Formatting Standards (for Recording Documents)

The Basics

• Paper
  • One side only
  • White
  • Not less than 20 pound weight
  • Without watermarks or other visible inclusions
• Margins
  • Top margin shall be at least 3 inches across the top of the document
  • Other margins shall be a minimum of 3/4 of one inch
• Text
  • At least 8 point, legible and reproducible (10 point, fill in information)
• Signatures
  • Black ink only
  • Names typed, printed or stamped beneath signatures
  • Notary: State law requires that all instruments have signatures notarized

Information Required on First Page (Coversheet)

• Name, address and phone number of preparer
• Name of taxpayer and complete address
• Return address
• Title of document
• Grantor's name and grantee's name
• Legal description (if the space on the first page doesn't allow for the necessary information, the page where it is located must be noted)

On or after July 1, 2005, a document that does not conform to the document formatting standards shall not be recorded except upon payment of an additional recording fee of ten dollars per document or instrument. 

Deeds

In addition to the above, DEEDS require the following: 

• Revenue tax affixed to represent the full sale price over $500.00. If exempt from revenue tax, exemption must be so stated on the face of the document. Exemptions are listed in Code of Iowa Chapter 428A.2. 
• All deeds must be accompanied by a declaration of value form unless exempt (see above Chapter 428A.2). This applies also to any documents of conveyance; Contracts and assignments of contracts on Quit Claim Deeds. Certain documents are exempt from the Declaration of Value.
  • Declaration of Value (New DOV Form - Released July 23, 2014).
  • Declaration of Value Instructions
• Each Declaration of Value submitted to the Recorder must ALSO have a Groundwater Hazard Statement submitted with it. [Code of Iowa Sec. 558.69
• Groundwater Hazard Form
• Groundwater Hazard Statement Form - Attachment #1

Exemptions

The following documents are exempt from document formatting requirements: 

• A document that was signed before July 1, 2005
• A military separation document
• A document that executed outside of the United States
• A certified copy of a document issued by a government agency, including a vital record
• A document where one of the original parties is deceased or otherwise incapacitated
• A document formatted to meet court requirements
• A federal tax lien
• A filing under the uniform commercial code, chapter 554
• A plat or survey or a drawing related to a plat or survey

On or after July 1, 2005, a document that does not conform to the document formatting standards shall not be recorded except upon payment of an additional recording fee of $10.00 per document or instrument.