Iowa Forms

Adams County Memorandum of Contract Form

Adams County Memorandum of Contract Form

Adams County Memorandum of Contract Form

Fill in the blank Memorandum of Contract form formatted to comply with all Iowa recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 8/22/2025
Adams County Memorandum of Contract Guide

Adams County Memorandum of Contract Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Memorandum of Contract form.

Document Last Validated 7/28/2025
Adams County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract Document

Adams County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract Document

Example of a properly completed Iowa Memorandum of Contract document for reference.

Document Last Validated 4/23/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Adams County Recorder
Address:
500 Ninth St / Box 28
Corning, Iowa 50841

Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 M-F

Phone: (641) 322-3744

Recording Tips for Adams County:
  • Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
  • Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
  • Consider using eRecording to avoid trips to the office

Cities and Jurisdictions in Adams County

Properties in any of these areas use Adams County forms:

  • Carbon
  • Corning
  • Nodaway
  • Prescott

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Adams County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Adams County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (641) 322-3744 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

In Iowa, under Iowa Code Section 558.46, a Memorandum of Contract can be used as a legal alternative to recording the entire real estate installment sales contract, particularly for residential property. The law provides that when certain residential real estate installment sales contracts are entered into, either the full contract or a memorandum of the contract must be recorded. Below are the key uses and implications of using a Memorandum of Contract under Iowa Code 558.46:

Key Uses of a Memorandum of Contract in Iowa:
1. Public Notice of Buyer’s Interest: The primary purpose of recording a Memorandum of Contract is to put the public on notice that the buyer has an interest in the property under an installment sales contract (contract for deed). This helps protect the buyer from claims by third parties, such as future buyers, lienholders, or creditors, who may otherwise be unaware of the buyer’s interest in the property.

Once recorded, the memorandum provides notice that a contract exists, without revealing all details of the transaction.

2. Satisfying the Recording Requirement: Iowa law under 558.46 requires that certain residential real estate installment sales contracts must be recorded to protect the interests of the parties and ensure transparency in property transactions.

The statute allows for either the entire contract or a memorandum of the contract to be recorded, giving parties the option to record a summary document rather than the full agreement

3. Privacy Protection: A key benefit of using a Memorandum of Contract is that it allows the parties to keep sensitive financial details (e.g., the purchase price, installment payment terms, interest rate) private. While the memorandum must include essential information (like the names of the parties, property description, and date of the agreement), it does not need to disclose the entire contents of the contract.

This allows the parties to protect the privacy of their financial arrangements while still complying with the recording requirement.

4. Avoiding Legal Disputes: Recording the memorandum serves as a protective measure to prevent legal disputes over the property. It establishes that a valid contract exists, preventing the seller from attempting to sell the property to another party without the buyer’s knowledge.

It can also be useful if the seller fails to comply with their obligations under the contract, as the recorded memorandum establishes the buyer’s rights.

5. Complying with Iowa’s Legal Framework: Recording either the entire contract or a memorandum ensures compliance with Iowa law and avoids potential legal issues related to the failure to record. Under Iowa Code 558.46, if the contract is not recorded within 90 days of execution, the seller may be subject to fines and penalties, and the buyer may take steps to record the contract or memorandum to protect their interest.

Information Typically Included in a Memorandum of Contract: (If a real estate contract is required to be recorded under this section, the requirement is satisfied by recording either the entire real estate contract or a memorandum of the contract containing at least the names and addresses of all parties named in the contract, a description of all real property and interests in the real property subject to the contract, the length of the contract, and a statement as to whether the seller is entitled to the remedy of forfeiture and as to the dates upon which payments are due. Mandatory recording of certain residential real estate installment sales contracts. 558.46(4))

Example Scenario of Use:
A buyer enters into a contract for deed to purchase a residential property in Iowa. Rather than record the entire contract, which contains sensitive financial information, the buyer and seller agree to record a Memorandum of Contract. The memorandum includes the essential details, such as the names of the parties, the date of the contract, and the property description. This ensures that the buyer's interest is protected and the public is on notice, while keeping financial details private.
Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance:

If the seller fails to record the contract or memorandum within 90 days as required under Iowa Code 558.46, the buyer has the right to record the contract or memorandum themselves.

Sellers who do not comply with this requirement may face legal penalties, and their failure to record could expose the buyer to risks such as third-party claims against the property.

In Iowa, recording a Memorandum of Contract under 558.46 serves as a critical tool for protecting the buyer’s interest in a property under an installment sales contract, while also allowing for privacy in sensitive financial terms. It fulfills the legal requirement for recording and protects both parties against future disputes or claims by third parties.

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

This Memorandum of Contract meets all recording requirements specific to Adams County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Adams 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 Adams County Memorandum of 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 - ( 4580 Reviews )

Nancy C.

January 15th, 2021

Simple and easy to download. After reading the instructions/sample pages I did still have some questions regarding the beneficiary deed for the state of MO.

Reply from Staff

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

edward d.

March 19th, 2023

used before awesome forms

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Jeannette C.

October 22nd, 2021

Very useful service! This was easy and quick. It guides you through each step and emails update you during the process. Will use again!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Barbara E.

March 2nd, 2021

I'm not sure if KVH is the identity to the person who helped me. I hope it is so you know just how much she helped She was great and very patient with me and with Wayne County Register of Deeds. I'm am really glad I had her on my team in this long endeavor.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for the kinds words Barbara. We appreciate you.

Lacina B.

July 25th, 2020

Forms were appropriately priced, easy to download

Reply from Staff

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

Janice U.

July 26th, 2019

So far everything is going really well. Thank you!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Blanche S.

March 25th, 2022

Thank you I hope I've done it all right!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Donald H.

November 5th, 2019

EXCELLENT,,super good. Quick & easy

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Catherine J S.

November 17th, 2022

Did not like that the lines aren't lining up smoothly to make the document look more professional.

Reply from Staff

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

Mohamed ali H.

December 21st, 2020

My experience on this website has been amazing and the process was very easy to understand and I was able to get my document filed within 3-4 hours. I plan to use this service in the future if I need to. Thank you for your excellent service!

Reply from Staff

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

Margarette S.

November 27th, 2019

I found your website easy to use and very informative.

Reply from Staff

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

Anita M W.

May 17th, 2023

This process is outstanding, and it saved the hassle of going downtown and dealing with traffic.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for the kinds words Anita. Glad we could be of assistance. Have an amazing day!

Lorraine F.

October 9th, 2024

I followed the instructions to download the form for my Mac, typed in the legal description of the real property but the space provided for it would not expand so I just typed the form into Word as a document. While I appreciate having the form to work with it would have been a breeze if it worked properly.

Reply from Staff

Your insights are invaluable to us and help us strive for better service. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Gregory h.

February 15th, 2023

OUtsdtanding. Quick and easy, both of which are a huge plus

Reply from Staff

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

Reply from Staff

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