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Story County, Iowa public records

In Story County, deeds are recorded by the Story County Recorder; property values come from the Story County Assessor; court files are kept by the Clerk of District Court, Story 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 Story 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 recordsStory County Recorder5Search deeds23Free searchCertified copy fee: $5 for certification + copy fee costs (all real estate documents; not vital records)4
Property values and ownersStory County Assessor5Property search6—
Property tax billsStory County Treasurer5Tax bill search7—
Court casesClerk of District Court, Story County5Iowa District Court for Story County8—
Marriage recordsStory County Recorder5—$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found9
Divorce recordsClerk of District Court, Story County5——
Birth certificatesStory County Recorder5—$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found; not refundable9
Death certificatesStory County Recorder5—$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found; not refundable9
Probate and willsClerk of District Court, Story County10——
Business names (DBA)Story County Recorder5——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Story County are recorded by the Story County Recorder (Recorder & Vital Records).5

Online search
iowalandrecords.org2Free search
Cost
Free3
Recording fee
$5 per page + $1 record management fee per transaction + $1 e-commerce fee per transaction + Auditor's transfer fee ($5 per parcel)4
Certified copy fee
$5 for certification + copy fee costs (all real estate documents; not vital records)4
Federal lien search
$6 per name search; $5.00 per page for copy4

How deeds work in Iowa

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Story County Assessor (excluding the City of Ames) sets property values5; the Story County Treasurer bills and collects the tax5.

Ames assessor
City of Ames properties are assessed by the Ames City Assessor11
Tax due
First half due by September 30; second half by March 31 of the following year12
Appealing a value
Written protest to the Board of Review April 2-April 30; then district court within twenty days after adjournment of the Board or twenty days after May 31st, whichever is latest11
Transfer books
Auditor's transfer books: history of all recorded transfers of a property, open to the public; online via Cott Systems13
Plat book
2024-2025 Story County plat book $25.80, postage not included; Auditor's Office (515) 382-721014

How property tax works in Iowa

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Iowa District Court for Story County (Judicial District 2)Civil, dissolution, probate, criminal, traffic, small claims, and mental health8Clerk of District Court, Story County (a State of Iowa Judicial Branch office)iowacourts.state.ia.us/…8

Criminal records and background checks

Overview
Criminal case paperwork is kept by the Clerk of District Court; county links the state Court Record Search8

How Iowa courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Story County Recorder (local registrar of births, deaths, marriages).5

Marriage license fee
$35, due on application; includes a certified copy of the Certificate of Marriage; not refundable if the marriage does not occur15
Copy fee
$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found9
Coverage
Marriage records are kept in the county where the license was obtained; county registrars do not hold 1921-194116

Iowa marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Dissolution files are processed by the Clerk of District Court8

Iowa divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Story County Recorder (local registrar of births, deaths, marriages).5

Fee
$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found; not refundable9
Coverage
Certified copies of births that occurred in Story County2
Who may order
Registrant or lineal relation: legal parent, grandparent, current spouse, brother, sister, child, legal guardian or legal representative; applicants 18 or older with government photo ID9
How to order
Mail the state request form with a check or money order for $20 payable to the Story County Recorder, a copy of photo ID and a legal-size stamped envelope16
Not held by county
County registrars cannot hold sealed records, 1921-1941 births/deaths/marriages, delayed registrations, fetal deaths, legal name changes, or single-parent births before January 1, 198616

Ordering an Iowa birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Story County Recorder (local registrar of births, deaths, marriages).5

Fee
$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found; not refundable9
Coverage
Death certificates from anywhere in Iowa2

Ordering an Iowa death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate paperwork is processed by the Clerk of District Court8

Finding a will or probate case in Iowa

Business names (DBA)

Trade names are among the documents recorded by the Recorder17

Voter records

Auditor maintains all official voter registration records; register in person, by mail or online18

Historical records

Online Historical Index (free account required); paper records being converted2

Military
Veterans' discharges recorded with the Recorder are closed records; no charge to record or for a certified copy19

