Departments Here
Recorder
Duties | back to top
The County Recorder is required to follow the Code of Iowa when recording documents. We also work with the following departments:
- Iowa Department of Revenue collecting Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax and Sales Tax
- Iowa Department of Public Health collecting fees and issuing certified copies for birth, death and marriage records and marriage license fees
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources collecting fees and issuing hunting and fishing licenses; boats, snowmobiles and ATV's registrations and titles
- US Department of State processing and collecting fees for passport applications
Primary Duties
- Record & maintain real estate documents
- Record vital records (Birth, Death & Marriage) and issue certified copies
- Register & title boats, snowmobiles and ATV's
Optional Duties
History | back to top
The office of the County Recorder was established in 1839 to maintain official records of documents affecting title to real estate in order to preserve property rights and protects innocent third parties in real estate transactions. Although this basic duty remains relatively unchanged, many additional functions have been added to the office.
On January 2007 the Iowa County Recorders/Registrars Association launched the Iowa Land Records website, whose mission is to provide access to county and statewide land record and related information.
The office of the Recorder is an elected position with a term of four years. Iowa County Recorders are proud of their tradition and are looking forward to the future.
Licenses, Registrations, Applications & Titles
For the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Boat Registrations/Titles/Liens
- Snowmobile Registrations/Titles/Liens
- ATV/ORV Registrations/Titles/Liens
- Hunting & Fishing Licenses
- Fur Harvester Licenses
- Habitat, Duck & Trout Stamps
- Deer and Wild Turkey Licenses
- Landowner/Tenant Gun & Archery Deer & Turkey Permits
Passport Applications | back to top
For the US Department of State
- As Passport Agents, Recorders/Registrars assist in completing and mailing applications for passport books and passport cards.
Real Estate Records | back to top
Your Recorder/Registrar is responsible for recording the following:
- 28E Agreements
- Affidavits
- Bill of Sale
- Change of Title
- Condemnations
- Contracts
- Corner Certificates
- Deeds
- Easements
- Federal & State Tax Liens*
- Fence Agreements
- Leases
- Military Discharge Records*
- Mortgages
- Mortgage Assignments & Releases
- Mortgage Foreclosures
- Plats of Survey & Corner Certificates
- Power of Attorney
- Resolutions
- Restrictive Covenants
- Right of Way Agreements
- Trade Names
- UCC's Uniform Commerical Code
- Unemployment Liens*
- ...plus numerous other documents
* Recent documents recorded in the Recorders office are available for viewing on-line at iowalandrecords.org except documents listed by an *
Vital Records | back to top
For the Iowa Department of Public Health
- Issues Marriage Licenses
- Registers Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates
- Issues Certified Copies of Birth, Death & Marriage records
Other Responsibilities | back to top
File documents submitted electronically
- Collect real estate transfer tax on conveyances of property, a portion of which is retained in the country's general fund
- Collect and report Auditor's fee on transfer of property
- Certify all Recorder's records
- Make records available for genealogy research
- File detailed reports monthly and annually to the county and state agencies:
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Iowa Department of Revenue & Fiannce