| Clerk of District Court | Woodbury County Clerk of the District Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Room 101, Sioux City, IA 51101 |
| Phone | 712-279-6611 |
| 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) |
Woodbury County anchors the northwest corner of Iowa, with Sioux City sitting where Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota meet on the Missouri River. Court records for the county are kept by the Woodbury County Clerk of the District Court, a state Judicial Branch office on the first floor of the Woodbury County Courthouse at 620 Douglas Street — a 1918 Prairie School landmark that is still the working courthouse. Every case type filed in the county passes through this one office: felonies, misdemeanors, civil suits, divorces, probate, small claims, and traffic.
Woodbury County is the largest county in Iowa's Third Judicial District, which covers sixteen counties across northwest Iowa, and the district court administrator's office is also based in the Sioux City courthouse. Because the metro area spills into Nebraska (South Sioux City) and South Dakota (North Sioux City), a case involving a Siouxland address may have been filed in Dakota County, Nebraska, or Union County, South Dakota, rather than in Iowa at all; each of those states has its own separate court-records system.
As everywhere in Iowa, there is no 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, so Sioux City ordinance citations are filed with this same clerk as simple misdemeanors, not in a separate city court.
Search Woodbury County court records online
Clerk of District Court
Woodbury 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 Woodbury 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 contact, and juvenile court office. Case information is searched through the statewide Iowa Courts Online portal, not a Woodbury County site.
Other courts
Woodbury County Juvenile Court Office
- Coverage
- Juvenile delinquency and child-in-need-of-assistance matters for Woodbury County; confidential by statute and not open to the public
Located at 822 Douglas Street, Room 201, Sioux City, IA 51101, phone 712-279-6586, per the Iowa Judicial Branch county page. Listed for completeness only; juvenile case files are not public records.
What is available online
Woodbury County case dockets, party names, hearing dates, and case status are searchable for free on the statewide Iowa Courts Online system. 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 in Sioux City or request copies from the clerk. Fines and court debt for Woodbury County cases can be paid online through the Judicial Branch payment portal. Office hours are not published on the Judicial Branch or county websites; call 712-279-6611 before visiting.
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
Woodbury County clerk offices
Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Room 101, Sioux City, IA 51101
Phone: 712-279-6611
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, Room 101 of the Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Sioux City, IA 51101. 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 Woodbury County Clerk of the District Court at the address above (phone 712-279-6611, fax 712-279-6021, email CountyClerk.Woodbury@iowacourts.gov). 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 before enclosing a check or money order.
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.
Across the state line. If the case involved South Sioux City, Nebraska, or North Sioux City, South Dakota, it may have been filed in that state's county court instead; Iowa Courts Online covers Iowa cases only.
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 Woodbury County, Iowa court records kept?
At the Clerk of the District Court, Room 101 of the Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Sioux City, IA 51101. The office keeps criminal, civil, family, probate, small claims, and traffic files for the whole county.
Can I search Woodbury County court cases online for free?
Yes. Iowa Courts Online, the statewide Judicial Branch portal, shows Woodbury 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.
Are Sioux City traffic tickets in the Woodbury County court records?
Yes. Iowa has no municipal courts, so citations written by Sioux City police, the county sheriff, or the State Patrol are all filed with the Woodbury County Clerk of the District Court and appear in Iowa Courts Online.
How much do copies of Woodbury 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
- Woodbury County | Judicial District 3 | Iowa Judicial Branch — https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-3/district/3/county/woodbury
- Departments and Officials of Woodbury County, Iowa — https://www.woodburycountyiowa.gov/departments/
- 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.