Polk County IA Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

Polk County provides a free online index for real estate documents recorded from January 1, 1992, to the present.

The county’s search system can help locate warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, contracts and other recorded documents.

A newer search was launched in June 2026. The Recorder’s official Search Records page provides the current access options.

1. Open the official Recorder search page.

   Start with Polk County’s own Search Records gateway.

2. Choose the current search system.

   Select the newer records search or the available Search Now option.

3. Sign in if requested.

   The newer RECORDhub system uses accounts. Follow its registration instructions when necessary.

4. Search using the recorded party’s name.

   Begin with the buyer, seller, property owner, business or trust associated with the transaction.

5. Review the matching recorded documents.

   Compare the recording date, document type, parties and available legal-description information.

6. Open and print the document.

   Polk County states that its 1992-present real estate recordings are available to view and print online without charge.

What information helps you find a deed?

Search all 99 Iowa counties

If the property is outside Polk County or the local search does not provide what you need, Iowa Land Records offers statewide search access.

The statewide system brings together land records from all 99 Iowa counties.

If you have only the street address, first identify the property through the Assessor, Auditor or county property-tax search.

Polk County has separate systems for assessed values, parcel identification, ownership transfers and recorded deeds.

Using the correct system avoids confusing a tax account with a recorded legal document.

How to find the parcel before searching a deed

1. Open the property-tax search.

   Use the official county-linked property search system.

2. Select an address-based lookup.

   Enter the house number, street name or another supported property identifier.

3. Check the correct parcel.

   Compare the property’s location and available owner or mailing information.

4. Save the property ID.

   Keep the parcel details for your research notes.

5. Return to the Recorder search.

   Use the known owner’s name or the property’s recorded transfer information to locate the deed.

Recording a new deed requires more than searching the existing land records.

Iowa has specific rules for signatures, document formatting, real estate transfer tax and supporting forms.

Polk County’s Recorder records qualifying instruments and collects the applicable recording and transfer charges.

Prepare these items before recording

Iowa Code sections 331.606A and 331.606B establish requirements for many documents submitted for recording.

Polk County publishes a practical formatting checklist for preparing real estate documents.

The county does not accept correction fluid or whiteout on a document.

When a correction is required, the preparer should draw a line through the mistake and initial the correction, following the county’s instructions.

First-page information

The first page or an appropriate cover sheet must provide the required recording information.

This includes the document title, preparer’s information, return address, grantor and grantee names, and legal-description information.

The county’s deed-recording charge differs from the charge for many other instruments.

The published standard fee for deeds and certain transfer documents is $12 for the first page, including the transfer charge for one parcel.

Additional pages, additional parcels or multiple transactions can increase the total.

The county limits the additional-parcel charge to a published maximum of $50. Special filings and other statutory charges can have different rules. Confirm your document category before payment.

Example: Recording a three-page deed

Iowa imposes a real estate transfer tax on qualifying conveyances.

Polk County’s published calculator uses a rate of $1.60 per $1,000, with the first $500 of taxable consideration exempt.

The Recorder collects the applicable tax when the qualifying conveyance is recorded.

Declaration of Value

Iowa generally requires a Declaration of Value for property conveyances unless a statutory exception applies.

The form records information about the property, parties and transfer.

Groundwater Hazard Statement

Polk County’s recording instructions also require a Groundwater Hazard Statement with applicable Declarations of Value.

Certain transactions are exempt. Review the current form and instructions before deciding that the statement is unnecessary.

If a deed was recorded in Polk County, you can normally view and print a 1992-present document through the county’s free online real estate system.

Older records and staff-prepared copies are handled by the Recorder’s Imaging/Microfilm Department.

The county offers different rates for copies obtained in person, by mail and by email.

These rates come from the Recorder’s published Imaging/Microfilm copy instructions. Confirm the total for unusual documents and special requests.

Request a document by email

1. Find the document reference.

   Record the book/page, document number or other information identifying the instrument.

2. Prepare your request details.

   Include your name, company name if applicable, phone number and email address.

3. Email the Recorder.

   Send the request to recorder@polkcountyiowa.gov.

4. Pay the invoice.

   The county sends a credit-card payment invoice before delivering emailed documents.

The Recorder’s Office is in the Polk County Administration Building in downtown Des Moines.

The building is located near the intersection of Court Avenue and Second Avenue.

Before visiting the office

Bring the document you need recorded, any supporting forms and the correct payment.

The office accepts cash, checks, money orders and major credit cards listed in its payment instructions.

Make checks payable to Polk County Recorder.

Call ahead when recording a plat, submitting an unusual instrument or requesting older documents.

A property transfer can involve several county departments, but each maintains a different type of record.

Choosing the right office helps prevent delays and incorrect document requests.

Polk County accepts eligible real estate documents electronically through Iowa Land Records.

This option is particularly useful for attorneys, abstractors, lenders and businesses that submit recording documents regularly.

The Recorder reported that approximately 75% of its real estate filings were submitted electronically as of January 2026.

The county’s eRecording page states that submissions are processed Monday through Friday and typically within 24 hours or one business day.

The stated processing hours are different from the public counter’s 4:00 PM same-day filing cutoff.

Iowa Land Records support: 888-790-2246 or support@clris.com.

Polk County offers PropertyCheck, a notification service for newly recorded documents associated with monitored names.

The service helps property owners notice recording activity without repeatedly searching the county index.

The county introduced an updated PropertyCheck system and provides instructions for existing and new RECORDhub accounts.

How to use PropertyCheck

1. Open the official PropertyCheck page.

   Follow the Recorder’s current registration instructions.

2. Create or access your RECORDhub account.

   New users can register through the linked system.

3. Recover an older account when necessary.

   The county instructs previous PropertyCheck users to use Forgot Password for the newer system.

4. Enter the names to monitor.

   Use the names relevant to your recorded ownership interests.

5. Review future email alerts.

   Compare any matching recording with your actual property before taking action.

What if you find a suspicious deed?

The Recorder’s real estate index contains more than ownership deeds.

One property may have several documents recorded over time, including new financing, releases or ownership changes.

What if a mortgage was paid off?

Paying off a mortgage does not remove the original recording from the public record.

Search for a later release or satisfaction document associated with the original mortgage.

Contact the lender or closing professional when an expected release is missing.

Does the Recorder maintain property abstracts?

No. Polk County’s FAQ states that property abstracts are not filed in the Recorder’s Office.

If you need an abstract or complete chain-of-title research, contact a qualified abstractor, title company or real estate attorney.

These government resources support the office information, online search instructions, recording requirements and fee guidance in this article.