Iowa Forms

Van Buren County Memorandum of Contract Form

Van Buren County Memorandum of Contract Form

Van Buren 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
Van Buren County Memorandum of Contract Guide

Van Buren County Memorandum of Contract Guide

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

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

Van Buren 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 Van Buren County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Van Buren County Recorder
Address:
406 Dodge St / PO Box 475
Keosauqua, Iowa 52565

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

Phone: (319) 293-3240

Recording Tips for Van Buren County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count

Cities and Jurisdictions in Van Buren County

Properties in any of these areas use Van Buren County forms:

  • Birmingham
  • Bonaparte
  • Cantril
  • Douds
  • Farmington
  • Keosauqua
  • Milton
  • Mount Sterling
  • Selma
  • Stockport

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Van Buren County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Van Buren County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (319) 293-3240 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 Van Buren County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 )

Bonnee G.

January 16th, 2020

Arrived at your site from my county's government site. Saw that all the forms I think I need were included in one package deal, hopefully its the correct package. I Although I've not looked into other aspects of the site, retrieving the forms was pretty easy. Thank you

Reply from Staff

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

Seth T.

January 8th, 2019

THE BEST WEBSITE I HAVE EVER SEEN FOR LEGAL DOCUMENTS!!! THANKS

Reply from Staff

Thanks Seth, we appreciate your feedback.

Mark M.

November 5th, 2020

Deeds was easy to use and worked as specified; they got the recording I needed done finished in one day!

Reply from Staff

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

Christine K.

March 26th, 2021

This site was fast and easy to use. I would highly recommend using them. Thank you Deeds.com!!!!

Reply from Staff

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

Robert J. F.

January 22nd, 2019

Nice work. Easy to use site for reasonable price. Thank you.

Reply from Staff

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

CYNTHIA W.

April 12th, 2023

My deed has now been recorded. Thank you so very much. I saved about $120.00 by doing this with your document service. Thankfully, I heard about you from a friend and did not go with my Title Company that wanted a fee that seems outrageous because of how simple it was to do. I will definitely "advertise" this service to others.

Reply from Staff

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

Robyn D.

July 28th, 2020

Excellent service, knowledgeable and helpful representatives via the messaging service. Reliable information provided by reps, overall excellent experience.

Reply from Staff

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

Daniel B.

December 24th, 2024

easy to use and upload.

Reply from Staff

We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!

Joyce S.

November 5th, 2021

I am very pleased with Deeds.com. I have every form and information I need to meet Legal requirements. Thank You!

Reply from Staff

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

Kendrick S.

May 29th, 2020

Really solid system for determining what may prevent your documents from being accepted. I love the comments section allowing for fluid communication. I only wish there were automated emails for all those communications and once documents were accepted, but I did receive a couple personally-generated emails regarding the progress instructing me to check the site.

Reply from Staff

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

Sandra W.

March 11th, 2020

No issues with the forms.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

William K.

May 21st, 2019

I filled out the Xfer on Death Deed and turned it in to the County Recorder - everything went well. I did NOT like the Huge Print over like a stamp of "DEEDS.COM" on some of the material - it just made it hard to read.

Reply from Staff

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

ROSA C.

April 18th, 2025

Very happy with the service. Easy to use.

Reply from Staff

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

David W.

June 28th, 2019

Excellent and customer friendly as well...ty

Reply from Staff

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

Gerald C.

May 25th, 2019

Pros, quick purchase and document availability including instructions and examples. Cons, For the cert. of trust, the form would not accept the length of our trust name with no way to get around. The pdf file printing did not meet the requirements for 2.5" top margin and .5" other margins as well as the 10pt font size as the form information was shrunk down even when normal printing.

Reply from Staff

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