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Polk County, Iowa public records

In Polk County, deeds are recorded by the Polk County Recorder; property values come from the Polk County Assessor; court files are kept by the Clerk of District Court, Polk 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. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Polk County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsPolk County Recorder5Search deeds23Free search$0.50 per page (fee table); emailed copies $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional (FAQ)4
Property values and ownersPolk County Assessor6Property search6—
Property tax billsPolk County Treasurer7Tax bill search7—
Court casesClerk of District Court, Polk County8—Copies $0.50 per page; certification and seal $50 per court document (Iowa Judicial Branch fee table, updated for 2026 legislative changes).9
Marriage recordsPolk County Recorder10——
Divorce recordsClerk of District Court, Polk County8——
Birth certificatesPolk County Recorder10—$20.00 per certified copy since July 1, 202610
Death certificatesPolk County Recorder10—$20.00 per certified copy since July 1, 202610
Probate and willsClerk of District Court, Polk County8——
Business names (DBA)Statewide: A person doing business under a trade name (other than the true surname of each owner) must first record a verified statement with the County Recorder of the county where the business is conducted (Iowa Code ch. 547)11——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Polk County are recorded by the Polk County Recorder (Real Estate Department).5

Online search
landrecords.polkcountyiowa.gov/…2Free search
Cost
Free3
Years online
Index and document images from January 1, 1992; earlier documents from the Imaging/Microfilm Department (515-286-3175)2
Copy fee
$0.50 per page (fee table); emailed copies $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional (FAQ)4
Certified copy fee
$5.00 per document certification4
Recording fee
Deeds and contracts $12.00 first page (includes $5.00 transfer fee), mortgages and most other documents $7.00 first page; $5.00 each additional page4
How to order
Email [email protected] with contact details; an invoice is emailed3

How deeds work in Iowa

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Polk County Assessor sets property values6; the Polk County Treasurer bills and collects the tax7.

Property search
Polk County Assessor site assess.co.polk.ia.us (property query forms)6
Tax bill search
taxsearch.polkcountyiowa.gov/Search (Search Property Database); pay online at iowataxandtags.org7
Due dates
1st installment due by September 30, 2nd by March 31; 1.5% interest from October 1 and April 17
Parcel map (GIS)
maps.polkcountyiowa.gov (County GIS Maps)2
Appealing a value
Informal review with the assessor April 2-25; protest to the local board of review April 2-30; then appeal to the state Property Assessment Appeal Board or directly to district court within 20 days after the board of review adjourns or May 31, whichever is later.12
Who does what
Local assessor (county assessor, or a city assessor in cities of 10,000+ that choose one) sets value and classification; county auditor sets levy rates and bills; county treasurer collects.12

How property tax works in Iowa

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Iowa District Court for Polk County (Fifth Judicial District)Felony, misdemeanor, civil, small claims, family, probate, juvenile (unified state trial court)Clerk of District Court, Polk County (Iowa Judicial Branch, Fifth Judicial District) Iowa Courts Online Search: the trial-court Case Search (statewide) is "Available to all users"; the trial-court Advanced Case Search (by county, up-to-the-minute) and Schedule Search are for registered users only; registered users are limited to 1,000 searches per calendar day. Case documents are viewable at the public terminal in the courthouse. The page states no fee.13Free search
Fees
Copies $0.50 per page; certification and seal $50 per court document (Iowa Judicial Branch fee table, updated for 2026 legislative changes).9
Access
Unified statewide Iowa Judicial Branch; district court in every county, with case records kept by the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case is filed.14

Criminal records and background checks

Courts
Criminal cases via Iowa Courts Online (statewide) and the Polk County Clerk of Court8
State
Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).15
State fee
$15 per last name (separate form and payment for each).15

How Iowa courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Polk County Recorder (Vital Records; county registrar).10

Marriage license fee
$35.00; couple plus one witness apply in person with photo ID; license valid 4 days after application (day of application excluded)10
Certified copy
$20.00 per certified copy (raised seal) for licenses applied for in Polk County; fee rose from $15 to $20 on July 1, 202610
Who may order
Only entitled persons: the registrant, spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, legal representative or guardian (guardians, representatives and siblings need extra proof). Valid government photo ID required; mail applications must be notarized.16

Iowa marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce records: Polk County Clerk of Court (515-561-5718), not the Recorder3

State
Clerk of District Court in the county where the case was filed holds the decree/case file; Iowa HHS holds divorce vital statistics records under 75 years old (no certified divorce certificate service is described on HHS pages).17

Iowa divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Polk County Recorder holds all Iowa births from 1985 to present and Polk County births before 1985, except 1921-1941 and single-parent or legal-action records; others from Iowa HHS (515) 281-494418

Fee
$20.00 per certified copy since July 1, 202610
How to request
In person, or mail the request with a photocopy of ID to Polk County Recorder, Attn: Vital Records; mailed the next day18
State rule
Iowa HHS Bureau of Health Statistics (state registrar, Des Moines) and the County Recorder of each county (local registrar). County recorders can issue certified copies of births from 1986 to present statewide; earlier births from the county where the birth occurred.19

Ordering an Iowa birth certificate

Death certificates

Polk County Recorder has death records from July 1, 1941; earlier from Iowa HHS20

Fee
$20.00 per certified copy since July 1, 202610

Ordering an Iowa death certificate

Probate records and wills

Iowa District Court sitting in probate; files kept by the Clerk of District Court in the county.21

Will deposit
The clerk keeps a safekeeping file for wills deposited by living testators; after death the custodian must deliver the will to the court.21

Finding a will or probate case in Iowa

Business names (DBA)

Where Iowa keeps it: A person doing business under a trade name (other than the true surname of each owner) must first record a verified statement with the County Recorder of the county where the business is conducted (Iowa Code ch. 547).11

