Sioux County
Sioux County was established in 1851 and named after the Sioux tribe, also known as the Great Sioux Nation. It is Iowa's sixth largest county spanning about 768 square miles of land, while having a population of 35,815 residents. The county's largest city is Sioux Center, while Orange City serves as the county seat.
The Sioux County District Court is the county's only trial court. It handles all civil and criminal trials, including misdemeanors, felonies, property disputes, tort claims, and other financial disputes without monetary limits. The District Court in Sioux County operates within Iowa's Judicial District 3 and has divisions for different judicial hearings. For instance, the Juvenile Court Division handles all legal matters involving minors in Sioux County. This includes juvenile delinquencies, termination of parental rights, abortion, and child dependency cases. The District Court also features a Probate Division responsible for resolving probate matters such as the administration of decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Sioux County public court records are case files or documents showing information on different legal proceedings and court outcomes. These records often serve as important legal precedents for future court cases. The Iowa Open Records Law mandates open access to court records to ensure transparency and trust in Sioux County's judicial system. As such, anyone can get the following court records:
- Civil court records
- Small claims court records
- Probate records
- Property records
- Criminal court records
However, court documents containing mental health and juvenile cases are accessible only to recognized parties to the cases. The Clerk of Court in Sioux County maintains and distributes public court records to interested persons. To get court documents, individuals can send written requests to the Clerk via email or in person at:
Sioux County Courthouse
210 Central Avenue SW
Orange City, IA 51041
Phone: (712) 737-2286
Email: CountyClerk.Sioux@iowacourts.gov
Note that the Sioux County Clerk of Court may request search or copy fees before granting access to court documents. Some public court records are accessible online free of charge via the Iowa Courts Online Search. Requesters can search the state's database using the names of involved parties, case IDs, or citation numbers.
