronic docket system, court directories, fee schedules, interactive court forms, and self-help resources that can assist individuals in locating publicly available case information across all 99 Iowa counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dubuque County?
There are three principal ways to locate a Dubuque County court case: online, in person, and by mail or email.
Online — Iowa Courts Online
The Iowa Courts Online case-search portal is a free, statewide electronic docket that covers all public trial-court cases filed after 1998. Searches can be performed by:
- Name — Enter at least two letters of a last name; first name, middle name, and date of birth are optional but help narrow results
- Case ID — Use the 17-character case number (capital letters required; the number 0 and the letter O are not interchangeable)
- Citation number — Useful for traffic tickets
The free search returns basic public docket data: case title, filings, names of parties and attorneys, criminal charges, dispositions, child-support payments, and fines and fees owed. It does not display actual case documents.
An Advanced Case Search subscription is available for $25 per month. Subscribers gain real-time results and access to additional data such as case schedules, the judgment index, lien index, exhibit lists, bonds, and service returns. Each subscriber is limited to 1,000 searches per year, and the subscription still does not grant access to document images — those must be viewed at a courthouse public-access terminal or obtained from the Clerk.
In Person
The Clerk of Court office is on the fourth floor of the Dubuque County Courthouse:
Dubuque County Clerk of Court
720 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
P.O. Box 5001, Dubuque, IA 52004-5001
Phone: (563) 589-4418
Fax: (563) 557-0614
Email: countyclerk.dubuque@iowacourts.gov
The Recorder’s office, which is in the same building, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk of Court observes the same general county business hours. Visitors may inspect public court records at no charge or use the public-access terminal in the courthouse to view electronic docket entries and, for certain case types, scanned documents.
By Mail or Email
Written record requests can be mailed to the Clerk of Court at the P.O. Box address above or emailed to countyclerk.dubuque@iowacourts.gov. Provide the party’s name, case number (if known), and the type of record sought. The Clerk will calculate any applicable copy fees and communicate the total before producing documents.
Copy Fees
| Service | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Photocopies of court records | $0.50 per page | Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule |
| Certification and seal of a court document | $30.00 | Iowa Code § 602.8105(2)(b) |
Fees are payable by check, money order, cash, or credit card (credit-card payments may carry a processing surcharge). The Clerk must collect all fees in advance. Individuals who cannot afford fees may file an Application to Defer Costs; a judge will decide whether to postpone payment.
Are Court Records Public in Dubuque County?
Iowa’s Open Records Law (Chapter 22) establishes a general presumption that government records — including court records filed with the clerk — are open to inspection and copying. The public may examine docket sheets, case filings, judgments, and other documents maintained in the clerk’s office during normal business hours.
Certain categories of records are exempt from public access under Iowa Code § 22.7 and various court rules:
- Juvenile cases — Delinquency, child-in-need-of-assistance, and related proceedings are confidential and do not appear on Iowa Courts Online
- Dissolution of marriage records — Portions of dissolution case files may contain restricted financial or personal information
- Mental health proceedings — Involuntary commitment and related cases are sealed
- Sealed and expunged records — Cases sealed by court order or criminal records that have been expunged are not accessible to the public
- Domestic abuse protective orders — Certain filings related to domestic abuse may be restricted
- Personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted or excluded from public view
The Iowa Supreme Court’s Remote Access Policy further limits which information can be displayed through the online docket versus what is available only at a courthouse terminal. Confidential case information that inadvertently appears online should be reported immediately to the Clerk of Court or through the Iowa Judicial Branch support portal.
Individuals who believe that fees charged for public records are unreasonable may contest them by writing to the State Court Administrator, Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, or emailing foia.admin@iowacourts.gov.
Dubuque County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Dubuque County — ranging from simple misdemeanors and operating-while-intoxicated offenses to serious misdemeanors, aggravated misdemeanors, and felonies — are all heard by the District Court. Docket information for public criminal cases is available through Iowa Courts Online; however, the actual case documents (arrest affidavits, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders) must be viewed at the courthouse public-access terminal or requested in person from the Clerk.
