Dubuque County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Chartered in the year 1833, Dubuque was the first city in the state of Iowa. Dubuque County is located in eastern Iowa and is home to about 98,800 residents. Part of the 2nd Congressional District, its county seat is the city of Dubuque. Named for the French trader and first European settler in Iowa, Julien Dubuque, the county comprises the Dubuque, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county's court system is structured to impartially resolve disputes and interpret questions of law brought to the courts. The county has only one court (a District Court) to provide prompt resolution of disputes, administering justice fairly.

The District Court has broad jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, with a few exceptions. The court has separate Divisions such as Probate, Juvenile, and Small Claims Courts. The Juvenile Division handles most juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, adoption, families in need of assistance, and children in need of assistance cases. The Probate Court Division handles the construction of wills, estates of decedents, conservatorship, and guardianship cases. The Small Claims Division offers a simple procedure for civil claims where the amount of money in dispute is limited.

The county's crime rate stands at about 2,265 incidents per 100,000 residents. The District Court in the county hears about 2,500 cases annually. Court records in Dubuque County can be accessed physically by visiting the courthouse where the case was filed. In addition, online access to Dubuque County court records are provided via the Iowa Courts Online portal. While you can view case data for the District Court records on the portal, some records are closed to the public. Closed records include records that have been sealed from public view by court order. Examples include most juvenile court records, as well as those discussing custodial and adoption matters. Additionally, any medical or mental health records are confidential as well as, any cases including personal identifying information. Access to such records do require a court order or special permission from authorized personnel. Visiting with the County Clerk can assist you with the proper protocol to follow in order to gain access to sealed records.

Dubuque County's court system plays an important role in its governance, administering justice equally to concerned parties. Although the county has only one District Court, the separate Divisions of the court allows it to effectively handle a wide range of legal issues. Access to court documents are available at the courthouse in Dubuque, while the Iowa Courts portal offers online access to case information.