| Clerk of District Court | Dubuque County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Dubuque County Courthouse, 720 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001 |
| Phone | 563-589-4418 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| 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) |
Dubuque County, on the Mississippi River in Iowa's northeast corner, is the state's oldest settlement and its courthouse — a gold-domed 1891 Beaux-Arts landmark at 720 Central Avenue — is still the working seat of the district court. The Dubuque County Clerk of the District Court, a state Judicial Branch office in that building, keeps every case filed in the county: felonies and misdemeanors, civil suits, divorces and custody cases, probate, small claims, and traffic. The City of Dubuque's own website describes the clerk as the custodian of criminal and traffic records and directs anyone who needs to appear on or pay a ticket to the clerk's office.
Dubuque County belongs to Iowa's First Judicial District, an eleven-county district in northeast Iowa whose court administrator is based in Waterloo. The juvenile court office is in a separate building at 350 W 6th Street rather than in the courthouse. Because Dubuque faces Illinois and Wisconsin across the river, a case involving an East Dubuque, Illinois, or Grant County, Wisconsin, address may have been filed in one of those states, each of which has its own separate court-records system.
There is no Dubuque County-run case-search website. Remote lookups go through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal, which shows dockets and status for free but not document images. Iowa has had no municipal courts since 1973; City of Dubuque ordinance violations and simple misdemeanors are prosecuted by the City Attorney's Office but filed and heard in this same district court.
Search Dubuque County court records online
Clerk of District Court
Dubuque County Clerk of the District Court
- Cost
- Free docket search on Iowa Courts Online; $0.50 per page for copies and $50 for certification under the Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule
- Coverage
- All district court case types filed in Dubuque County — felony and misdemeanor criminal, civil, family, probate, small claims, traffic, and juvenile
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The Judicial Branch county page lists the clerk's address, phone, fax, email, case-scheduling line, and juvenile court office. Case information is searched through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal, not a Dubuque County site.
Other courts
Dubuque County Juvenile Court Office
- Coverage
- Juvenile delinquency and child-in-need-of-assistance matters for Dubuque County; confidential by statute and not open to the public
Located at 350 W 6th St., Suite 215, Dubuque, IA 52001, phone 563-589-7831, per the Iowa Judicial Branch county page. Listed for completeness only; juvenile case files are not public records.
What is available online
Dubuque County case dockets, party names, hearing dates, and case status are searchable for free on the statewide Iowa Courts Online system, which Dubuque County's own FAQ page points residents to for case filings and disposition information. Confidential case types — juvenile, mental health commitments, adoptions, and some family matters — are excluded from public search by court rule. Filed documents are not displayed online for the general public; view them on the courthouse public-access terminal or request copies from the clerk. Office hours are not published on the Judicial Branch or county websites; call 563-589-4418 before visiting. For a specific court date, the county directs callers to the same number.
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
Dubuque County clerk offices
Dubuque County Courthouse, 720 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: 563-589-4418
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
In person. Visit the Clerk of the District Court at the Dubuque County Courthouse, 720 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001. The public-access terminal lets you search the index and read non-confidential filings at no charge; printed copies are paid at the counter. Bring a case number if you have one, or the full names of the parties and the approximate year of filing.
By mail. Write to the Dubuque County Clerk of the District Court at the address above (phone 563-589-4418, fax 563-557-0614, email countyclerk.dubuque@iowacourts.gov). The county courthouse's general mailing address is PO Box 5001, Dubuque, IA 52004-5001; address the envelope to the Clerk of Court. Identify the case by number or party names, list the specific documents you want, and say whether you need plain or certified copies. The Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule sets copies at $0.50 per page and certification and seal at $50; call first to confirm the total and payment method.
Online. Use Iowa Courts Online for a free docket search by name or case number. A paid Advanced Case Search subscription adds filters but still does not show document images. Attorneys and registered parties can view their own filings through the eFile system.
City ordinance cases. If a court document cites a City of Dubuque ordinance, the City Attorney's Office (563-589-4381) prosecuted it, but the case file is still with the district court clerk, not the city.
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
Where are Dubuque County, Iowa court records kept?
At the Clerk of the District Court in the Dubuque County Courthouse, 720 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001. The office keeps criminal, civil, family, probate, small claims, and traffic files for the whole county.
Can I search Dubuque County court cases online for free?
Yes. Iowa Courts Online, the statewide Judicial Branch portal, shows Dubuque County case dockets and status at no charge. Filed documents are not online; view them at the courthouse terminal or request copies from the clerk.
Where do I pay or look up a Dubuque traffic ticket?
At the Dubuque County Clerk of the District Court, 720 Central Avenue (563-589-4418), or online through the Judicial Branch payment portal. Iowa has no municipal courts, so city police tickets go to the same district court as sheriff and State Patrol citations.
How much do copies of Dubuque County court records cost?
The Iowa Judicial Branch fee schedule lists paper copies at $0.50 per page and $50 for certification and seal of a court document. Confirm the total with the clerk's office before mailing payment.
Sources
- Dubuque County | Judicial District 1 | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-1/district/1/county/dubuque
- Dubuque County, IA — Contact — https://www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/142/Contact
- Dubuque County, IA — Frequently Asked Questions — https://dubuquecountyiowa.gov/faq.aspx?TID=23
- City of Dubuque — City Attorney Additional Information — https://www.cityofdubuque.org/3025/Additional-Information
- Civil Court Fees | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/civil-court-fees
- Iowa Courts Online Search — https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/SelectFrame
- 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.