Scott County, Iowa State Court Records
In Scott County, court records are official documents maintained by a court which includes court dockets, case information and other records created to track case progress, documentary exhibits submitted during a proceeding, transcripts filed with the clerk, and any other record of court processes produced in connection with the conduct of the court’s official obligations regardless of their physical form, characteristics, or mode of transmission.
Court records are essential judicial documents, as they help concerned individuals track case activity, follow up on relevant court actions, and review case outcomes. Court records may also serve as historical documents for reference in future adjudications, helping to maintain fairness and equity within the county’s judicial system. The Scott County District Court creates, maintains, disposes of, and allows public access to court records in accordance with the rules outlined in Chapter 20 of the Iowa Court Rules. Furthermore, public access to court records alongside other public records such as federal case files, arrest information, and vital records is also governed by the State’s Public Records Law.
Are Scott County Court Records Public?
Yes, court records are considered to be public records under the Iowa Freedom of Information Act. Interested members of the public are by this law granted the legal right to request Scott County court records from the record custodian. However, certain confidential judicial and governmental records are exempt from the public under Sections 22.7 and 761-4.9(22) of the Iowa Code. The following are some examples of court records that are exempt:
- Transcripts and minutes generated from private court hearings.
- Documents categorized under attorney-client communications
- Records that reveal personnel and privileged information about law enforcement officials including undercover agents
- Documentations submitted to the court in the process of obtaining an arrest or search warrant including citations and affidavits, before an arrest, the defendant’s initial court appearance, or the warrant’s return
- Intellectual property identified and designated as confidential
- All documents and records tagged confidential, sealed, expunged, or exempt by law
- Court records and documents that are an attorney’s work product and are connected to lawsuits or claims filed by or against public entities
- Certain investigative records and reports
However, these records may be accessible to certain persons or entities under certain circumstances if a court order is issued by the Supreme Court or Appeals Court to that effect. Therefore these records are not absolutely exempt from public access.
What Information is Available in Scott County Court Records
A typical court record created in Scott County will furnish concerned individuals with the following information:
- A subject’s full name, physical descriptions, and aliases
- Case information like party names, case number, case type, case status/disposition, attorney details, and filing dates
- Arrest and booking information and records including release, parole, and probation details where applicable
- Court information such as the name and location of the deciding court, the court calendar/schedule, presiding judge information, and court dockets details
- Transcripts, minutes, recordings, subpoenas, warrants, and other documents of court actions and proceedings
- Case depositions, verdicts, judgment sentences, opinions, decisions, orders, and decrees
- Documentary exhibits and evidentiary materials
- Case appeals, resolutions, counterarguments, and responses
Note that the list provided above is not exhaustive and may vary based on the case type, court of jurisdiction, and court processes.
Scott County Court Records Search
Researchers may utilize the following options to conduct a Scott County court records search:
Online Access: Residents and other members of the public may remotely access case information and court dockets maintained in Scott County by querying the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Records Search system. This portal provides convenient, remote, and free access to public court dockets and case information of trial and appellate court cases. To view more docket information, such as details of case parties, lis pendens, judgment/liens, exhibit lists, complete financial information, service returns, and traffic information, interested persons may be required to register and pay a subscription fee of $25 per month for access to the Advanced Case Search feature on the portal.
In-Person Access: Scott County provides public access terminals at the courthouse for public access to court documents. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the clerk’s office during official hours to inspect publicly available court records for free or pay nominal fees to request copies of such records.
Mail and Phone Requests: The clerk’s office processes written mail requests for accessing court records. These requests must however include a self-addressed stamped envelope and information needed to identify the requested records. Case information and court records are typically not provided via phone requests; interested persons may however make inquiries about a desired court record and the relevant request procedure by phoning the clerk’s office.
Fees for Court Records in Scott County
Scott County charges $0.25 per page after the first ten pages of a court record or document. The copy fee may vary depending on the volume, size, and record type and also if the record is to be mailed to the requester. Comprehensive court records featured on the state’s online court records search system are available to members of the public at a monthly subscription fee of $25. Also, certified copies of vital records including birth and death certificates cost $15 each. It might be helpful to verify exact inspection and copy fees from the Scott County Clerk of Court’s office.
Scott County Courthouse Locations
The court system in Scott County comprises a District Court and a specialized Juvenile Court. The Scott County District Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the County. The judges of the District Court have original and unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil, criminal, juvenile, and probate matters in the County. The Scott County Juvenile Court is a specialized court within the district court that handles cases related to children such as Child in Need of Assistance (CINA), delinquency cases,
Commitment proceedings and adoption.
The address and contact information of Scott County’s courts is as follows:
Scott County District Court
400 West 4th Street
Davenport, IA 52801
Phone: (563) 326-8647
Fax (criminal floor): (563) 326-8280
Fax (civil floor): 563-326-8704
Scott County Juvenile Court Services
400 West 4th Street, 3rd Floor
Davenport, Iowa 52801
Phone: (563) 326-8612
Fax: (563) 326-8261
Criminal Records Access in Scott County
Scott County criminal records may be available at the state level or county level. For statewide criminal history checks, interested persons may query the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation not the county courthouse. The DCI processes criminal history record requests at $15 per last name. The Scott County sheriff’s office provides county-level criminal background checks at $5 per search.
Concerned persons may access local criminal case records in Scott County by visiting the county clerk of court’s office from 8:00am to 4:30 on weekdays to review or copy publicly available court records. The public access terminals provided at the courthouse may also be used by members of the public to research criminal case records. Furthermore, one may search the state’s Online Electronic Docket Records Search system for Scott County criminal case records.
Scott County Probate Records
The Clerk of the Scott County District Court maintains all documents and case information filed in proceedings involving guardianships for adults or children, estate administrations of a deceased testator, conservatorships of minors, trusts, wills, and probate filings. Probate matters are handled by the Probate Court which is a division of the County District Court.
Scott County probate records are remotely accessible on the state judiciary’s electronic docket system search portal. Older records may not be available on this search portal but may require in-person visits to the clerk’s office for inspection and copying. Note that not all estate records and case information related to probate matters may be available for public access. Certain types of probate records and estate filings may be restricted from public disclosure, sealed by law, or redacted from public records.
County | Court Name | Address | Phone Number | Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Scott County | Scott County District Court-Probate Division | 400 West 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 | (563) 326-8647 | Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Scott County Family Court Records
Family matters including Divorce, Custody, Child Support, paternity and domestic violence are handled by the civil court department of the County’s District Court. Interested individuals can obtain Scott County family court records from the civil department in the Scott County Clerk of Court’s office. In-person record searches can be done at the clerk’s office located within the county courthouse at official hours or by using the on-site public access terminals provided by the County. Remote access to family court records is also possible via the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Records Search system. Interested persons may also submit inquiries and record requests to the clerk’s office by calling the courthouse at (563) 326-8704.
Federal Court Records in Scott County
The Federal Court that serves and has jurisdiction over Scott County is the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The Davenport Divisional Office of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is located at the Davenport Federal Building and it hears federal criminal cases, civil lawsuits involving federal law and handles naturalization ceremonies. Concerned persons may review federal court records and case files by visiting the US District clerk’s office located at 131 East Fourth Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801 between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays or calling (563) 884-7607 to make inquiries. In addition, federal court records are available online via the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system.