Jefferson County Iowa Logo

Recorders Office

Jefferson County, Iowa

Home 9 Departments 9 Recorder

Recorder Pages

Contact Info

Recorder: Kelly Spees

Elected official
Assumed office 01/01/2011
Term expires 2026

Office Hours:

Mon-Fri 8am - 4:30pm

Phone / Fax:

Phone: (641) 472-4331
Fax: (641) 472-5094

Location:

County Courthouse
(Main floor / North side of building)
51 W Briggs Ave. Ste. 4
Fairfield, Iowa 52556-2820

Staff
Liz Hickenbottom, Deputy Recorder
Chris Carter, Recorder's Clerk

Recorder Office Overview

The recorder’s office maintains all official real estate documents, records birth, marriage and death certificates, sells fishing and hunting licenses, issues boat, ATV and snowmobile registrations, and is Jefferson County’s passport agent for the U.S. Department of State.

Your County Recorder maintains official records of documents affecting real estate in order to protect innocent third parties in real estate transactions.

The Recorder’s office is responsible for maintaining official records relating to real estate, handling vital records, selling and issuing registrations, and handling licenses and titles.

The Recorder’s office also collects real estate transfer tax on conveyances of property, collects and reports auditor’s fee for the transfer of property, and houses records for genealogy research.

Statewide Iowa Recorders Website

The primary source for information about recorded real estate documents in Iowa is IowaLandRecords.org, the official statewide web site sponsored by Iowa’s elected county recorders.

Duties & Responsibilities

Lands and Records Management

  • Deeds
  • Changes of Title
  • Contracts
  • Contract Forfeitures
  • Mortgages
  • Assignments & Releases
  • Subordinations
  • Federal & State Tax Liens & Releases
  • Affidavits
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Plats & Surveys
  • Corner Certificates
  • Military Discharges
  • Easements
  • Condemnations
  • Property Leases
  • 28E Agreements
  • Bills of Sale
  • Trade Names (sole proprietorships & co-partnerships)
  • Condominiums
  • Annexations
  • Ordinances
  • Subdivisions
  • Restrictive Covenants

Vital Records

  • Issues Marriage Licenses
  • Registers Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates
  • Issues Certified Copies of Vital Records

Licenses-Registrations-Applications

Genealogy

  • Records available for Genealogical Research

Passport Agent

  • Assist in completing & mailing applications for U.S. passports
  • Supply all passport application forms

Additional Info

The Office of the County Recorder was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839.

The County Recorder’s office is at the hub of the courthouse function to serve you.  A significant portion of duties performed by other county officials is dependent on the work performed by your County Recorder.

Recording fees collected for the county provide a form of property tax relief.

Call Us

(641) 123-4567

Email Us

information@here.com

Visit Us

1234 This Avenue, Fairfield, IA 52556

Notice: County offices will be closed for Labor Day. Be Safe!