Real Estate

The County Recorder’s Office helps preserve important legal documents for public record. We handle a variety of records including, but are not limited to, property deeds, mortgages, affidavits, powers of attorney, plats, and tax liens. Our goal is to maintain clear and accessible documentation that supports property ownership and legal transparency. Please remember, while we're happy to assist with recording requirements, we are not able to provide legal advice

Document Recording Requirements

In order to comply with national standards, Iowa has adopted Document Formatting Standards. Effective July 1, 2009, all documents presented for recording meet the requirements outlined in chapters 331.606A and 331.606B, Code of Iowa.

Document Formatting Standards Here

To record a document in our office, please bring it in with payment during office hours, or mail the document and payment to:

Lucas County Recorder
916 Braden Avenue
Chariton, IA 50049

Fees

The recording fee is $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. For any conveyance documents, there is a transfer fee of $5 per non-contiguous parcel (up to $50).
Transfer tax is required on property conveyances with a value over $500.00.
If no transfer tax is due, the document must include a brief explanation of the exemption, as outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 428A.2. Need help calculating your transfer tax? Use the official Iowa Transfer Tax Calculator to estimate your amount.
Copies of documents are $0.50 per page.
For certified copies of documents, add $5 to the copy fee.
Any document not conforming to the Iowa Document Formatting Standards will be charged an extra $10 non-standard document fee.

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)

The Recorder's office maintains and retrieves liens for real estate only. All other UCC filings are handled through the Iowa Secretary of State. You may contact them at 515-281-5204.

The Iowa County Recorders Association has a statewide website titled Iowa Land Records.

The Iowa Land Records website is your primary source of information about recorded real estate documents in Iowa.

This website has indexing and images of recorded documents available for viewing. Businesses and individuals will need to create a free account to access this information on the site. Iowa Land Records

Iowa Land Records has the capability of accepting e-submission filings. These real estate documents are submitted over the internet for official recording in any county in Iowa. Attorneys, real estate agents, closing agents, and other authorized parties can submit documents to the website for recording. Visit Iowa Land Records for more information.

Documents of Interest

Declaration of Value Instructions (PDF)

Declaration of Value (PDF)

Ground Water Hazard Instructions (PDF)

Ground Water Hazard Statement (PDF)

Please Note: The Lucas County Recorder’s Office cannot provide legal advice. For questions regarding the legal implications or preparation of documents, please consult a qualified attorney.

Recorder

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