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Black Hawk County, Iowa public records

In Black Hawk County, deeds are recorded by the County Recorder / Registrar; property values come from the County Assessor; court files are kept by the Clerk of District Court, Black Hawk County.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Birth certificates
  7. Death certificates
  8. Probate records and wills
  9. Business names (DBA)
  10. Voter records
  11. Historical records
  12. Other records at the county
  13. Good to know about Black Hawk County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsCounty Recorder / Registrar2Search deeds23$1 per page (uncertified); email copies $2 plus copy fee4
Property values and ownersCounty Assessor5Property search6—
Property tax billsCounty Treasurer7Tax bill search8—
Court casesClerk of District Court, Black Hawk County9Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County10Copies $0.50 per page; certification and seal $50 per court document (statewide Judicial Branch fee table)11
Marriage recordsCounty Recorder / Registrar2—Certified copy fee: $20 certified copy (entitlement required)12
Divorce recordsClerk of District Court, Black Hawk County9——
Birth certificatesCounty Recorder / Registrar2—$20 per certified copy (from July 1, 2026)12
Death certificatesCounty Recorder / Registrar2—$20 each12
Probate and willsClerk of District Court9Search probate cases10—
Business names (DBA)Trade names recorded with the County Recorder (Iowa Code ch. 547)13——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Black Hawk County are recorded by the County Recorder / Registrar.2

Copy fee
$1 per page (uncertified); email copies $2 plus copy fee4
Certified copy fee
$5 per certification4
Recording fee
$7 first page, $5 each additional page; +$5 per parcel transfer fee on deeds (max $50 per document)4
How to order
Contact the Recorder (319-833-3012, [email protected])2
Fraud alerts
Free Property Fraud Alert14
Auditor transfer books
Auditor Transfer Books online (ArcaSearch), linked by the Auditor15

How deeds work in Iowa

Property values, owners and tax bills

The County Assessor sets property values5; the County Treasurer bills and collects the tax7.

Tax bill search
iowatreasurers.org8
Appealing a value
Informal review with the Assessor April 2-25; then written protest to the Board of Review (five members, independent of the assessor)16
Reassessment
All real property reassessed every two years, in odd-numbered years5

How property tax works in Iowa

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County (Judicial District 1)Felony, misdemeanor, civil, small claims, dissolution, probateClerk of District Court, Black Hawk County (Iowa District Court, Judicial District 1)iowacourts.state.ia.us/…10
Fees
Copies $0.50 per page; certification and seal $50 per court document (statewide Judicial Branch fee table)11
Access
District court documents only from the county clerk's office or its public terminal17

How Iowa courts keep their files

Marriage records

Records are held by the county where the couple applied18

Marriage license fee
$35.0018
Certified copy fee
$20 certified copy (entitlement required)12
Waiting period
Three business-day waiting period; both parties in person with one witness18

Iowa marriage records, statewide

Birth certificates

Kept by the County Recorder / Registrar.2

Years
1880-1920 and 1942-current at the county; 1921-1941 at the state12
Fee
$20 per certified copy (from July 1, 2026)12
Who may order
Entitled persons only; applications notarized with state ID12
Restriction
Births to unwed mothers before Jan. 1, 1988 only at the state12

Ordering an Iowa birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the County Recorder / Registrar.2

Years
All years except 1921-1941 (state)12
Fee
$20 each12

Ordering an Iowa death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Clerk of District Court (district court sitting in probate).9

Finding a will or probate case in Iowa

Business names (DBA)

Trade names recorded with the County Recorder (Iowa Code ch. 547)13

Voter records

Kept by the Black Hawk County Elections (County Auditor).15

Historical records

State archives
State Historical Society of Iowa holds Black Hawk County records incl. Auditor real estate transfers 1866-1988, Clerk county court record (incl. marriage licenses) 1853-1861, Recorder marriage records 1853-1858 and 1862-192820
Engineer
County Engineer historical survey records: County Surveyor records 1855-1931, WPA surveys, aerials 1941/1964/197921

Other records at the county

Military discharges (DD-214)

What the office says
DD214s may be recorded; copies of military records free4

Good to know about Black Hawk County records

  • The Recorder took over vital records from the Clerk of District Court on July 1, 19972
  • County birth records have a gap for 1921-1941 (held only by the state)12
  • Recorder's office created in 1839 by the first Territory of Iowa legislative assembly2
  • Waterloo became county seat in 1855 after an election against Cedar Falls (Sturgis Falls)22
  • A city of 10,000+ may elect to have its own assessor in Iowa23

Office addresses, phones and hours

County Recorder / Registrar

Address
Black Hawk County Courthouse, 316 E 5th Street, Room 208, Waterloo, IA 507032
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (passports 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)2

County Assessor

Address
Black Hawk County Courthouse, 316 E 5th Street, Room 209, Waterloo, IA 507035
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.5

County Treasurer

Address
Black Hawk County Courthouse, 316 E 5th Street, Room 140, Waterloo, IA 507037
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.7

County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections

Address
Black Hawk County Courthouse, 316 E 5th St, Room 213, Waterloo, IA 5070315
Mail
316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo IA 5070324
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.15

Clerk of District Court, Black Hawk County (Iowa District Court, Judicial District 1)

Address
316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 507039
Phone
319-833-3331; fax 319-833-32519

Clerk of District Court (district court sitting in probate)

Juvenile Court Office

Address
818 Lafayette, Waterloo, IA (P.O. Box 1468, Waterloo, IA 50704)9

Black Hawk County Elections (County Auditor)

GIS / Data Hub

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Black Hawk County?

The County Recorder / Registrar keeps deed records. To order copies: Contact the Recorder (319-833-3012, [email protected]). Plain copies: $1 per page (uncertified); email copies $2 plus copy fee. Certified copies: $5 per certification.24

How much is a birth certificate in Black Hawk County?

$20 per certified copy (from July 1, 2026).12

How much does a marriage license cost in Black Hawk County?

The marriage license fee is $35.00.18

How do I look up who owns a property in Black Hawk County?

Use the property search of the County Assessor: beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx6

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Black Hawk County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Iowa with a full guide: Dallas County, Dubuque County, Johnson County, Linn County, Polk County, Pottawattamie County, Story County, Woodbury County. Every county in the state: Iowa county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  2. RecorderBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. Recorder | Black Hawk County IABlack Hawk County, IAchecked November 8, 2026
  4. Recording Fees & RequirementsBlack Hawk County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  5. AssessorBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  6. Real Estate MappingBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  7. TreasurerBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Site MapBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  9. Black Hawk County (District Court)Iowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Iowa Courts Online SearchIowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Civil Court FeesIowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  12. Vital RecordsBlack Hawk County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Trade Name LawsBlack Hawk County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Property Fraud AlertBlack Hawk County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  15. AuditorBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  16. Informal Assessment ReviewBlack Hawk County Assessorchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Public Records RequestsIowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  18. Marriage LicensesBlack Hawk County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Register to VoteBlack Hawk County Elections (Auditor)checked November 4, 2026
  20. County Records: Black Hawk CountyState Historical Society of Iowachecked November 4, 2026
  21. Historical Records (County Engineer)Black Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  22. Brief History of Black Hawk County (PDF)Black Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  23. About the AssessorBlack Hawk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  24. County Auditors directoryIowa Secretary of Statechecked November 4, 2026
  25. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026