Official Website for Fayette County, Iowa
Recorder
Contact Information
Officeholder
Fayette County Recorder
Fayette County Recorder
114 North Vine Street
PO Box 226
West Union, Iowa 52175
Phone
Fax
563-422-3739
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
Closed
Staff
Deputy Recorder
Keri Stepan
Clerk
Duties of the County Recorder
We can do your passport picture Monday - thru Friday from 8 til 3:30. The fee is $12.00 and the picture is processed right away for your convenience.
The office of County Recorder was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839 and is responsible for recording and maintaining official records affecting title to real estate including, but not limited to, deeds, contracts, mortgages, assignments, releases, federal and state tax liens, affidavits, plats and surveys, section corner certificates, easements, condemnations, trade names, leases, 28E and drainage agreements, bills of sale, articles of incorporation, financing statements, and numerous other documents.
Additional Duties
The Recorder/Registrar issues marriage licenses; registers births, deaths, and marriages; certifies vital records; and records military
service records.
The Recorder’s office issues boat, snowmobile, and ATV registrations, titles, and liens. The Fayette County Recorder’s office also issues state hunting and fishing licenses, fur harvester licenses, landowner/tenant and paid deer and turkey licenses and tags, habitat, duck, and trout stamps, as well as federal duck stamps.
The Recorder's Office does not provide legal services and does not prepare legal documents.
Military Records
Original military discharge papers (DD214's) may be recorded for a permanent record. Once the original document is recorded, our office can issue certified copies of the original.
If the original DD214 Military Discharge has been misplaced or destroyed, a certified copy may be obtained from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The request form is available from our office or it can be downloaded from the National Archives and Records Administration at: https://www.archives.gov.
Effective July 1, 2003, all military personnel records maintained by the county recorder will be confidential records. Unless otherwise provided by the veteran, the record shall not be made available for examination or copying except as follows:
To the veteran or the veteran's immediate family or to the veteran's agent or personal representative duly authorized in writing.
To a person requesting to examine or copy the record when the event that resulted in the record being made occurred more than 75 years prior to the request.
To a licensed funeral director who has custody of the body of the deceased veteran.
When ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
When required by a department or agency of the federal or state government or a political subdivision thereof.
Forms
Application for Certified Copy of Military Records
Real Estate
The County Recorder’s office records and maintains official records of documents affecting title to real estate and miscellaneous other documents. Most recorded documents are public record and can be viewed in-office.
The Iowa County Association of Recorders has a statewide website, titled Iowa County Land Record Information System or CLRIS. This website has indexing and images of recorded documents available for viewing. The website is found at https://iowalandrecords.org. Businesses and individuals need to register as a public user before using the website.
Recorder's DNR Services
ATV, ORV, ORM, Snowmobiles, and Boats
The Recorder's office has the responsibility of registering and titling all ATVs, ORVs, ORMs, Snowmobiles, and Boats. The registration for boats expires on April 30th every three years and for ATVs, ORVs, ORMs, and Snowmobiles on December 31st every year.
Items needed when transferring an ATV, ORV, ORM, Snowmobile, or Boat
Registration or Bill of Sale
Title (If Applicable)
Proof of Sales Tax Payment (If Applicable)
Application for Registration
State Sales Tax Information
Sales of ATVs, ORVs, ORMs, Snowmobiles, and Boats are subject to the state sales tax of 6% plus local option taxes, if any. This applies to sales by individuals and dealers. Taxes may be paid to the dealer or to the County Recorder.
Forms
Application for Registration
Bill of Sale
Fishing and Hunting Licenses
The Recorder’s office sells fishing, hunting, fur harvester, deer, and wild turkey licenses. Habitat, migratory bird, and trout fees may be purchased as well. Our office also has other special licenses available.
For additional hunting information visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at https://iowadnr.gov or contact the DNR in Des Moines at 515-281-8688.
Vital Records
The Recorder’s office maintains the records of birth, death, and marriages that have occurred in Fayette County. However, records of single-parent births prior to 1988; adoptions; or any record ordered sealed by a court of law are not available for issuing at the county level and must be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
While Recorder’s office personnel can assist the public in using the documents on file to conduct research, time constraints often prevent personnel from researching telephone and email requests for genealogy records. Genealogy research requests can be directed to the Fayette County Historical Society by phone at 563-422-5797.