Story County District Court
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Story County sits in the heart of Iowa, with Nevada as its county seat and Ames — home to Iowa State University — as its largest city. The Story County District Court, operating within Iowa's Second Judicial District, handles the full range of legal matters: criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, divorce and family cases, probate proceedings, juvenile cases, small claims, and mental health commitments. Every piece of court paperwork flows through the Clerk of District Court, a state-employed office located inside the Story County Justice Center that keeps and manages all case files and official records.
If you need to find a court record in Iowa, you have several options. The Iowa Judicial Branch runs an online electronic docket that indexes filings and proceedings in state court cases, and IowaCourts.us can help you get oriented within Iowa's judicial structure. Locally, records are available through the Clerk of Courts office in Nevada, at public access terminals inside the courthouse, or through written and in-person requests. The Iowa Judicial Branch also offers Iowa Interactive Court Forms and a full library of official court forms for people who are representing themselves and need to start or respond to a case.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Story County?
The Story County District Court handles every category of case within the county, organized into divisions covering criminal, civil, dissolution, probate, juvenile, small claims, and mental health matters. All divisions operate out of the same courthouse.
Story County District Court / Clerk of District Court
Address: 1315 South B Avenue, P.O. Box 408, Nevada, IA 50201
Phone: (515) 382-7410
Fax: (515) 382-7522
Email: countyclerk.story@iowacourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding state holidays)
Clerk of Court: Amy Moore
Story County Juvenile Court Office
Address: 126 South Kellogg Avenue, Suite 202, Ames, IA 50010
Phone: (515) 233-3346
Four ways to search for a case:
- Online docket search. Visit the Iowa Courts Online Search portal and select the search option. The public search gives you basic docket information for cases statewide. For more detail — including party information, lis pendens data, judgment and lien records, and exhibit lists — create a free account through the Advanced Case Search portal. All public trial cases after 1998 are searchable by case number, party name, or attorney name.
- In person. Visit the Clerk of Courts office at the Justice Center during business hours. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search the electronic docket directly.
- By phone or email. Call (515) 382-7410 or email countyclerk.story@iowacourts.gov to ask about a specific case. Staff can provide basic case information and walk you through the process of obtaining copies.
- Pay fines online. The Iowa Judicial Branch offers a 24/7 online payment service that accepts major credit cards for fines, surcharges, and court fees.
Electronic filing is mandatory in all Iowa court cases under Chapter 16 of the Iowa Court Rules, which governs Iowa's electronic document management system (EDMS). There is no fee to register for electronic filing.
Are Court Records Public in Story County?
Iowa's Open Records Law (Iowa Code Chapter 22) gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records and to share the information they contain. Court records held by the Clerk of District Court in Story County are generally public and open for inspection during office hours.
That said, the Iowa Legislature has carved out specific exceptions. Certain categories of court records remain confidential or restricted under state and federal law.
Records that are not publicly accessible include:
- Juvenile court records
- Sealed or expunged cases (Iowa Code Chapter 901C covers expungement of acquittals and dismissals)
- Records related to active law enforcement or judicial investigations
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment files
- Domestic abuse protective order details where a confidentiality order has been entered
- Pre-sentence investigation reports
- Confidential victim information
- Records containing protected financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, or information shielded by federal or state privacy statutes
- Deferred judgment records where sealing has been ordered
Under the Chapter 16 redaction rules, filers must remove sensitive personal identifiers — including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth of minors — from all documents filed electronically or submitted on paper in electronic cases. This requirement applies across all case types.
Copies of public court records are available from the Clerk's office at $0.50 per page. Certification and seal of a court document costs $30 (Iowa Code 602.8105(2)(b)).
Story County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Story County move through the District Court's criminal division. The Clerk of Court maintains all case files — complaints, charges, indictments, motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and post-judgment documents. Criminal records are generally public under both Iowa and federal law, subject to the confidentiality exceptions described above.
How to search criminal court records:
- Online: Use the Iowa Courts Online Search to look up criminal cases by defendant name, case number, or attorney. The advanced search option gives you additional detail.
- In person: Visit the Clerk of Courts office at 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, and request copies. A valid photo ID may be required, and copy fees apply ($0.50 per page; $30 for certification).
- By mail: Send a written request to the Clerk at P.O. Box 408, Nevada, IA 50201. Include the case number or party name, identify the specific records you need, and include payment for copy fees.
Arrest records and law enforcement resources:
Arrest information is maintained separately by law enforcement agencies. Several resources are available for Story County:
-
Story County Sheriff's Office maintains a current inmate roster viewable online and publishes daily news releases that include arrest incidents in downloadable PDF format.
Story County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201
Phone: (515) 382-7462
Email: sheriffweb@storycountyiowa.gov -
Ames Police Department — the Central Iowa Police to Citizen site provides access to the City of Ames arrest report.
Ames Police Department Records Division
Address: 515 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
Phone: (515) 239-5135
You can also contact other local law enforcement agencies within Story County to request arrest records and criminal records in their possession. Written, in-person, email, and mail requests are all accepted by the Sheriff's Office, though specific access policies may vary depending on the nature of the record and whether an investigation is still active.
Story County Civil Court Records
Civil case records in Story County cover the full range of non-criminal litigation heard by the District Court — contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, consumer complaints, forcible entry and detainer actions, and other civil matters. The Clerk of District Court processes, files, and stores all civil records.
