Story County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in the center of Iowa, Story County was formed in 1846 and named after Joseph Story. Its population of 98,573 residents makes it the ninth-most populous county in Iowa, and it has a land area of 573 square miles. Its largest city is Ames, while its county seat is Nevada. Like other Iowan counties, Story County has a unified court system, which makes it easier to provide justice to its citizens and promotes greater transparency in the judicial system.

The Story County District Court is the sole trial court in Story County. All civil and criminal cases fall within its jurisdiction. The court is divided into Specialized Divisions that handle various kinds of cases. Landlord-tenant disputes and civil actions with less than $5,000 in claims are handled by the Small Claims Division. All civil cases are heard by the Civil Division; all misdemeanor and felony cases are heard by the Criminal Division. The Probate Division is in charge of guardianship appointments, trust and estate administration, and will admission. Juvenile concerns are heard by the Juvenile Division, whereas family matters, such as cases involving visitation, family support, annulment, divorce, and dissolution of civil union, are heard by the Family Division. District Judges can hear all types of cases, while District Associate Judges can only hear misdemeanors and civil cases with claims under $10,000.

With a crime rate of about 3,200 crimes per 100,000 residents, the Story County District Court hears over 10,000 cases annually. The Story County Clerk of Court maintains the records from the court in compliance with state statutes and rules. The Clerk of Court's Office prepares, indexes, and preserves public court records for the county. The general public can visit the court to view and request copies of non-confidential records. Alternatively, they can search online via the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Record Search portal for records from Story County. However, certain records are closed to the public in Story County and can only be accessed by authorized persons or court orders. They are sealed by default under Iowa law or by court orders. These records include adoption records, personal identifying information, medical and mental health records, information about jurors and confidential informants, and juvenile records.

In summary, the Story County court system ensures a smooth and efficient judicial process for the residents because of the efficiency of the Story County District Court. The county's handling of court data ensures accessibility and transparency, which boosts public trust in the legal system. Story County is a model of effective judicial administration in Iowa and is steadfast in its commitment to upholding its legal duties.