Searching Criminal Dockets Online
- Go to the Iowa Courts Online search page
- Select “Dubuque” as the county and choose the appropriate criminal case type (e.g., FE for felony, SR for serious misdemeanor, SM for simple misdemeanor, OW for OWI)
- Enter the party’s last name (at least two characters) and, optionally, first name and date of birth
- Review the results and click the Case ID link for docket details
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Background Checks
Statewide criminal-history records are maintained by the Division of Criminal Investigation within the Iowa Department of Public Safety. To request a criminal-history check:
- Complete the DCI Criminal History Billing and Request Form
- Submit it online, by mail, by fax, or in person at 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa
- Provide the subject’s full name, gender, date of birth, maiden name (if applicable), and Social Security number
- Pay the $15 fee
- Results are typically available within two to five business days; in-person visitors who present a state-issued photo ID may receive immediate results
Under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act equivalent in Iowa — Iowa Code Chapter 692 and related provisions — only conviction information is disseminated to the general public. Non-conviction arrest data is restricted.
Local Arrest Records
For arrest information specific to Dubuque County, contact:
Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office
770 Iowa Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 589-4400
Non-Emergency Dispatch: (563) 589-4414
The City of Dubuque Police Department also maintains arrest data and operates the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center P2C portal, which allows citizens to search for public-safety incidents and arrests online. The Police Records Division can be reached at (563) 589-4443 during business hours (Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
Dubuque County Civil Court Records
All civil litigation in Dubuque County is filed in the District Court. Case categories include contract disputes, personal injury, property damage, landlord-tenant actions, foreclosures, and administrative appeals. The civil court fee schedule published by the Iowa Judicial Branch governs filing costs statewide.
Common Civil Filing Fees
| Case Type | Fee | Iowa Code |
|---|---|---|
| Civil petition (general) | $195 | § 602.8105(1)(a) |
| Dissolution of marriage | $265 | § 602.8105(1)(b) |
| Domestic relations action (modification, annulment, separate maintenance) | $110 | § 602.8105(1)©–(d) |
| Small claims (damages ≤ $6,500) | $95 | § 631.6 |
| Appeal of small-claims judgment | $195 | § 602.8105(1)(g) |
| Name change | $195 | § 602.8105(1)(a) |
| Motion for contempt | $60 | § 602.8105(1)(h) |
| Jury trial fee | $100 | § 625.8(1) |
Small Claims
Small-claims cases in Dubuque County cover money judgments, replevins, and forcible-entry-and-detainer actions where damages do not exceed $6,500. Filing costs $95. After filing, the Clerk mails the Original Notice and Petition to the defendant by certified mail (an additional service charge of approximately $20 applies). Parties do not need an attorney in small claims, but they may choose to be represented. Appeals of small-claims decisions are filed in the District Court at a cost of $195.
Searching Civil Records
Civil docket information is searchable on Iowa Courts Online using the party name or case ID. Select “Dubuque” as the county and choose the applicable civil case type (CV for civil, SC for small claims, FP for equity, or DM for dissolution). Paper documents and electronic case files beyond what appears on the docket are available at the courthouse, either through the public-access terminal or by requesting copies from the Clerk at the standard fee of $0.50 per page plus $30 for certification if a certified copy is needed.
Dubuque County Family Court Records
Family-law matters in Dubuque County are adjudicated by the District Court, which has jurisdiction over dissolutions of marriage, legal separations, child custody (allocation of care), child support, paternity, domestic abuse protective orders, and guardianships. The Clerk of Court maintains all family-law case files.
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
Filing a dissolution petition in Dubuque County costs $265 under Iowa Code § 602.8105(1)(b). Dissolution dockets can be searched on Iowa Courts Online under the case-type abbreviation “DM”. Court documents are not available online and must be obtained in person. Not all contents of a dissolution file are fully public — financial affidavits and certain personal data may be restricted.
