Buchanan County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Form
Last validated August 11, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
Buchanan County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Buchanan County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Buchanan County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Immediate Download • Secure Checkout
Additional Iowa and Buchanan County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Buchanan County Recorder
Independence , Iowa 50644
Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-F
Phone: (319) 334-4259
Recording Tips for Buchanan County:
- White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
- Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
- Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned
- Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
- Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
Cities and Jurisdictions in Buchanan County
Properties in any of these areas use Buchanan County forms:
- Aurora
- Brandon
- Fairbank
- Hazleton
- Independence
- Jesup
- Lamont
- Quasqueton
- Rowley
- Stanley
- Winthrop
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Buchanan County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Buchanan County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Buchanan County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Buchanan County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Buchanan County you only need to order once.
What do I need to use these forms?
The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.
Are there any recurring fees?
No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
How much does it cost to record in Buchanan County?
Recording fees in Buchanan County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (319) 334-4259 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Transferring Title to Iowa Real Estate after a Joint Tenant Dies
Joint tenancy is a form of ownership where two or more people share title rights to a specific parcel of real property. If one joint tenant dies, his/her portion of property rights transfers to the remaining owners by function of law. If there are multiple surviving co-owners, they each receive an equal share of the rights. Property held in joint tenancy does not pass to the owners' estates in a will. Therefore, it avoids distribution via the probate process.
Iowa Code 558.66 (2013) governs the different requirements for completing the transfer of title rights under joint tenancy. Specifically, the living joint tenant may execute and record an affidavit of surviving joint tenant, which the recorder attaches to the previously recorded deed. An affidavit is a document containing statements, made under oath, which identify the person presenting the material (affiant); the name of the surviving co-owner (often the affiant); details about the deceased owner; the legal description of the property being transferred; recording information from the deed granting joint tenancy; and a request to update the records with the county auditor ( 558.66(3)(b)). In addition, many people include an official copy of the deceased owner's death certificate.
Completing this process is an essential step in preserving a clear chain of title to the property, meaning that there is an unbroken history of owners, which reduces the likelihood of unexpected claims of rights to the real estate. A clear chain of title also makes the property easier to sell or mortgage because title agencies will provide the insurance that is usually required as part of the sale. In addition, because grantors (owners) must sign deeds when property is sold or otherwise conveyed, the recorded affidavit serves as evidence proving why one of the named owners cannot sign the transfer.
Real estate held in joint tenancy is often one aspect of an overall estate plan. Good practice dictates frequent updates of items such as wills, trusts, and other associated documents. As such, executing an affidavit of surviving joint tenant soon after a co-owner dies protects the rights and interests of everyone involved by ensuring that the relevant land records contain the most current information.
Each situation is unique, so for complex issues or with additional questions, please contact a local real estate attorney or other estate planning professional.
(Iowa Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Buchanan County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant meets all recording requirements specific to Buchanan County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Buchanan County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.
Save Time and Money
Get your Buchanan County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.
4.8 out of 5 - ( 4777 Reviews )
Theadore L.
January 4th, 2024
Bought a transfer on death deed form and it worked great. Easy to fill out and record with the County. Got some helpful information from the county recorders office before filling out the form. I found out that I could use one deed for 2 properties. Saved me money not having to pay fees for 2 deeds.
We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!
Mark & Linda W.
December 18th, 2020
Quite simple and easy. Only one critique: It would be easier if the names of the PDF would reflect the name of the deed/form such as 'Controlling tax return' rather than '1579101185SF56863.pdf'. However I love downloading forms rather than mail.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Steven b.
November 21st, 2021
We used this document in 2018 and it was acceptable to Jackson County Missouri. It worked and is valid. Very happy with the product.
Thanks for the kind words, glad to see you back again. Have a great day!
Jacqueline C.
February 28th, 2020
Easy Access
Thank you!
Suzy I.
June 5th, 2019
I was overwhelmed with information about what forms I needed to complete the probate process, and this site was very helpful! Everything was in one place to download. Thanks!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Traci K.
April 29th, 2021
Thk u for the forms I needed so badly I really appreciate.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Terri S.
October 16th, 2019
Form was easy to complete, price was reasonable and everything worked out just fine. Would absolutely use this service again if needed, Thank you :)
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
David B.
June 26th, 2023
fast and easy.
Thank you!
Janet M.
February 9th, 2024
Deed.com is an amazing site. After calling many places and going on many websites to figure out what I needed to submit (most counties cannot help with questions and the place I needed to turn the documents into could not help either, they are not allowed to give legal advice) I came across Deeds.com. It has been so helpful and I was able to research what documents I needed. I purchased one document and after more research I realized I needed a different document. Deed.com refunded my first purchase. I then purchased an Affidavit of Death and a Deed for the county and state I needed them for. Both the example and guide were very helpful and I will be submitting my documents after I have them notarized. I give five stars
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
Laura H.
January 12th, 2023
Process was easy. The instructions for TOD and a sample completed form was very helpful. E-recording of deed saved a trip to the county building and well worth the very reasonable charge.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
James H.
December 7th, 2020
Clear and easy instructions. Prompt processing and confirmation. I am still in the middle of submitting my document for recording, but I am confident that the Deeds.com service will deliver as promised. Definitely a valuable tool with important legal doucments.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Linley S.
April 22nd, 2020
This website is extremely easy to use and provides exactly what is needed to record things. I am very appreciative of this service, especially when I can't get to the court right now due to them being closed due to COVID-19 right now. Thank you!
Thank you Linley, glad we are able to help.
Kenneth C.
May 11th, 2021
I am not done yet but so far this has worked very slick
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Barbara P.
March 18th, 2025
Easy and fast!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Lillian F.
May 2nd, 2019
I LOVE THE EASE OF GETTING THE INFORMATION I REQUESTED. YOUR SERVICE IS MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!