Polk County, IA Courts and Public Records

The Iowa District Court in Polk County, part of Judicial District 5, hears the case types listed below. The Clerk of Court in Des Moines keeps the county's district court case records.

Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search. Polk County district court records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Des Moines.

Iowa statewide district court filings totaled 723,508 in calendar year 2025 across all eight judicial districts. County-level filings are not published, so these Iowa statewide figures are tied to Polk County only through its judicial district, clerk, and population.

Iowa statewide district court filings rose in each calendar year from 2021 to 2025, from 661,226 to 723,508. County-level filings are not published, so this table covers the whole state. Figures marked with ~ are estimates based on the other years shown for this county.

Statewide filings rose 9.4% over the five calendar years, from 661,226 in 2021 to 723,508 in 2025. The largest annual increase was in CY 2023, when filings rose 5.7% and added 37,535 cases. In CY 2025, small claims and infractions added the most filings (+7,318), followed by civil (+3,303), while simple misdemeanors fell by 7,764.

Simple misdemeanors made up the largest share of Iowa statewide filings in CY 2025, at 62.5% of 723,508 total filings.

Small claims and infractions grew fastest at +8.1%, while juvenile fell fastest at -8.9%.

Polk County is estimated to account for about 15.92% of the 722,527 cases filed in Iowa courts in CY 2024.

These county values are estimates built from statewide Iowa figures, so they track the state mix by design. Actual county dockets may differ. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Iowa statewide figures scaled by Polk County's 15.92% share of the state population.

These figures are Iowa statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Polk County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 8.3% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 97% of Iowa's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.

Rates use the Iowa 2025 population of 3,238,387. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Polk County with the state.

Polk County lists two offices, the Clerk of Court in Des Moines and the Juvenile Court Office in Des Moines. Check your notice or paperwork for the office assigned to your case before you go. The county page also describes the Criminal Courts Building at 110 6th Avenue, directly across 6th Avenue from the Historic Courthouse, where jury trials are held.

Iowa district courts hear most case types in each county, and the Clerk of Court is the first contact for district court records. Find your situation below, then contact the office listed.

Yes, most Iowa district court records are public, unless the Iowa Court Rules or a state statute provide otherwise. The Judicial Branch makes its records available for public inspection and copying under its public records policy, and Polk County district court case records are obtained from the Clerk of Court where the case is on file.

Public records

District court case records, documents, and filings are available from the Clerk of Court in Polk County or on the public computer in that office. You can find the clerk's contact details at the county page on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

Restricted or confidential records

Records that the Iowa Court Rules or statute make confidential are not public, and the Judicial Branch says it must protect confidential and privileged records. Filings must protect birthdates, Social Security numbers, children's names, and bank information.

Online access

Iowa Courts Online lets you search for district court cases by name or case number. Not every document is online, so you may need to request filings from the Clerk of Court.

In-person access

Visit the Clerk of Court at 500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 50309, and use the public computer in the office. Call 515-561-5718 to confirm where the case is on file before you visit.

Use Iowa Courts Online to search Polk County district court cases by case type, name, or case number, and ask the Clerk of Court for documents that are not online.

1. Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
2. Go to Iowa Courts Online case search and select the county.
3. Search by name or case number, and note the case number from the results.
4. Review the case details and any scheduled dates.
5. Call the Clerk of Court at 515-561-5718 to request documents that are not online.

Fines, surcharges, and fees for Polk County cases are paid to the Clerk of Court in the county where the violation occurred, using the options below.

1. Online: Pay fines, surcharges, and fees 24/7 with a major credit card at Iowa Courts Online. You need the county, the type of charge, and the case or citation number, or the name of the person charged. Paying online is a plea of guilty, and you only need to appear if "court appearance required" is checked on the ticket.
2. Phone: Call 515-348-4788 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
3. In person: Pay the Clerk of Court at 500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 50309, or call 515-561-5718 with questions.

Under Iowa law, fines and fees are due to the clerk of court 30 days after the court assesses them. Citations can take 10 to 14 days to appear on Iowa Courts Online.

Parking tickets are handled by the city or agency that issued them, not by the district court.