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Madison County Recorder
Office Contact Information
Office Email:
corecorder@madisoncounty.iowa.gov
Office Phone: (515) 462-3771
Office Location:
201 W. Court, Winterset,
IA 50273
Mailing Address Madison County Recorder, P.O. Box 152, Winterset,
IA 50273
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Some services close earlier.
See individual service tabs for specific hours
- Real Estate Search Search real estate records and property information.
- Recorder's Index Inquiry Search recorded documents and official public records.
- Property Appraisals View property assessment and appraisal information.
- Plat Map Explore parcel boundaries and property map resources.
Select a resource above to access the corresponding online service.
Recorder Responsibilities
The office of the Iowa County Recorder was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839.
Since the creation of the County Recorder's office, numerous additional responsibilities have been added over the years.
The Recorder's duties are defined by state statutes and established by state agencies through administrative actions.
The County Recorder works with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Revenue, Iowa Department
of Health & Human Services.
We are responsible for land and records management, maintaining and recording a wide variety of official documents affecting real estate and numerous other valuable miscellaneous documents.
Our office collects real estate transfer tax for the Iowa Department of Revenue and collects and reports the County Auditor's fee on the transfer of property.
The Recorder's Office also serves as a licensing agent for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by issuing fishing and hunting licenses and registering and titling boats, snowmobiles, and OHV's.
As of July 1997, the Recorder's Office is the County Registrar of Vital Records and has the responsibility of issuing birth, death and marriage certificates and processing marriage applications.
Recording Info & Transfer Tax Calculator
Document recordings are accepted Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm
No appointment required.
Recording Fees:
Standard Documents:
$7.00 for 1st page, $5.00 each additional page
Conveyance of property documents:
$7.00 for 1st page, $5.00 each additional page
PLUS $5.00 Auditor Transfer Fee for each township, section or city block
Transfer Tax will be due for sales with consideration that are not exempt. See the calculator below.
The County Recorder is responsible for recording and maintaining a wide variety of official documents affecting real estate
and many other miscellaneous documents that are required to be recorded.
All records, except vital and military records, are open to the public.
You can find these documents by clicking the Real Estate Search button at the top of this page and then by Clicking Recorder’s Index Inquiry.
Here are some forms that you may need when recording documents:
DOV - Declaration of Value Forms
GW – Groundwater Hazard Statement
Please call or email us with any questions.
Phone: (515)462-3771
Email: corecorder@madisoncounty.iowa.gov
Marriage Licenses
Marriage applications are accepted Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm
No appointment required.
Application Fee = $35.00
You can apply for a marriage license at any County Recorder’s office in Iowa to receive a license that is valid anywhere in the state of Iowa. There is a 3-Day waiting period before a marriage license is valid.
See the chart below.
Day of Application
License Valid Day
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Monday
- Tuesday
Please call or email us with any questions.
Phone: (515)462-3771
Vital Records
Vital record applications are accepted Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:15pm
No appointment required.
Effective July 1, 2026, certified copies of a vital record is $20.00.
In-person requests are completed within 10 minutes, if we are not currently helping another customer.
Mail-in requests are made the day we get them and mailed out the next day.
See the chart below to determine where you can apply for your record.
Year of Event
Where to go?
BIRTH
1983 – Present
Any County Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa.
1982 & Older
County you were born in or Iowa Health & Human Services.
DEATH
1954 – Present
Any County Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa
1953 & Older
County you were born in or Iowa Health & Human Services.
MARRIAGE
1954 – Present
Any County Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa.
1953 & Older
County you were born in or Iowa Health & Human Services.
DNR Services
Hunting & Fishing Information
Licenses are sold Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:15pm
No appointment required.
Our office is a DNR Agent and we can help you with the following and so much more:
- Hunting License
- Fishing License
- Deer Tags
- Turkey Tags
- Fur Harvester
- Migratory Bird
- Trout Fees
Recreational Vehicles
Title and register Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:15pm
No appointment required.
Documentation needed to buy or sell an OHV, ATV or Snowmobile:
- Bill of Sale – Use this link or a handwritten one is good too.
- Title – Signature of seller on back. (Older vehicles may not have titles)
- Registration – Signature of seller on back.
- Proof of sales tax paid – if applicable.
- Application for Registration – Use this link or we have them in office.
Sales Tax:
- Out of State = 6%
- In State = 6-7%
*Depends on where in Iowa the sale took place and if that town has local option tax.
Boats
- Title and register Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:15pm
- No appointment required.
- DNR Boating Regulations Handbook
Documentation needed to buy or sell a boat:
- Bill of Sale – Use this link or a handwritten one is good too.
- Title – Signature of seller on back. (some boats do not have titles)
- Registration – Signature of seller on back.
- Proof of sales tax paid – if applicable.
- Application for Registration
Sales Tax:
- Out of State = 6%
- In State = 6-7%
*Depends on where in Iowa the sale took place and if that town has local option tax.
Please call or email us with any questions.
Phone: (515)462-3771
Email: corecorder@madisoncounty.iowa.gov
If we are not able to help you, we can point you in the right direction with the Iowa DNR.
DNR Website: https://www.iowadnr.gov/
DNR Phone: (515)725-8200
Military Service Records
The Madison County Recorder's Office provides free recording and certified copies of eligible military service records.
Complete the military record application.
Mail-in requests must include a photocopy of your driver's license, and proof of entitlement is required for certified copies.
Genealogy
Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
No appointment required.
Our office does not do full genealogy research, but we can assist you with small searches if time permits. You are welcome to come to research anytime during normal office hours.
Certified copies = $20.00 (proof of entitlement required)
Plain paper copies = $5.00
Madison County Genealogy can help you with more in depth searches.
Website: http://iagenweb.org/madison/index.html
Please call or email us with any questions.
Phone: (515)462-3771