Iowa Forms

Polk County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Form

Polk County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Form

Polk 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.

Document Last Validated 7/10/2025
Polk County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Guide

Polk County Full Release of Real Estate Contract Guide

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

Document Last Validated 7/29/2025
Polk County Completed Example of the Full Release of Real Estate Contract Document

Polk 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.

Document Last Validated 6/5/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Polk County Recorder
Address:
Administrative Building - 111 Court Ave, Suite 250
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2251

Hours: 7:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday

Phone: (515) 286-3160

Recording Tips for Polk County:
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned

Cities and Jurisdictions in Polk County

Properties in any of these areas use Polk County forms:

  • Alleman
  • Altoona
  • Ankeny
  • Berwick
  • Bondurant
  • Clive
  • Des Moines
  • Elkhart
  • Grimes
  • Johnston
  • Mitchellville
  • Polk City
  • Runnells
  • Sheldahl
  • Urbandale
  • West Des Moines

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Polk County

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County?

Recording fees in Polk County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (515) 286-3160 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 Polk 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 Polk County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Polk 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

Get your Polk County Full Release of Real Estate Contract 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 - ( 4573 Reviews )

Elizabeth B.

November 22nd, 2020

Very efficient

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

James M.

June 3rd, 2021

Very good experience.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Alison L.

February 16th, 2021

Wonderful and easy to use platform. I was using a more complicated platform that wouldn't load half the time. Makes for filing deeds in the pandemic quick and easy.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Theresa J.

March 27th, 2023

The beginning of the process was very simple. In the middle now waiting for the invoice to move forward.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Nancy B.

July 22nd, 2021

Very user-friendly. Looks like everything I needed in one place. Great job.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Zennell W.

November 24th, 2024

Quick fast and easy transaction.

Reply from Staff

We are grateful for your feedback and looking forward to serving you again. Thank you!

Steve B.

December 31st, 2021

Awesome. Last time I needed to f Ile a document it cost $300.00 gor a lawyer. This time $53.00.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Soledad T.

August 30th, 2021

It's Great!!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Marilyn C.

April 6th, 2020

My document got recorded right away. Thank you! Will use again in the future when needed.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Michelle R.

December 23rd, 2022

Fairly easy to use. Need to be able to find platts easy.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Laura L.

June 17th, 2025

Used a form from this service. Best part about these forms is that they don't let you get in trouble by removing or changing things that should not be changed. It's easy to look at something and think why is this margin so big, why is this field so small and want to change it only to find out it is incredibly important. That's why they are the deed document pros.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for the thoughtful review! We're so glad to hear you found our forms reliable and well-structured. It’s true—what might look like an odd margin or a small field is often there for a very specific legal or recording reason. We’ve seen how small changes can lead to big headaches, which is why we design our documents to be both user-friendly and compliant with strict recording standards. We really appreciate you recognizing the care that goes into each one. Thanks again for choosing us!

william w.

January 23rd, 2019

Simple, straight forward, and easy to use.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Sandra H.

February 26th, 2019

I am a retired attorney. I chanced upon this website while looking for a Florida Lady Bird Deed Form. It conforms to Florida Law and was exactly what I needed. The forms are easy to obtain and even easier to use and print out.

Reply from Staff

Thank you so much Sandra, we really appreciate your feedback.

Debbie M.

July 3rd, 2020

The forms and instructions were easy to follow and get complete. It was very nice to be able to just find them, pay for them, and download them so that they were printed just within a matter of 30 minutes. Thank you

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

brian p.

October 12th, 2019

Good, easy to use, quit claim form worked as expected.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!