Good to know about Story County records

  • Story County has two property assessors: the County Assessor excludes the City of Ames, which has its own City Assessor20
  • Recorders became registrars of vital records on July 1, 199717
  • The Recorder's office dates to the Territory of Iowa's First Legislative Assembly, 183917
  • County registrars hold no births, deaths or marriages for 1921-1941; use the state registrar16
  • County-level vital records may be viewed by the general public, though certified copies are restricted9
  • Courts and the Clerk of Court are State offices; clerk staff are State of Iowa employees8

Office addresses, phones and hours

Story County Recorder (Recorder & Vital Records)

Address
900 6th St., Nevada, IA 502012
Mail
P.O. Box 55, Nevada, IA 502012
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; document recording 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM2

Story County Recorder (local registrar of births, deaths, marriages)

Address
900 6th St., Nevada, IA 502012
Mail
Story County Recorder, 900 6th St., Box 55, Nevada, Iowa 50201-005516
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM2

Story County Assessor (excluding the City of Ames)

Address
900 Sixth St., Nevada, IA 5020120
Phone
(515) 382-7320; fax (515) 382-732620
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM20

Story County Treasurer

Address
900 Sixth St., Nevada, IA 5020121
Mail
P.O. Box 498, Nevada, IA 5020121
Phone
(515) 382-7340; fax (515) 382-733621
Hours
8:00 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday; 9:30 AM-4:30 PM the second Tuesday of each month21

Story County Auditor (Commissioner of Elections; real estate transfer records)

Address
Administration Building, 900 6th St., Nevada, IA 5020122
Phone
(515) 382-7210; fax (515) 382-722122
Hours
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.22

Clerk of District Court, Story County (a State of Iowa Judicial Branch office)

Address
1315 S. B Ave., Nevada, IA 502018
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, excluding State holidays8

Clerk of District Court, Story County (civil, dissolution, small claims)

Address
1315 S. B Ave., Nevada, IA 502018
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, excluding State holidays8

Clerk of District Court, Story County (probate)

Address
1315 S. B Ave., Nevada, IA 502018

Story County Sheriff's Office (Records)

Address
1315 South B Ave., Nevada, Iowa 5020123

Story County GIS

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Public Records Liaison, 900 6th St, Nevada IA 50201; 515-382-7243; fax 515-382-7206; [email protected]24
How to request
Written form optional; in person, by phone or email, without identification or stated reason24
Response time
Requests needing research get a reply within ten business days; Iowa Code allows twenty calendar days to determine confidentiality24
Copy fee
$.10 per page black/white; $.25 per page color; prepayment if estimate exceeds $50.0025
Recorder exempt
Recorder's documents and research fees are exempt from this schedule25

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

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

The Story County Recorder (Recorder & Vital Records) keeps deed records. Certified copies: $5 for certification + copy fee costs (all real estate documents; not vital records).54

Can I search Story County land records online for free?

Yes. The official search: iowalandrecords.org32

How much is a birth certificate in Story County?

$20 per record search, with a copy issued if one is found; not refundable.9

Where do I get a divorce decree in Story County?

Dissolution files are processed by the Clerk of District Court.8

How much does a marriage license cost in Story County?

$35, due on application; includes a certified copy of the Certificate of Marriage; not refundable if the marriage does not occur.15

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

Use the property search of the Story County Assessor (excluding the City of Ames): 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 Story 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, Polk County, Pottawattamie 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. Recorder & Vital RecordsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  3. Iowa Land Records (statewide county recorder search/e-submission site)Electronic Services System / Iowa county recorders (county land record information system, Iowa Code 331.604(3))checked November 7, 2026
  4. Fee ScheduleStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  5. Site MapStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  6. Beacon - Property RecordsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  7. Story County, IA - Official WebsiteStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  8. Courts & Clerk CourtStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  9. County Vital Records RequestsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  10. Court DirectoryIowa Judicial Branchchecked November 7, 2026
  11. Assessor Functions & ServicesStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  12. Property TaxStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  13. Real Estate & Property RecordsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  14. Plat BooksStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  15. Fees & Further Information (marriage)Story County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  16. Availability of RecordsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  17. About the Recorder's OfficeStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  18. Auditor ResponsibilitiesStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  19. Military RecordsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  20. Assessor & Property ValuesStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  21. TreasurerStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  22. Auditor & ElectionsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  23. Sheriff's OfficeStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  24. Open Records RequestsStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  25. Public Records FeesStory County, Iowachecked November 7, 2026
  26. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureauchecked November 4, 2026