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Dallas County, Iowa public records

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

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. Business names (DBA)
  9. Voter records
  10. Historical records
  11. Good to know about Dallas County records
  12. Office addresses, phones and hours
  13. Records that are not online: public records requests
  14. Questions people ask
  15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  16. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsDallas County Recorder5Search deeds23$0.50 per page4
Property values and ownersDallas County Assessor5Property search6—
Property tax billsDallas County Treasurer5Tax bill search7—
Court casesDallas County Clerk of District Court8Iowa District Court for Dallas County9—
Marriage recordsDallas County Recorder5——
Divorce recordsDallas County Clerk of District Court8——
Birth certificatesDallas County Recorder5—$20 per certified copy; cash, check or money order to Dallas County Recorder; card in office only (processing fees)10
Death certificatesDallas County Recorder5—$20 each10
Probate and willsDallas County Clerk of District Court8——
Business names (DBA)Dallas County Recorder5——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Dallas County are recorded by the Dallas County Recorder.5

Who runs it
Fidlar Technologies AVA (iadallas.fidlar.com), linked by the Recorder2
Copy fee
$0.50 per page4
Certified copy fee
Copy fee plus $54
Recording fee
$7 first page, $5 each additional page; transfer fee $5 per non-contiguous parcel (up to $50) on conveyances; $10 extra for non-conforming documents4
How to order
Search online, or visit/mail the Recorder (800 Court Street Suite 130, Adel); in-person service Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm2

How deeds work in Iowa

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Dallas County Assessor sets property values5; the Dallas County Treasurer (Treasurer Tax) bills and collects the tax5.

Parcel map (GIS)
Beacon map search (Interactive Mapping) and GIS Data Download pages11
Appealing a value
Board of Review petitions April 2-April 30 of the assessment year; then Property Assessment Appeal Board (PAAB) or District Court12
Tax due
Two installments: due September 1 (delinquent after September 30) and March 1 (delinquent after March 31); late interest 1.5% per month7

How property tax works in Iowa

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Iowa District Court for Dallas County (Judicial District 5)Felony, misdemeanor, civil, family/divorce, probate (unified Iowa District Court)Dallas County Clerk of District Court (Iowa Judicial Branch, Judicial District 5)iowacourts.state.ia.us/…9

Criminal records and background checks

Overview
Sheriff's Office records (arrest, accident, criminal, incident reports) are requested with the county's law-enforcement open records form13

How Iowa courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Dallas County Recorder.5

Marriage license
$35; both parties plus one adult witness apply in person (or notarized application by mail) with photo ID; three-day wait ($5 waiver signed by a District Judge)14
Years held
Dallas County marriages 1851-present; other Iowa counties 1954-present10
Certified copy
$20 each10

Iowa marriage records, statewide

Birth certificates

Kept by the Dallas County Recorder (vital records).5

Years held
Dallas County births 1880-1920 and July 1, 1941-present; other Iowa counties 1983-present; 1921-1941 records from Iowa HHS (515-281-4944)10
Fee
$20 per certified copy; cash, check or money order to Dallas County Recorder; card in office only (processing fees)10
Who may order
Person named, spouse, child, legal parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, legal representative or guardian; written request with signed photo ID; by mail the signature must be notarized10
Form
Vital Records Request Form (PDF): dallascountyiowa.gov/…10

Ordering an Iowa birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Dallas County Recorder (vital records).5

Years held
Dallas County deaths 1880-1920 and July 1, 1941-present; other Iowa counties 1954-present10
Fee
$20 each10

Ordering an Iowa death certificate

Business names (DBA)

Kept by the Dallas County Recorder.5

Assumed names (DBA)
Trade names for sole proprietorships and co-partnerships recorded by the County Recorder; $7 first page, $5 each additional page; form must be notarized15

Voter records

County Auditor is Commissioner of Elections and registrar of voters16

Historical records

Military
DD-214 discharge papers may be recorded with the Recorder; no charge to record or obtain a certified copy (entitlement required)17
Real estate transfers
Auditor keeps real estate transfer records, plat maps and transfer books16

Good to know about Dallas County records

  • Recorder holds Dallas County birth and death records for 1880-1920 and from July 1, 1941, with a gap for 1921-1941 (refer to Iowa HHS)10
  • Marriage records held from 185110
  • Dallas County Courthouse in Adel completed 1902 (dedicated September 19, 1902); restored after a 2004 engineering report found failing floors18
  • County offices in Adel and Perry2
  • Free notary fraud alert and property fraud alert sign-ups linked from the Recorder page2

Office addresses, phones and hours

Dallas County Recorder

Address
Administration Building, 800 Court Street Suite 130 (1st floor), Adel, IA 500032
Mail
Dallas County Recorder, 800 Court Street Suite 130, Adel, IA 500034
Hours
All in-person transactions except passports: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4 pm; passports by appointment2

Dallas County Assessor

Address
Administration Building, 800 Court Street Room 120, Adel, Iowa 500036
Phone
515-993-5802; fax 515-993-58226

Dallas County Treasurer (Treasurer Tax)

Address
Administration Building, 800 Court Street Suite 111 (1st floor), Adel, IA 500037
Mail
800 Court Street Suite 111, Adel, IA 500037
Phone
515-993-5808; fax 515-993-58557

Dallas County Auditor

Address
210 N 10th Street, Adel, IA 5000316
Phone
515-993-6914; fax 515-993-693016
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday19

Dallas County Clerk of District Court (Iowa Judicial Branch, Judicial District 5)

Address
801 Court Street, Adel, IA 500038

Dallas County Juvenile Court Office

Address
121 N. 9th Street, Adel, IA 500038

Dallas County Auditor - Commissioner of Elections

Phone
515-993-6914 (Auditor)16

Dallas County GIS Division (Information Services)

Dallas County Recorder (vital records)

Address
Administration Building, 800 Court Street Suite 130 (1st floor), Adel, IA 500032

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Online forms (law enforcement; general), or in person, in writing or by phone; responses within 10 business days; retrieval fee may apply if over thirty minutes13

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Dallas County?

The Dallas County Recorder keeps deed records. To order copies: Search online, or visit/mail the Recorder (800 Court Street Suite 130, Adel); in-person service Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm. Plain copies: $0.50 per page. Certified copies: Copy fee plus $5.524

How much is a birth certificate in Dallas County?

$20 per certified copy; cash, check or money order to Dallas County Recorder; card in office only (processing fees).10

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

Use the property search of the Dallas 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 Dallas County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Iowa with a full guide: Black Hawk County, Dubuque County, Johnson County, Linn County, Polk County, Pottawattamie County, Story County, Woodbury County. Every county in the state: Iowa county list. Looking for another Dallas County? Dallas County, Texas.

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. RecorderDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  3. Recorder | Dallas County, IADallas County, IAchecked November 8, 2026
  4. Recorder - Real EstateDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  5. Site MapDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  6. AssessorDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  7. Property TaxDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Dallas | Judicial District 5 (via county 'Clerk of Court (State)' link)Iowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Iowa Courts Online SearchIowa Judicial Branchchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Vital RecordsDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  11. Interactive MappingDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Board of Review InformationDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  13. Open Records RequestDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  14. Marriage LicenseDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  15. Trade NamesDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  16. AuditorDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  17. Military RecordsDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. The Building of the Majestic CourthouseDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  19. County Auditors directoryIowa Secretary of Statechecked November 4, 2026
  20. Elections | Dallas County, IADallas County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  21. GISDallas Countychecked November 4, 2026
  22. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026