Buena Vista County Memorandum of Contract Form (Iowa)

All Buena Vista County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:

Memorandum of Contract Form

Buena Vista County Memorandum of Contract Form

Fill in the blank Memorandum of Contract form formatted to comply with all Iowa recording and content requirements.
Included Buena Vista County compliant document last validated/updated 6/9/2025

Memorandum of Contract Guide

Buena Vista County Memorandum of Contract Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the Memorandum of Contract form.
Included Buena Vista County compliant document last validated/updated 6/2/2025

Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract Document

Buena Vista County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Contract Document

Example of a properly completed Iowa Memorandum of Contract document for reference.
Included Buena Vista County compliant document last validated/updated 4/23/2025

When using these Memorandum of Contract forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Buena Vista County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:

Buena Vista County Recorder

215 E Fifth St / PO Box 454, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-F

Phone: (712) 213-7430

Local jurisdictions located in Buena Vista County include:

  • Albert City
  • Alta
  • Linn Grove
  • Marathon
  • Newell
  • Rembrandt
  • Sioux Rapids
  • Storm Lake
  • Truesdale

How long does it take to get my forms?

Forms are available immediately after submitting payment.

How do I get my forms, are they emailed?

Immediately after you submit payment, the Buena Vista County forms you order will be available for download directly from your account. You can then download the forms to your computer. If you do not already have an account, one will be created for you as part of the order process, and your login details will be provided to you. If you encounter any issues accessing your forms, please reach out to our support team for assistance. Forms are NOT emailed to you.

What does "validated/updated" mean?

This indicates the most recent date when at least one of the following occurred:

  • Updated: The document was updated or changed to remain compliant.
  • Validated: The document was examined by an attorney or staff, or it was successfully recorded in Buena Vista County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Buena Vista County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Buena Vista County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can the Memorandum of Contract forms be re-used?

Yes. You can re-use the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have more than one property in Buena Vista County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Buena Vista County.

What are supplemental forms?

Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Iowa or Buena Vista County. These could be tax related, informational, or even as simple as a coversheet. Supplemental forms are provided for free with your order where available.

What type of files are the forms?

All of our Buena Vista County Memorandum of Contract forms are PDFs. You will need to have or get Adobe Reader to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.

Do I need any special software to use these forms?

You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.

Do I have to enter all of my property information online?

No. The blank forms are downloaded to your computer and you fill them out there, at your convenience.

Can I save the completed form, email it to someone?

Yes, you can save your deed form at any point with your information in it. The forms can also be emailed, blank or complete, as attachments.

Are there any recurring fees involved?

No. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

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.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 - ( 4563 Reviews )

JAMES D.

July 10th, 2025

Slick as can be and so convenient.rnrnWorked like a charm

Reply from Staff

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MARY LACEY M.

June 30th, 2025

Great service! Recording was smooth and swiftly performed. Deeds.com is an excellent service.rn

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Robert F.

June 30th, 2025

Breeze.... It feels silly to hire an attorney to do this for just one beneficiary. Thanks.

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Norman K.

March 2nd, 2021

It wasn't really what I needed I read and read and read and read and I thought I was to do with for filing for probate or probate executor but instead it was for the property if you are executor and but it wasn't very clear on that so it didn't work for me so I was kind of wasted money

Reply from Staff

Sorry to hear that Norman. We've gone ahead and canceled your order and payment.

Paul A.

October 27th, 2020

The website worked fast but the information was limited and the actual deed of trust was what i was looking for from the county --- the info was limited
the website is fast and seemed accurate just limited the information I needed

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Jerry B.

May 14th, 2023

Easy to use and fully comprehensive.

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Thank you for your feedback Jerry, we appreciate you.

Michael W.

July 27th, 2021

Appreciate the help with DC's non-intuitive forms. Superb service.

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Thank you!

Belinda B.

June 22nd, 2022

Very difficult navigating this site.

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Doris M G.

June 9th, 2022

Excellent. Everything has gone well and the deed guide has helped so much. Thank you.

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Ann-Margaret G.

August 8th, 2022

Found what I was looking for quickly, no issues. Able to pay & download my forms. Haven't filed them yet so I can't review that process.

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Lori N.

August 16th, 2022

I ordered the document I needed and it was available for download within a half hour. Very pleased, thanks!

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Joel B.

August 10th, 2022

I would have liked more room in the text fields for describing the potential claim. had to use Exhibit A. Could not delete Exhibit B. Alo would like to have a custom footer - not deeds.com. Unprofessional.

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Sharon B.

April 3rd, 2024

Downloaded pdf form was difficult to use,/modify and has too much space between sections.

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NormaJean Q.

July 4th, 2021

Thank you, thie was very helpful. I did find the forms I needed.Very easy to use.,

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Lori G.

June 17th, 2019

I needed to add my husband to my deed.
an attorney would charge me $275.00.
I decided to file myself. This makes
it easy. Not done w/the process yet.
But so far so good! :)

Reply from Staff

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