Muscatine County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Form

Muscatine County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Form
Fill in the blank Full Release of Real Estate Contract form formatted to comply with all Iowa recording and content requirements.

Muscatine County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Full Release of Real Estate Contract form.

Muscatine County Completed Example of the Full Release of Real Estate Contract Document
Example of a properly completed Iowa Full Release of Real Estate Contract document for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
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Additional Iowa and Muscatine County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Muscatine County Recorder
Muscatine, Iowa 52761
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (563) 263-7741
Recording Tips for Muscatine County:
- Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
- Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
- Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
- Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
- Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
Cities and Jurisdictions in Muscatine County
Properties in any of these areas use Muscatine County forms:
- Atalissa
- Conesville
- Fruitland
- Montpelier
- Moscow
- Muscatine
- Nichols
- Stockton
- Welton
- West Liberty
- Wilton
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Muscatine County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Muscatine 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 Muscatine County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Muscatine County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Muscatine 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 Muscatine County?
Recording fees in Muscatine County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (563) 263-7741 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Iowa Code 558.46 primarily addresses the mandatory recording of residential real estate installment sales contracts (commonly known as contracts for deed or land contracts). This law has implications for both the initial recording of these contracts (or a memorandum of the contract) and the release of such contracts once their terms are fulfilled or terminated.
Here’s how Iowa Code 558.46 affects the recording of a release of contract:
1. Recording a Release of the Contract (or Memorandum):
When the installment sales contract is fulfilled (i.e., the buyer completes all payments and other contractual obligations) or terminated (if the parties mutually agree to end the contract early), a Release of Contract or a Release of Memorandum of Contract must be recorded. The process and obligations for recording a release are influenced by Iowa Code 558.46 in the following ways:
Release of Buyer’s Interest: Once the contract has been fulfilled or terminated, the seller must execute a release to formally release the buyer’s interest recorded under the contract or memorandum. Recording a release clears the property title of the buyer’s claim or interest, ensuring that the property’s record reflects the new, accurate status (whether ownership has been transferred to the buyer or the contract was terminated).
Clearing the Public Record: Just as the contract or memorandum must be recorded to give public notice of the buyer’s interest, the release must also be recorded to update the public record and ensure that no ongoing encumbrance or claim related to the installment contract remains on the property title.
-If the buyer has completed the contract (i.e., all installment payments and obligations are met), the release confirms the transfer of full title to the buyer.
-If the contract has been terminated (either by mutual agreement or default), the release serves to remove the memorandum of contract from the public record.
Seller’s Responsibility: According to 558.46, the seller is responsible for recording the original contract or memorandum. Similarly, the seller is typically responsible for recording the release of contract upon fulfillment or termination of the agreement. Failure to do so could leave the property’s title clouded or encumbered, potentially complicating future transactions.
-Sellers should ensure timely recording of the release to avoid legal disputes, title issues, or claims of breach of contract by the buyer.
Buyer’s Right to Protect Their Interest: While 558.46 places the obligation of recording on the seller, buyers also have an interest in ensuring the contract or memorandum is recorded (initially) and released (upon fulfillment or termination). If the seller fails to record the release, the buyer may take action to record it to protect their interest in the property or to clear their name from any continuing liability under the contract.
2. Legal and Practical Implications of Non-Compliance:
Non-compliance with the mandatory recording requirements under 558.46—whether it involves recording the original contract, memorandum, or the release—can have several consequences:
Legal Penalties: If the seller fails to record the initial contract or a release upon fulfillment or termination, they may face legal penalties. Under Iowa Code, sellers can be fined or held liable for damages resulting from a failure to record.
Clouded Title: If the release is not recorded, the buyer's interest in the property may still appear on the public record, creating a cloud on the title. This can prevent the seller from selling or refinancing the property in the future or complicate the buyer’s ability to sell the property after fulfilling the contract.
Title Insurance Issues: Title insurers may refuse to issue a clear title insurance policy if the contract for deed or memorandum is still on record without a corresponding release. This can delay or prevent the sale of the property.
Third-Party Claims: Failure to record a release may leave the property vulnerable to third-party claims or liens, as the public record still reflects that the installment sales contract is in effect.
3. Ensuring a Proper Release:
To properly release a memorandum of contract or the entire contract, the following steps should be taken:
Prepare the Release of Memorandum of Contract: The release document should include references to the original memorandum of contract (e.g., names of the parties, the date of the contract, and the legal description of the property) and should state that the contract has been fully performed or terminated.
Signatures: The release should be signed by the seller (and in some cases, both parties) and notarized.
Record the Release: The release must be filed with the county recorder’s office where the original memorandum of contract was recorded. This clears the property’s title and removes any record of the buyer’s interest in the property.
Important: Your property must be located in Muscatine County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Full Release of Real Estate Contract meets all recording requirements specific to Muscatine County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Muscatine County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.
Save Time and Money
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AJ H.
April 30th, 2019
What a wonderful service to offer! Very impressed, and grateful for the forms and instructions!
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Patricia C.
May 13th, 2019
I found there were a large number of documents available to download. The file naming on the PDFs could be more descriptive, and it would be nice to be able to download a complete set with one click.
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David W.
February 9th, 2021
Excellent assistance provided by your forms, guide and example.
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Stephen M.
September 15th, 2022
The process to record took five minutes of my time, and within 45 minutes, my document was recorded! Simple, efficient and affordable! Thanks!
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Wendy S.
January 11th, 2021
Good template that met my needs. Much better than another draft template that I found on another site. Would have been helpful if the template had been provided in a Word format instead of PDF so that I could remove the sections that are not applicable.
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Jearsel W.
January 5th, 2019
I was surprised how helpful the completed example was. It was nice to see what the form should look like when it is filled out. Great job!
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Robert M.
August 26th, 2021
Ultimately, it directed me to the wrong form. Not very helpful. I had to turn to a title company to get my issue addressed.
Our website makes documents available to you. It does not direct you as to which one to use. We are glad that you sought the assistance it sounds like you needed. Have a wonderful day
Kathleen T.
March 25th, 2020
Perfect in every way, the guide was a big help in a few areas that I had questions on. Overall the average person should have no issues with the forms.
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Brenda E.
April 24th, 2020
This is a great tool to use. It makes recording documents so easy and convenient. The website is very user-friendly. The only suggestion I would have is if the website could email me directly when I have a message so I don't have to keep checking back to see if my document is ready.
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Molly S.
November 13th, 2020
I used deeds.com to record a deed because the recording office closed due to Covid 19. It was easy to sign up and upload the documents I needed recorded and within 24 hours possibly even less, the deeds were recorded. I am very happy with the service and the $15 fee was affordable and worth every penny to get it done so quickly.
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Duncan M.
January 24th, 2019
Forms are fine, but the inability to download a completed form is not. Nor is the ability to convert to another format. Everytime I went to download, the form erased. I didn't have a printer available, so everything I did was to waste.
Thank you for your feedback Duncan. The blank forms should be downloaded first and then completed on your computer.
barbara s.
May 2nd, 2020
you provided the service requested for a reasonable fee
Thank you!
Eric G.
October 22nd, 2021
Need to offer option to download ALL forms as a single (bookmarked) PDF, rather than as separates... Quite inefficient as is.
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Diana M.
June 25th, 2020
First time user - process went very smooth and fast. It took me a little to find my messages. At first I didn't know you process documents other than deeds so maybe you should consider putting on your home page that it's not only for deeds - it's for any document that needs recording. :)
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Vanessa W.
April 7th, 2019
This site is very useful and reasonable. Comes in handy when you need a deed in other states.
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