This Is Not a Government Office. We run a private reference site. We cannot pull official documents, file paperwork, or issue certified copies for anyone. For any of those, you need to reach the right government office directly.
Need an Official Document?
Here's where to look for the records most people ask about in Polk County:
- Court case files: contact the Polk County Clerk of District Court or the relevant district court
- Marriage and divorce records: see marriage and divorce records
- Probate, wills, and estates: see probate records
- Criminal and arrest records: see criminal records
- Jail roster: see inmate records
- Active warrants: see warrant records
- Other county records: see public records
Polk County Court and Records Offices
For official documents, reach the right Polk County office directly. The Clerk of District Court keeps court case files, and the County Recorder keeps marriage, vital, and real estate records.
Polk County Clerk of District Court
Polk County Justice Center
222 Fifth Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-286-3737
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Polk County Recorder
111 Court Avenue, Suite 250
Des Moines, IA 50309
Vital Records 515-286-3781
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For court records online, use Iowa Courts Online, the state's free public docket. For the jail roster, the Polk County Sheriff's Office posts custody data through its inmate portal.