| Clerk of District Court | Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703 |
| Phone | 319-833-3331 |
| Hours | Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (per the Black Hawk County website's court-fines FAQ) |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50 per page (Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule) |
| Certified copy fee | $50 for certification and seal of a court document (Iowa Code section 602.8105(2)(b), per the Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule) |
Black Hawk County, home to Waterloo and Cedar Falls, is part of Iowa's first judicial district. The Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court, a state Judicial Branch office at the Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo, keeps every case filed in the county: criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile all pass through the same office.
As in every Iowa county, there is no separate county-level clerk of court; the public searches case dockets through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal rather than a Black Hawk-specific search tool. The county's juvenile court office keeps a separate physical location on Lafayette Street in Waterloo, though juvenile case records themselves are confidential and not part of any public search.
Iowa abolished municipal courts in 1973, so Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and the other Black Hawk County cities have no city courts of their own. Ordinance violations and traffic tickets written by city police are filed with this same Clerk of the District Court as simple misdemeanors and appear in the statewide docket search alongside every other Black Hawk County case.
Search Black Hawk County court records online
Clerk of District Court
Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court
- Cost
- Free docket search on Iowa Courts Online; fees apply for certified copies
- Coverage
- All district court case types filed in Black Hawk County — felony and misdemeanor criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic, and juvenile
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Case information is searched through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal, not a Black Hawk County-specific site.
What is available online
Case dockets and status for Black Hawk County cases are searchable for free on the statewide Iowa Courts Online system. Confidential case types (juvenile, mental health, some family matters) are excluded from public search. Document images are not published online; view non-confidential filings at the courthouse public-access terminal or request copies from the clerk's office.
Which clerk has your record
In Iowa, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Iowa page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa District Court | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits of any amount, including small claims | Clerk of the District Court for the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Black Hawk County clerk offices
316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: 319-833-3331
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (per the Black Hawk County website's court-fines FAQ)
In person or by mail. Contact the Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court at 316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703 (phone 319-833-3331, fax 319-833-3251, email countyclerk.blackhawk@iowacourts.gov). Provide the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing date, and state whether you need plain or certified copies.
Juvenile matters. The county's Juvenile Court Office, at 818 Lafayette in Waterloo, handles juvenile case scheduling separately, but juvenile records themselves remain confidential and are not available through a public copy request.
City citations and fines. Iowa has no municipal courts, so tickets from Waterloo, Cedar Falls, or other city police are filed with the Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court like any other simple misdemeanor. Fines on those cases can be paid online through the Iowa Judicial Branch payment portal or at the clerk's counter during the hours listed above.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Iowa |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50 per page (Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule) |
| Certified copy | $50 for certification and seal of a court document (Iowa Code section 602.8105(2)(b), per the Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule) |
The Iowa Judicial Branch's Civil Court Fees page lists copies at $0.50 per page and $50 for certification and seal of a court document under Iowa Code section 602.8105(2)(b), and notes that its figures reflect 2026 legislative changes. The codified text of section 602.8105 published in the 2026 Iowa Code still shows the earlier $30 certificate-and-seal fee, so confirm the current amount with the county clerk before sending payment. Every county clerk of the district court charges the same statewide schedule.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Iowa's default is that court records are public, but several categories are removed from public view:
The Iowa guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a court case in Black Hawk County, Iowa?
Search the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal by party name or case number. Black Hawk County does not run its own case-search website; basic docket search is free.
Who is the clerk of court for Black Hawk County?
The Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court, at 316 E. 5th Street in Waterloo. It handles every case type filed in the county's district court.
Are Waterloo or Cedar Falls traffic tickets part of the county court record search?
Yes. Iowa has no municipal courts, so citations written by Waterloo or Cedar Falls police, county sheriff's deputies, or state troopers are all filed with the Black Hawk County Clerk of the District Court and appear in Iowa Courts Online.
How do I request a certified copy from the Black Hawk County Clerk?
Contact the clerk's office in person or by mail with the case number and the documents you need. The Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule lists copies at $0.50 per page and $50 for certification and seal of a document; confirm the total with the clerk before sending payment.
Sources
- Iowa Judicial Branch — court history and the 1973 unified trial court — https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/educational-resources-and-services/iowa-courts-history
- Black Hawk | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-1/district/1/county/black-hawk
- Iowa Courts Online Search — https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/SelectFrame
- FAQs — Black Hawk County, IA (Clerk of Court payments and hours) — https://www.blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov/733/FAQs
- Civil Court Fees | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/civil-court-fees
- Iowa Judicial Branch — District Court — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court
- Iowa Judicial Branch — Court of Appeals — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/court-of-appeals
- Iowa Judicial Branch — Supreme Court — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court
- Iowa DCI Criminal History Record Check Information — https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions-iowa-department-public-safety/iowa-division-criminal-investigation/criminal-history-record-check-information
- Iowa Code Chapter 901C — Expungement of Criminal Records — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/901C.pdf
- Iowa Code Section 602.8105 — Clerk Fees for Civil Cases — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/602.8105.pdf
- Iowa Code Section 22.7 — Confidential Records — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/22.7.pdf
- Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16 — Rules of Electronic Procedure — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/16.pdf
- United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa — https://www.iasd.uscourts.gov/
- United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa — https://www.iand.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Iowa counties.