Iowa Forms

Winneshiek County Memorandum of Contract Form

Winneshiek County Memorandum of Contract Form

Winneshiek 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 6/9/2025
Winneshiek County Memorandum of Contract Guide

Winneshiek County Memorandum of Contract Guide

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

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Winneshiek County Recorder
Address:
201 West Main
Decorah, Iowa 52101

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

Phone: (563) 382-3486

Recording Tips for Winneshiek County:
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • Make copies of your documents before recording - keep originals safe
  • Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
  • Ask for certified copies if you need them for other transactions

Cities and Jurisdictions in Winneshiek County

Properties in any of these areas use Winneshiek County forms:

  • Calmar
  • Castalia
  • Decorah
  • Fort Atkinson
  • Highlandville
  • Ossian
  • Ridgeway
  • Spillville

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Winneshiek County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Winneshiek County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (563) 382-3486 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 Winneshiek County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek 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 - ( 4573 Reviews )

Louise M.

August 31st, 2023

Amazing fast service. From the U.K. I was unable to get a check in U.S. dollars. This solved my problem as I was able to make payment with a card. So much faster than sending the documents from the U.K. via the postal service. Easy to use site, very quickly processed. Highly recommend

Reply from Staff

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

Shelly S.

January 20th, 2021

Was able to sell a property with the information obtained from your website without using an attorney! Extremely happy.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

MIchelle S.

June 18th, 2021

You had the generic document that I was looking for Yay! The "example" page was helpful and reassuring. The auto input sections of my document looked ok until i printed it and then it appeared to be out of alignment which is why my rating is lowered to 4 stars it would be nice to have the ability to correct the title (created by me) when downloading PDFs for an e-filing

Reply from Staff

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

Fernando C.

August 2nd, 2020

I was happy with my purchase. I honestly received more than I expected . I recommend you expand to offer more forms such as Living Will.

Reply from Staff

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

Tracy A.

April 27th, 2022

Thanks, it was a big help!!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

John C.

January 28th, 2021

These forms are easy to use and a lot cheaper than going to an attorney. I highly recommend Deeds.com

Reply from Staff

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

Allen P.

January 7th, 2023

Information very useful and helpful. It would be helpful to inform purchasers that legal size paper is needed to print documents. We had to run to the store and purchase some.

Reply from Staff

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

Kevin B.

March 31st, 2019

It looks like it can be a huge time saver. I did a deed and appeared very professional.

Reply from Staff

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

Patrick S.

March 4th, 2019

Excellent!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Stephen D.

January 15th, 2019

Very good hope to use in the future.

Reply from Staff

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

Cody M.

May 28th, 2024

They respond fast, the process is simple, and it's obviously convenient. I'm not sure what else there is to say, other than it's I would say a reasonable fee to pay them to do it.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your positive words! We’re thrilled to hear about your experience.

Bonnie C.

July 28th, 2021

Easy and convenient. Was nice to have just a one time charge without a so-called anual fee/membership. Will use again if needed. May update review after "all is said and done."

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.

Steven S.

December 31st, 2021

Accurate and informative, great site for deed forms.

Reply from Staff

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