District 5 Polk County Courthouse Court cases in Polk County, Des Moines, IA
Polk County District Court in Des Moines, Iowa, is a state district court (trial court of general jurisdiction) within the Iowa Judicial Branch's Fifth Judicial District. It serves as the county's forum for most judicial proceedings, handling criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors), civil actions (including small claims), family and domestic relations (divorce, custody, child support), juvenile matters, probate and guardianship, traffic and local ordinance violations, and protective orders. Judges, district associate judges, and magistrates hear cases, and the clerk's office manages filings, records, scheduling, and payments.
District 5 Polk County Courthouse Contact and Location Information
| Court Type: | District Court |
| County: | Polk |
| Street Address: | 500 Mulberry St. |
| City: | Des Moines |
| Zip Code: | 50309 |
| Phone: | 515-286-3772 |
| Hours: | 8AM–4:30PM |
| Website URL: | https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/ |
| Forms & Filing: | https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/court-forms/ |
| Dockets / Schedule / Calendar: | https://iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp//SelectFrame |
| Jury Service: | https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/jury-service/ |
| Facebook: | https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=116168861777560 |
| Twitter: | https://twitter.com/iowacourts?lang=en |
| Linkedin: | https://www.linkedin.com/company/iowa-judicial-branch |
| ADA: | Christopher Patterson |
| ADA Phone: | 515-286-3394 |
| ADA Fax / Email: | christopher.patterson@iowacourts.gov |
| About / Additional Info: | Nearly all cases begin in the district (trial) court and there is one district court in every county in Iowa. The district court has general jurisdiction of civil, criminal, juvenile, and probate matters in the state. It is where parties start their lawsuits, prosecutors file criminal charges, trials take place, lawyers offer evidence, witnesses testify, juries deliberate, and judges enter judgments. For purposes of administration, Iowa is divided into eight judicial districts. A chief judge who is selected by the Iowa Supreme Court heads each district. |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County_Courthouse_(Iowa) |
Services and Case Types Handled in District 5 Polk County Courthouse
Polk County District Court provides trial-level adjudication and public services:
- Case types: criminal (felonies, misdemeanors), traffic and impaired-driving, civil disputes, small claims, landlord-tenant/evictions, family law (divorce, custody, child support), juvenile (delinquency, child abuse/neglect), probate/guardianship, mental-health commitments, and protective orders (domestic abuse, harassment).
- Services: case filings and e-filing; issuance of protective/restraining orders; scheduling and conducting hearings (arraignments, pretrial conferences, motion hearings, trials, sentencings); jury management (summons, qualification, orientation, reporting); access to records (dockets, calendars, certified copies); payments for fines, fees, and restitution; forms and self-help resources; interpreter and ADA accommodations; mediation/referral programs; warrants and bond processing.
- Public interface: clerk's office assistance, courtroom operations, and coordination with law enforcement, prosecutors, defense, and social services.