Filing fees for common civil actions (set by the Iowa Legislature):
| Action | Fee | Iowa Code |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Petition (general) | $195 | 602.8105(1)(a) |
| Dissolution of Marriage | $265 | 602.8105(1)(b) |
| Other Domestic Relations Action (modification, annulment, separate maintenance) | $110 | 602.8105(1)(d) |
| Small Claims (damages of $6,500 or less) | $95 | 631.6 |
| Appeal of Small Claims Judgment | $195 | 602.8105(1)(g) |
| Foreign Judgment | $195 | 626A.5 |
| Name Change | $195 | 602.8105(1)(a) |
| Motion to Show Cause for Contempt | $60 | 602.8105(1)(h) |
Miscellaneous fees:
| Service | Fee | Iowa Code |
|---|---|---|
| Filing and entering statutory liens | $60 | 602.8105(2)(a) |
| Certification and seal | $30 | 602.8105(2)(b) |
| Certifying change of title (real estate) | $60 | 602.8105(2) |
| Filing a lis pendens | $60 | 602.8105(2)(g) |
| Jury trial fee | $100 | 625.8(1) |
| Court reporter fee | $40/day | 625.8(2) |
| Copies | $0.50/page |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, the court may defer costs. An Application to Defer Costs can be prepared through the Iowa Interactive Court Forms program and filed with the Clerk.
How to search civil records:
- Use the Iowa Courts Online Search to find civil docket information by case number, party name, or attorney.
- For the advanced search with detailed party, lien, and exhibit information, register for a free account through the advanced login page.
- Visit the Clerk's office at the Justice Center to view records on public access terminals or request certified copies.
- Submit a mail request to the Clerk of Court at P.O. Box 408, Nevada, IA 50201.
Property and land records are kept separately by the Story County Recorder's Office. You can search property records through the Beacon property search portal or the statewide Iowa Land Records website, which gives you 24/7 online access to real estate documents. Registration is required for the Iowa Land Records search portal, but basic access is free.
Story County Recorder's Office
Address: 900 6th Street, P.O. Box 55, Nevada, IA 50201
Phone: (515) 382-7230
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Story County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Story County — including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, domestic abuse protective orders, and paternity actions — are heard by the District Court's domestic relations division. The Clerk of Court maintains all family case files.
Divorce records are generally public, though certain information within a divorce file may be restricted. Financial account details, Social Security numbers, child custody evaluations, and domestic abuse-related materials may be sealed or redacted by court order. Certified copies of divorce decrees and related documents are available through the Clerk's office.
To search for divorce records, use the Iowa Courts Online Search or visit the Clerk of Court in person. The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage petition is $265 (Iowa Code 602.8105(1)(b)). Modifications to an existing dissolution decree cost $110 to file.
Marriage records in Story County are maintained by the Story County Recorder's Office. To request a marriage certificate, complete an Application for a Copy of Vital Record Certificate, attach a photocopy of your ID, include a $15 fee, and mail the notarized form to:
Story County Recorder
900 6th Street, P.O. Box 55
Nevada, IA 50201
Per Iowa law, information about a specific vital record is not available over the telephone. Iowa law allows public viewing in the county where the record is maintained, or certified copies issued to entitled persons. Entitled persons include the individual named on the record, their spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative. Applicants must be 18 or older. As of July 1, 2026, the certified record fee increases to $20.
Alternatively, marriage certificates may be ordered through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records office. Each certified copy costs $15 (search fee included). Requests may be submitted by mail to P.O. Box 55, Nevada, IA 50201 (for county-level requests) or to the state office at Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0075. Telephone orders by credit card are available at (866) 809-0290 (Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST), though an additional $13.00 authentication fee applies.
Birth and death records have restricted access in Iowa. Birth certificates become public 75 years after the event; death records become public after 50 years. Before those periods expire, certified copies are available only to the record subject (age 18 or older), immediate family members, legal representatives, persons with a court order, or authorized genealogists. The fee is $15 per certified copy (increasing to $20 on July 1, 2026). Direct your request to the Story County Recorder using the same application form referenced above.
Story County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Story County are handled by the District Court's probate division. Iowa does not have a separate probate court — instead, the District Court exercises jurisdiction over decedent estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trust administration, escheat proceedings, and partition actions. The Clerk of Court maintains all probate case files.
Probate records typically include petitions for probate, last wills and testaments, letters testamentary or letters of administration, inventories of assets, notices to creditors, creditor claims, executor accountings, petitions for final distribution, orders of distribution, affidavits of heirship, bonds, and small estate affidavits.
How to obtain probate records:
- Online: Search the Iowa Courts Online docket using the decedent's name or the case number. The advanced search provides additional detail on filings, parties, and proceedings.
- In person: Visit the Clerk of District Court at 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, during business hours. Request copies of specific probate documents and pay the applicable fees ($0.50 per page for copies; $30 for certification under seal).
- Through an attorney: Attorneys handling an estate often have direct access to case files through Iowa's EDMS electronic filing system and may be able to provide copies to persons with a legitimate interest in the probate matter.
- By mail: Send a written request to the Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 408, Nevada, IA 50201. Identify the estate name, case number, and the specific documents you need, and include payment for anticipated fees.
The filing fee for a petition to appoint a guardian or conservator is $195 (Iowa Code 602.8105(1)(a)), the same as for a general civil petition. Probate cases follow the procedures in Iowa Code Chapters 633 (Probate Code) and 232D (guardianships). Iowa's electronic filing mandate under Chapter 16 of the Court Rules applies to probate filings, meaning all documents must be submitted through the EDMS unless an exception is granted.
For case scheduling inquiries in the Second Judicial District, contact Kellie Orres at (515) 574-3752. The ADA Coordinator for the district is Bill Watson, reachable at (515) 576-6336 or bill.watson@iowacourts.gov, for individuals who need accessibility accommodations when accessing court services or records.