| Clerk of District Court | Scott County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Scott County Courthouse, 400 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801 |
| Phone | 563-326-8647 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.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) |
Scott County, Iowa's third-largest by population and home to Davenport, sits in the state's seventh judicial district. The Scott County Clerk of the District Court, a state Judicial Branch office based at the Scott County Courthouse, keeps every case filed in the county — criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile — and its office also serves neighboring Cedar County.
As in the rest of Iowa, there is no separate county-level clerk of court; remote case lookups go through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal rather than a Scott County-specific search tool. The county's own website (scottcountyiowa.gov) mainly explains which court handles which matter — small claims, traffic, criminal — and links back to the state system for actual case search.
Iowa abolished municipal courts in 1973, so Davenport, Bettendorf, and the other Scott 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 Scott County case.
Search Scott County court records online
Clerk of District Court
Scott 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 Scott County (and Cedar County, which this office also serves) — 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 Scott County-specific site. The clerk's office is split by floor for criminal and civil filings.
What is available online
Case dockets and status for Scott County cases are searchable for free through the statewide Iowa Courts Online system. Confidential case types (juvenile, mental health, some family matters) are excluded. 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
Scott County clerk offices
Scott County Courthouse, 400 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801
Phone: 563-326-8647
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
In person or by mail. Contact the Scott County Clerk of the District Court at 400 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801 (phone 563-326-8647; fax 563-326-8280 for the criminal floor, 563-326-8704 for the civil floor). Provide the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing date, and state whether you need plain or certified copies.
Small claims and traffic. The county's own court-resources pages explain which docket handles small claims or a traffic citation; these still route through the same Clerk of the District Court's office.
City citations and fines. Iowa has no municipal courts, so tickets issued by Davenport, Bettendorf, or other city police are filed with the Scott 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 search for a court case in Scott County, Iowa?
Use the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal by party name or case number. Scott County does not run its own case-search website; basic docket search is free.
Who is the clerk of court for Scott County?
The Scott County Clerk of the District Court, at 400 W. 4th St. in the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport. The office also serves neighboring Cedar County.
Are Davenport traffic tickets in the Scott County court record search?
Yes. Iowa has no municipal courts, so citations issued by Davenport or Bettendorf police, county sheriff's deputies, or the Iowa State Patrol are all filed with the Scott County Clerk of the District Court and appear in Iowa Courts Online.
What are the Scott County Clerk of Court's office hours?
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to the Scott County government website. Call ahead if you plan to request documents in person.
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
- Scott County | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-7/district/7/county/scott
- Clerk of Court | Scott County Iowa — https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/courts/clerk-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.