Domestic Abuse and Protective Orders
Protective-order cases are filed in the District Court. Respondent-identifying details may be limited in the public docket to protect the safety of the parties involved. For questions about specific protective-order records, contact the Clerk at (563) 589-4418.
Juvenile Court
The Juvenile Court Office serving Dubuque County is located at:
350 West 6th Street, Suite 215
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 589-7831
Juvenile records — including delinquency and child-in-need-of-assistance cases — are confidential under Iowa law and do not appear on Iowa Courts Online.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and certificates are maintained by the Dubuque County Recorder, not the Clerk of Court. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate:
- Complete the Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record
- Include a $15 fee (check, money order, cash, or credit card payable to “Dubuque County Recorder”)
- For mail requests, include a notarized signature and a copy of photo ID
- Mail the application to:
Dubuque County Recorder
720 Central Avenue
P.O. Box 5001
Dubuque, IA 52004-5001
Phone: (563) 589-4434
Email: Recorder@dubuquecountyiowa.gov
Only immediate family members may obtain a certified copy of a marriage record. Marriage records dating back to 1839 are on file. Records from 1954 forward can be obtained from any county recorder in Iowa; earlier records must be requested from the county where the license was originally issued. The marriage-license application fee is $35, which includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. Iowa law imposes a three-day waiting period between filing the application and the ceremony.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death certificates are also available from the Dubuque County Recorder for $15 each. Only immediate family members are eligible. The Recorder holds birth and death records from 1880 to the present, with the following gaps:
- Birth records from 1921 through 1941 are not available at the county level
- Death records from 1904 through 1907 and 1917 through 1941 are not available at the county level
For records falling within these gaps or for records involving legal actions (adoption, legal name change) before January 1, 1985, contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Vital Records at 321 East 12th Street, 1st Floor, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075.
Birth records are not considered public until 75 years after the event, and death records are restricted for 50 years. Outside of those windows, they become accessible for genealogical and other research purposes.
Dubuque County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Dubuque County — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and small estates — are handled by the District Court. The Clerk of Court maintains all probate case files. The case-type abbreviations used on Iowa Courts Online for probate matters are:
- ES — Estate
- GC — Guardianship/Conservatorship
- GR — Guardianship
- GV — Conservatorship
- TE — Estate without present administration
- TP — Trust
- TR — Small estate
Searching Probate Records
Probate dockets are searchable on Iowa Courts Online by selecting the county and entering the estate name, case ID, or party name. Public docket entries include filing dates, hearing schedules, and disposition information. Actual documents — wills, inventories, accountings, and court orders — must be accessed at the courthouse.
Opening a Probate Estate
To open a probate case in Dubuque County, the petitioner (typically through an attorney) files a petition with the Clerk. The general civil petition filing fee of $195 applies to most probate filings under Iowa Code § 602.8105(1)(a), including appointments of guardians and conservators. Other probate-specific fees include:
- Filing a claim in an estate ($40–$75, depending on the claim amount, under Chapter 633 procedures)
- Certifying an estate document: $30
Iowa law does not require an attorney for every probate matter, but complex estates and contested cases typically necessitate legal counsel. The Iowa Judicial Branch provides interactive court forms for certain self-represented filings.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Guardianship cases involve the appointment of a responsible person to make personal or financial decisions for a minor or incapacitated adult. Conservatorship proceedings address management of a protected person’s property. Both types of cases are filed in the District Court and appear on the public docket under the GC, GR, or GV case codes — unless sealed by court order. Records involving minors or mental-health commitments may be restricted.
For assistance with probate or guardianship filings, contact the Dubuque County Clerk of Court at (563) 589-4418 or email countyclerk.dubuque@iowacourts.gov. The Clerk’s office cannot provide legal advice but can supply information about filing procedures, required forms, and applicable fees.