Palo Alto County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Form

Last validated June 5, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Palo Alto County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Form

Palo Alto County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 6/2/2026
Palo Alto County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Guide

Palo Alto County Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 6/2/2026
Palo Alto County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Document

Palo Alto County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Joint Tenant Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 6/5/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

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Important: Your property must be located in Palo Alto County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Palo Alto County Recorder

Address:
Courthouse - 1010 Broadway / PO Box 248
Emmetsburg, Iowa 50536

Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday

Phone: (712) 852-3701

Recording Tips for Palo Alto County:
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
  • Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
  • Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible

Cities and Jurisdictions in Palo Alto County

Properties in any of these areas use Palo Alto County forms:

  • Ayrshire
  • Curlew
  • Cylinder
  • Emmetsburg
  • Graettinger
  • Mallard
  • Ruthven
  • West Bend

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Palo Alto County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County?

Recording fees in Palo Alto County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (712) 852-3701 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Palo Alto 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

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January 8th, 2019

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