County Recorder/Registrar

Benton County Recorder:  Lexa S. Speidel            Deputy:  Rachelle Berry

Location:  111 East 4th St   Courthouse, First Floor   Vinton, IA  52349  319.472.3309

The Office of the Recorder is an elected position with a term of four years.

History

The office of the County Recorder was established in 1839 to maintain official records of documents affecting title to real estate in order to preserve property rights and protect innocent third parties in real estate transactions.  although this basic duty remains relatively unchanged, many additional functions have been added to the office.

Iowa County Recorders are proud of their tradition and looking forward to the future.

Duties

The County recorder is required to follow the Code of Iowa when recording documents.  We work with the Iowa Department of Revenue collecting Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax and Sales/Use Tax; Iowa Department of Public Health collecting fees, processing marriage applications, and issuing certified copies of birth. death and marriage records; the Iowa Department of Natural resources collecting fees and issuing hunting, and fishing licenses; boat, snowmobile and ATV/ORV registrations and titles; and the US Department of State processing and collecting fees for passport applications.

Optional Duties:

Process Passport Applications

Issue various types of Hunting & Fishing licenses

LAND and RECORD MANAGEMENT

Your Recorder/Registrar is responsible for recording:

• 28 E Agreements

• Affidavits

• Bills of Sale

• Changes Of Title

• Condemnations

• Contracts

• Corner Section Certificates

• Deeds

• Easements

• Federal & State Tax Liens

• Fence Agreements

• Leases

• Military Discharge Records

• Mortgages

• Plats of Survey

• Powers of Attorney

• Resolutions

• Restrictive Covenants

• Right of Way Agreements

• Trade Names

• UCC's - Uniform Commercial Code

• plus numerous other documents

Indexes of recorded document are available for viewing online at www.iowalandrecords.org

All documents except State & Federal Tax Liens and Military Discharge records are available for viewing.

VITAL RECORDS

(Iowa Department of Public Health)

• Issues Marriage Licenses

• Registers Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates

• Issues certified Copies of Birth, Death & Marriage Records

LICENSES - REGISTRATIONS - APPLICATIONS - TITLES

(Department of Natural Resources)

• Boat Registrations/Titles/Liens

• Snowmobile registrations/Titles/Liens

• ATV/ORV Registrations/Titles/Liens

• Hunting & Fishing Licenses

• Habitat, Duck & Trout Stamps

• Deer and Wild Turkey Licenses

• Landowner/Tenant Gun & Archery Deer & Turkey Permits

PASSPORT APPLICATIONS

(For US Department of State)

• As Passport Agents Recorders/Registrars assist in completing and mailing applications for passport books and passport cards.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accept and record documents submitted electronically

• Collect real estate transfer tax on conveyances of property, a portion of which is retained in the county's general fund

• Collect and report Auditor's fee on a transfer of property

• Perform federal and state tax lien searches and assist public in research of real estate records

• certify all recorder's records

• Make records available for genealogy research

• Prepare and submit detailed reports to the following state agencies:

Iowa Dept of Public Health

Iowa Dept of Natural Resources

Iowa Dept of Revenue