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The County Recorder is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Audubon County.
Recording Fees
The fee to record a deed, mortgage, or change of title is $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page.
An auditor’s transfer fee of $5 will apply to each township section or city block listed in a document.
A $10 non-standard fee will be charged for documents that do not conform to the requirements. This is in addition to regular recording fees.
Checks should be made payable to the Audubon County Recorder. A self-addressed stamped return envelope should be sent with all documents.
County recording fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current fees and further information, contact the local recording office directly.
Document Formatting Requirements
The recording act in Iowa is a notice statute. This means that a later buyer who pays fair value for the real property and does not have any notice of any earlier conflicting interests, wins, and will have priority over any later recordings.
The Recorder is responsible for maintaining all land records within the county. Contracts, deeds, and other instruments relating to real property located in Audubon County are handled at the Recorder’s Office. Documents must comply with the Iowa code.
• The document must be letter sized (8.5x11 inches) or legal sized (8.5x14 inches). Attachments should not be stapled, taped, or otherwise affixed to any page. A firmly attached label with a barcode or return address is acceptable. Individual pages may be stapled together for presentation when recording.
• Pages must be printed on one side only and should not be permanently bound or in a continuous form. White paper of at least 20 # weight with no visible watermarks is required.
• Pre-printed text should be at least 8 point and no more than 20 characters per inch. All other typed or computer generated text should be at least 10 point and no more than 16 characters per inch.
• The grantor must sign the document and must have his signature notarized. Embossed or inked stamps cannot interfere with any part of the document.
• The entire document must be legible and reproducible. If a document cannot sufficiently produce a clear reproduction, it should be accompanied by an exact typewritten legible copy, which will be recorded as additional pages.
• Signatures should be in black or dark blue ink and corresponding names should be typed, printed, or stamped beneath signatures.
• At the top of the first page, provide a blank 3-inch margin. All other margins should be a minimum of ¾ of an inch. Non-essential information, such as page numbers or customer notations may be placed in the side or bottom margins.
• Immediately below the 3-inch top margin, the following information should be given: the name, address, and phone number of the business and individual who prepared the document; a name and complete return address; the name and address of the taxpayer for any document of transfer; the title of the document; the names of all grantors and grantees; the legal description of the real property; and the parcel identification number, if required.
• If there is insufficient space on the first page for all of the required information, reference the page number where the information is located. For example: “Legal description, see page 5.â€
• When referencing a related document, use a book and page format (example: Book 200 Page 41). Reference all pages included in the document. The date of recording should also be included.
• Deeds must have a revenue tax affixed to represent the full sales price over $500.
Iowa law requires that a Declaration of Value statement reflecting the full consideration paid in certain non-exempt real estate conveyances be submitted to the county recorder at the time a deed, contract, instrument, or other writing is presented for recording. Part I, the Declaration of Value, is to be completed by the buyer or seller or either’s agent for non-exempt transactions. Part II is to be completed by the assessor.
This form does not have to be completed for a document presented for recording which clearly indicates an exemption. Refer to Iowa Administrative Code 701-79.5. If the transaction is exempt but the exemption isn’t clearly stated on the actual document presented for recording, Part I of the form must be completed. If the form is not completed accurately and in full for non-exempt transactions by the buyer or seller (or either’s agent), the county recorder is required by law to refuse to record the contract, deed, or other instrument conveying the affected property.
This form can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Revenue webpage.
The transferor of real property is required to complete a Groundwater Hazard Statement to satisfy legal requirements for filing instruments of conveyance of real property with the county recorder. The Department of Natural Resources does not approve or disapprove of property transfers based on the groundwater hazard statement. The statement must be signed by one of the persons transferring the property interest or that person’s agent. An agent signing the form represents the information from the transferor to be correct.