| Clerk of District Court | Linn County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Linn County Courthouse, 51 Third Avenue Bridge (May's Island), Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 |
| Phone | 319-398-3411 |
| Hours | Courthouse: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Clerk's offices open at 8 a.m.) |
| 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) |
Linn County, anchored by Cedar Rapids, sits in Iowa's sixth judicial district. As in every Iowa county, a single office — the Linn County Clerk of the District Court, a state Judicial Branch employee — keeps the file for every case filed there, whether it is a felony, a civil suit, a divorce, or a probate matter. There is no separate county-level clerk of court.
The clerk's office is on May's Island in the Linn County Courthouse in downtown Cedar Rapids. Remote searchers use the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal rather than a Linn County-specific search site; the county's own website mainly covers hours, staff contacts, and arraignment information.
Iowa abolished municipal courts in 1973, so there is no separate "Cedar Rapids Municipal Court." City ordinance violations and traffic tickets written by Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Hiawatha police are filed with this same Clerk of the District Court as simple misdemeanors and show up in the statewide docket search alongside every other Linn County case.
Search Linn County court records online
Clerk of District Court
Linn 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 Linn 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 Linn County-specific site.
What is available online
Case dockets and status for Linn County cases are searchable for free through the statewide Iowa Courts Online system. Juvenile, mental health, and other confidential case types 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
Linn County clerk offices
Linn County Courthouse, 51 Third Avenue Bridge (May's Island), Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-398-3411
Hours: Courthouse: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Clerk's offices open at 8 a.m.)
In person or by mail. Contact the Linn County Clerk of the District Court at 51 Third Avenue Bridge, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 (phone 319-398-3411, fax 319-398-3469, email countyclerk.linn@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.
Public-access terminals. Non-confidential documents filed in Linn County cases can be viewed for free on courthouse terminals during business hours; printed copies are paid at the counter.
City citations and fines. Iowa has no municipal courts, so tickets from Cedar Rapids, Marion, or other city police departments are filed with the Linn 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.
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 Linn County, Iowa?
Search the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal by party name or case number; Linn County does not maintain a separate case-search website. Basic docket search is free.
Who is the clerk of court for Linn County?
The Linn County Clerk of the District Court, located at 51 Third Avenue Bridge in the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids. It handles every case type filed in the county's district court.
Are Cedar Rapids traffic tickets part of the Linn County court record search?
Yes. Iowa has no municipal courts, so citations written by Cedar Rapids or Marion police, county sheriff's deputies, or the Iowa State Patrol are all filed with the Linn County Clerk of the District Court and appear in Iowa Courts Online.
How do I request a certified copy from the Linn 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
- Linn County | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-6/district/6/county/linn
- Clerk of Court | Linn County, IA — https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/1123/Clerk-of-Court
- Iowa Courts Online Search — https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/SelectFrame
- 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.