Story County was established in 1846 in the US State of Iowa. Its county seat is Nevada, while the largest city is Ames. It is home to over 98,000 people and covers about 572 square miles of land area in Iowa.
Courts in Story County
The Story County District Court is a court of general jurisdiction tasked with handling all civil and criminal cases. It has several divisions according to the case types. The criminal division handles criminal proceedings involving felonies, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and ordinance violations. Individuals or organizations bring contract disputes, personal injury cases, and property issues before the District Court civil division. Civil cases in which the financial settlements are not more than $6,500 are resolved at the small claims division. Story County has a family law division that oversees matters such as divorce, child custody, and support, while the juvenile division focuses on cases involving minors, including delinquency and child welfare issues. The probate division manages the administration of estates, wills, and guardianships.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Story County
The Clerk of District Court is responsible for maintaining and disseminating public court records in Story County. Examples of court records available for public inspection include the following:
- Court dockets and calendars
- Case filings
- Pleadings
- Judgments
- Motions
- Orders
- Transcripts
- Affidavits
- Warrants
- Settlement agreements
- Jury verdicts
Interested parties can obtain these records by visiting the District Court Clerk’s office. The clerk may also grant phone, mail, or email requests to record searchers. Story County public court records are also accessible online using Iowa’s Trial Court Search portal. Online users can search the statewide portal by providing names of involved persons or case IDs.
Types of Public Court Records in Story County
The following court records are publicly accessible in Story County.
- Criminal records
- Civil case records
- Divorce decrees
- Marriage licenses
- Probate records
- Traffic violation records
- Property liens
- Small claims records
Confidential Court Records in Story County
Confidential court records in Story County and other areas in Iowa are restricted from public view. Some confidential records are sealed by record holders whose names are on the court documents. Other records are confidential and restricted under federal and state laws. Examples of these records are:
- Adoption records
- Parental rights termination records
- Juvenile records
- Mental health records
- Guardian ad litem report
- Substance abuse assessment
- Witness information form
Some court records contain sensitive information that violates individuals’ privacy. Such private details are generally removed from public court records. Examples of these data include:
- Banking numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Passport numbers
Juvenile Delinquency in Story, IA
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Story County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Iowa often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 189 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Story County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 189 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Story County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Story County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 4,238 |
| Dependency | 175 |
| Status | 20 |
Government of Story County, IA
| County Seat: | Nevada |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Home Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1846 |
| Total Square Miles: | 574 |
| 2019 Population: | 97,502 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.01 |
| County Contact: | 900 6Th St
County Courthouse Nevada , IA 50201-2004 http://www.storycounty.com |