How to Search Des Moines County Records (Start Here)
Iowa uses the County Assessor (City Assessor in some cities) for property assessments — not a separate Assessor.
- Court records: Clerk of District Court. Use Iowa Courts Online for online case search.
- Deeds and liens: County Recorder.
- County Assessor (City Assessor in some cities).
- Tax bills: County Treasurer.
- Marriage licenses: County Registrar.
Limited online access. Most records require a phone call or in-person visit.
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
PACER Federal Courts
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
.gov
Federal court electronic records (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
pacer.gov
Jail & Inmate Records
Iowa Sex Offender Registry
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
.gov
Statewide Iowa sex offender registry.
iowasexoffender.gov
National Sex Offender Registry
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
.gov
Dept. of Justice national sex offender public website.
nsopw.gov
Property & Tax Records
Des Moines County Property - Treasurer
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search the Des Moines County, Iowa Treasurer's property database by parcel number or name for property record information and pay property taxes online.
Des Moines County Recorded Documents
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Des Moines County deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded real estate documents from Iowa Land Records.
BLM General Land Office Records
Visit →Property & Tax Records
.gov
U.S. Bureau of Land Management federal land records.
glorecords.blm.gov
Birth/Death/Marriage
FamilySearch US Records
Visit →Birth/Death/Marriage
Free U.S. genealogy and vital records (non-profit).
familysearch.org
Business, Voter & Other
Des Moines County
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Official government website for Des Moines County, Iowa.
USCIS Business Verification
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
.gov
US Citizenship & Immigration Services.
uscis.gov
Des Moines County Property - Treasurer
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search the Des Moines County, Iowa Treasurer's property database by parcel number or name for property record information and pay property taxes online.
Des Moines County Recorded Documents
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Des Moines County deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded real estate documents from Iowa Land Records.
Business, Voter & Other
Des Moines County
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Official government website for Des Moines County, Iowa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in Des Moines County? ▼
Go to the Clerk of District Court for court records in Des Moines County. For online case lookups, use Iowa Courts Online — it covers Iowa District Court (unified) cases statewide.
Who handles property records in Des Moines County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Recorder. For property values and assessment data, go to the County Assessor (City Assessor in some cities). For tax bills and payments, go to the County Treasurer.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in Des Moines County? ▼
Marriage licenses in Des Moines County are issued by the County Registrar. Birth and death certificates are available from County Recorder (local) / IDPH (state). Divorce records come from the court that granted the decree.
Are Des Moines County records available online? ▼
Online access in Des Moines County is limited. We list 3 databases here. For most other records, you will need to contact the county offices directly by phone or in person.
Does Des Moines County have a County Assessor? ▼
No. In Iowa, the County Assessor (City Assessor in some cities) handles property assessments. There is no separate Assessor office. For recorded documents like deeds and mortgages, go to the County Recorder — that is a different office.
Is there a statewide search that covers Des Moines County? ▼
For court records, yes — Iowa Courts Online covers Des Moines County. For property and land records, you still need the County Recorder in Des Moines County directly.
Search Iowa by Record Type
Last reviewed: