Iowa Forms

Howard County Special Warranty Deed Form

Howard County Special Warranty Deed Form

Howard County Special Warranty Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 7/25/2025
Howard County Special Warranty Deed Guide

Howard County Special Warranty Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 7/2/2025
Howard County Completed Example of the Special Warranty Deed Document

Howard County Completed Example of the Special Warranty Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 6/26/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Howard County Recorder
Address:
Howard County Courthouse 137 N. Elm ST.
Cresco, Iowa 52136

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm.Monday through Friday

Phone: 563-547-9210

Recording Tips for Howard County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these

Cities and Jurisdictions in Howard County

Properties in any of these areas use Howard County forms:

  • Chester
  • Cresco
  • Elma
  • Lime Springs
  • Protivin
  • Riceville

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Howard County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Howard County vary. Contact the recorder's office at 563-547-9210 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

A special warranty deed is a legal document used to transfer, or convey, rights in real property from a grantor (seller) to a grantee (buyer). This type of deed provides more liability protection for the grantor, and less protection for the buyer. In a special warranty deed, the grantor warrants against defects in the title during his or her ownership, and that he or she is authorized to sell it, but does not guarantee freedom from claims on the title originating before the grantor owned the property. Because of this risk, special warranty deeds are less common for residential real estate transactions. Instead, these types of deeds are typically used for foreclosed bank-owned properties and commercial properties that have changed ownership several times.

A lawful deed includes the grantor's full name and marital status, as well as the grantee's full name, marital status, mailing address, and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For Iowa residential property, the primary methods for holding title in co-ownership are tenancy in common and joint tenancy. A grant of ownership of real estate to two or more unmarried persons is presumed to create a tenancy in common, unless a joint tenancy is specifically created (Iowa Code 557.15). A transfer to a married couple vests as a joint tenancy, unless otherwise stated (Iowa Code 557.15(3)(a)).

As with any conveyance of real estate, a special warranty deed requires a complete legal description of the parcel. Recite the source of title to establish a clear chain of title, and detail any restrictions associated with the property. Finally, the deed must meet all state and local standards for recorded documents.

The grantor must sign the completed deed in front of a notary. The acknowledgment (notary section), whether made within the State of Iowa, outside the state, outside the United States, or under federal authority, should comply with the provisions of chapter 9b of the Iowa Statutes. Once acknowledged, file it in the recorder's office in the county where the property is located.

Include all relevant documents, affidavits, forms, and fees along with the deed for recording. Most deeds require a separate Real Estate Transfer Groundwater Hazard Statement (Iowa Code Section 558.69). Consult the local recording office to confirm which supplemental materials are necessary for the specific transaction.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Contact a lawyer with any questions about special warranty deeds, or for any other issues related to the transfer of real property in Iowa.

(Iowa Special Warranty Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

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

This Special Warranty Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Howard County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Howard 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 Howard County Special Warranty Deed 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.

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July 5th, 2019

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May 19th, 2019

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May 13th, 2020

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March 3rd, 2020

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December 19th, 2019

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