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Iowa County Court, Probate, Tax and Other Miscellaneous Records
See Also Researching Court Records, Researching Probate Records and 
Researching Tax Records
On-Site County Court Records Search - Find nearly any Iowa court record online! Many court records are not digitized yet, which signifies the only way to obtain these records is by visiting the actual courthouses. Someone from our network of court-runners will go retrieve the records and then send you the outcomes. Average response time is 38 hours. Iowa Civil Records include Lawsuits, Bankruptcies, Liens and judgments, Marriage/divorce judicial proceeding, Child custody, Civil rights violations ands Other. Iowa Criminal Records include Violent offenses, Theft and robbery, DUI/DWI's, Drugs and alcohol, Sexual crimes, Some traffic violations, Behavioral.
Definitions of Common Court Terms
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Iowa Court Records
See Also Research In State Court Records
The first instrument of government formulated in Iowa country is said to be the Miners' Compact, drawn up by the lead miners in 1830. When the Iowa Territory was established in 1838, three district courts were created which continued until statehood in 1846 when the three districts became one. In 1849 this district was divided into northern, middle, and southern divisions.
There was considerable redivision and reorganization through 1907. Holdings at the National Archives/Central Plains Region include files from the District of Iowa, 1845–82; Northern District, 1850–1959; and Southern District, 1842–1959.
At the county level, criminal and civil court records are filed with the county clerks. A few Iowa court records have been, and are being, transferred to the State Archives in Des Moines. A recent acquisition of interest to genealogists is the Supreme Court of Iowa Order Books, beginning with the formation of the Iowa Territory in 1838, in four volumes through 1858. Order Book A contains twenty-one naturalizations between 1840 and 1851.
Naturalizations which are part of the District Court Records at the county level are being microfilmed. Naturalizations for most counties have been filmed, and they are available at both State Historical Society of Iowa research libraries.
- Submit a website for Iowa Court Records
- Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records
- Iowa Court Books at Amazon.com
- Search Court Records From All States
- Search County Court Records
- Search County Criminal Records with a Criminal Background Check
- Search for Registered Sex Offenders in your local Area
- Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
- Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
Iowa Probate Records
See Also Research In State Probate Records
Matters of probate, including wills, administrator or executor bonds, inventories, and guardianships, are kept by the clerk of the county district court. The Genealogical Society of Utah and the State Historical Society of Iowa are jointly microfilming probate records at the county level. In the case of Scott County, packets of original probate files in addition to the court's record books are included. Full particulars on which counties and which records can be obtained from the research library in Des Moines.
- Submit a website for Iowa Probate Records
- Research In Probate Records - from The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy.
- How to Locate Printed Probate Records
- Advantages of Printed Probate Records
- Limitations of Printed Probate Records
- Iowa Probate Books at Amazon.com
Iowa Tax Records
See Also Researching in Tax Records
The tax rolls for personal property and real estate were kept by the auditor or the treasurer of each county. A few of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Original county tax rolls are usually not transferred.
Old age pension tax is a resource genealogists should consider in Iowa. A 1934 directive to collect an old age assistance tax was based on a list of all persons over twenty-one years of age. Although the tax was discontinued in 1936, the information included could be important: name, address, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and names of both parents. Many counties have had these lists microfilmed and they are available through the FHL.
