SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Montgomery County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Iowa state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Montgomery County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Montgomery County, Iowa — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
10,063
Population
Census estimate
4,493
Households
Census estimate
$61,261
Median income
Annual household
$99,300
Median home value
Census ACS
Red Oak
County seat
In Iowa
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
1 source
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
3 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Montgomery County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Montgomery County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Montgomery County Courthouse | Iowa Judicial Branch |
| Criminal records | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
| Property records | Montgomery County Treasurer | Iowa Tax And Tags Beacon |
| Vital records | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
| Voter records | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
| Professional licenses | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Montgomery County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Montgomery County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Montgomery County Records
2026
Montgomery County official government portal active
The official Montgomery County government website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Montgomery County court records portal verified
State court system links for Montgomery County verified against the Iowa judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Montgomery County property records online
Montgomery County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Iowa, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Montgomery County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Montgomery County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Montgomery County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Iowa statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Iowa state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Montgomery County Records
❌ Myth: "Montgomery County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Montgomery County are held by the Iowa state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Montgomery County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Montgomery County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Iowa state repository has verified, current Montgomery County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Montgomery County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Montgomery County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources (All Verified)
- www.montgomerycountyia.gov — Official Montgomery County government website
- www.iowacourts.gov — Court records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Montgomery County & Iowa Records
For records not specific to Montgomery County, use Iowa's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Iowa statewide record systems:
- Iowa Court Records →
- Iowa Criminal Records →
- Iowa Property Records →
- Iowa Vital Records →
- Iowa Voter Records →
- Iowa Wants & Warrants →
- Iowa Licenses →
- Iowa Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Iowa statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
About Montgomery County, Iowa
Montgomery County is located in southwest Iowa. The county seat is Red Oak (official site: https://www.montgomerycountyia.gov/).
- Population: 10,063
- Households: 4,493
- Median household income: $61,261
- Median home value: $99,300
- Below poverty line: 14.5%
- Land area: 424.1 sq mi
- Population density: 23.7 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 4
- NCES schools indexed: 10
Montgomery County Treasurer | Iowa Tax And Tags
Official Free
Property taxes are collected by the Treasurer's office in two installments. The first installment is due by September 30th and the second installment is due by March 31st . Taxes being collected are for the previous tax year which spans July 1 through June 30.
Carleen Bruning Montgomery County Recorder | Iowa Land Records
Official Free
Carleen Bruning Montgomery County Recorder · 8711 Windsor Parkway #2 Johnston, IA 50131
Property Tax Info - Montgomery County IA
Official Free
Property taxes are collected by the Treasurer’s office in two installments. The first installment is due by September 30th and the second installment is due by March 31st . Taxes being collected are for the previous tax year which spans July 1 through June 30
Montgomery County Courthouse | Iowa Judicial Branch
Official Free
Later, this courthouse was put when the county seat moved to Red Oak. Thirty yoke of oxen pulled the courthouse to its new location through a blizzard to its final site in the corner of the public square. The cornerstone was laid for the present courthouse on July 4, 1890. Although there were problems with the contractor during its construction, this beautiful castle was well worth the $100,000 it cost to build. © 2026 Iowa Judicial Branch
Iowa License Lookup
Official Free
PACER systems will undergo maintenance on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET . As a result, certain portions of this site may be temporarily degraded during the maintenance window. Log in to the federal Judiciary’s electronic public access services.
Carleen Bruning Montgomery County Recorder | Iowa Land Records
Official Free
Carleen Bruning Montgomery County Recorder · 8711 Windsor Parkway #2 Johnston, IA 50131
Montgomery County
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
SEC.gov | Accessing EDGAR Data
Business, Voter & Other
.gov
SEC filings and company registrations.
sec.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Montgomery County?
Montgomery County court cases are searchable through the Montgomery County Courthouse | Iowa Judicial Branch portal: https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/educational-resources-and-services/iowa-courts-history/iowa-county-courthouse-history/montgomery-county-courthouse. Iowa also operates a state-level case lookup through the Iowa Courts Online system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Iowa?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Iowa counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Iowa?
In Iowa, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Iowa law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in Iowa?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the Iowa Department of Public Safety that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in Iowa. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.