Assumed names (DBA)
Trade names are recorded with the Polk County Recorder (Real Estate Department); $7.00 first page, $5.00 each additional4

Voter records

County
Polk County Auditor (Elections)22
Lists
Voter lists are sold to anyone for limited purposes (requesting votes, genuine political purpose, bona fide political research, official purposes); commercial use is a serious misdemeanor. Statewide lists from the Secretary of State; county auditors produce lists for their districts.23

Historical records

Deeds pre
Real estate documents before 1/1/1992 from the Recorder's Imaging/Microfilm Department, 515-286-31752
State archives
State Historical Society of Iowa / State Archives (history.iowa.gov). The Des Moines Research Center is open; the Iowa City Research Center closed to the public on December 31, 2025 (litigation over the building is ongoing; some Des Moines-held items can be viewed at the University of Iowa by request). SHSI holds county records on microfilm (births, marriages, deaths, wills, probates, naturalization papers, land deeds) and state vital records in the State Archives (RG 48): birth/marriage/divorce 75+ years old, death 50+.24

Good to know about Polk County records

  • The Polk County Recorder does not hold Polk County birth records for 1921 through 1941.18
  • Polk County Recorder death records start July 1, 1941.20
  • Polk County vital record copy fees rose from $15 to $20 on July 1, 2026.10
  • The Recorder does not keep property abstracts.3
  • Online real estate images start January 1, 1992; earlier documents come from the Recorder's microfilm department.2

Office addresses, phones and hours

Polk County Recorder (Real Estate Department)

Address
Polk County Administration Building, 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, IA 503092
Mail
Polk County Administration Building, 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, IA 503092
Phone
Real Estate 515-286-3160; Microfilm/Imaging 515-286-31752
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; real estate same-day filing by 4:00 p.m.; vital records same-day service until 3:30 p.m.2

Polk County Recorder (Vital Records; county registrar)

Address
Polk County Administration Building, 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, IA 503092
Mail
Polk County Recorder, Attn: Vital Records, 111 Court Avenue Suite 245, Des Moines IA 5030918
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; real estate same-day filing by 4:00 p.m.; vital records same-day service until 3:30 p.m.2

Polk County Assessor

Address
111 Court Ave. - Room 195, Des Moines, IA 503096
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.6

Polk County Treasurer

Address
Polk County Administration Building, 111 Court Avenue, Room 154, Des Moines, IA 503097
Phone
Property Tax 515-286-30607
Hours
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month7

Clerk of District Court, Polk County (Iowa Judicial Branch, Fifth Judicial District)

Address
500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 503098
Phone
515-561-5718 (fax 515-323-5250)8

Clerk of District Court, Polk County (civil, family, probate)

Address
500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 503098
Phone
515-561-5718 (fax 515-323-5250)8

Polk County Auditor (Elections)

Address
Polk County Election Office, 2309 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines, IA 5031022
Mail
2309 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines, IA 5031022
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday22

Records that are not online: public records requests

Courts
Unified statewide Iowa Judicial Branch; district court in every county, with case records kept by the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case is filed.14

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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

The Polk County Recorder (Real Estate Department) keeps deed records. To order copies: Email [email protected] with contact details; an invoice is emailed. Plain copies: $0.50 per page (fee table); emailed copies $2.00 first page and $1.00 each additional (FAQ). Certified copies: $5.00 per document certification.534

Can I search Polk County land records online for free?

Yes. The official search: landrecords.polkcountyiowa.gov/…32

How much is a birth certificate in Polk County?

$20.00 per certified copy since July 1, 2026.10

Where do I get a divorce decree in Polk County?

Divorce records: Polk County Clerk of Court (515-561-5718), not the Recorder.3

How much does a marriage license cost in Polk County?

$35.00; couple plus one witness apply in person with photo ID; license valid 4 days after application (day of application excluded).10

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

Use the property search of the Polk County Assessor: assess.co.polk.ia.us6

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 Polk 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, Dallas County, Dubuque County, Johnson County, Linn County, Pottawattamie County, Story County, Woodbury County. Every county in the state: Iowa county list. Looking for another Polk County? Polk County, Florida; Polk County, Oregon; Polk County, Texas.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 25 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Polk County Recorder - Search RecordsPolk County, Iowa
  3. Polk County Recorder - FAQPolk County, Iowa
  4. Recording FeesPolk County Recorderarchived copy
  5. Real Estate DepartmentPolk County Recorderarchived copy
  6. County AssessorPolk County Assessorarchived copy
  7. Property Tax (Treasurer)Polk County Treasurerarchived copy
  8. Polk County (Fifth Judicial District)Iowa Judicial Branch
  9. Civil Court FeesIowa Judicial Branch
  10. Marriage RecordsPolk County Recorderarchived copy
  11. Iowa Code ch. 547 Trade NamesIowa Legislature
  12. Iowa Property Tax OverviewIowa Department of Revenue
  13. Iowa Courts Online Search - Search SelectionIowa Judicial Branch
  14. Public Records RequestsIowa Judicial Branch
  15. Criminal History Record Check InformationIowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation
  16. Vital Records (Marriage, Birth, or Death Certificates)Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
  17. Vital RecordsState Historical Society of Iowa
  18. Birth RecordsPolk County Recorderarchived copy
  19. How to Request a Certified RecordIowa Department of Health and Human Services
  20. Death RecordsPolk County Recorderarchived copy
  21. Iowa Code ch. 633 Probate CodeIowa Legislature
  22. County Auditors directory (Find My County Auditor)Iowa Secretary of State
  23. Voter Registration List RequestsIowa Secretary of State
  24. County RecordsState Historical Society of Iowa
  25. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau