Dallas County IA Recorder: Search Deeds & Land Records
The Dallas County Recorder in Iowa is the office to use when you need an officially recorded deed, mortgage, release, easement, real-estate lien, plat or another recorded land document for property in Dallas County.
If your goal is to identify a parcel first, determine its assessed value, pay property taxes or confirm a legal ownership document, the fastest route depends on the task. This guide takes you directly to the correct official system and explains exactly what to search, what to verify and what to do next.
Dallas County currently links to Fidlar AVA for recorded-document searching.
$7 first page and $5 for each additional page.
$0.50 per page according to the county’s Real Estate page.
800 Court Street, Suite 130, Adel, IA 50003.
515-993-5804.
Go directly to your Dallas County Recorder task
Choose the section that matches what you are actually trying to accomplish rather than searching every county portal.
Which Dallas County office actually has the record you need?
A common source of wasted time is treating the Recorder, Assessor and Treasurer as interchangeable. They maintain different parts of the property record.
| Your question | Correct office | What it provides | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who received or transferred title? | Dallas County Recorder | Recorded deeds and conveyance documents | Search recorded documents |
| What is the parcel number, assessed value or property description? | Dallas County Assessor | Assessment and parcel information | Open Assessor property search |
| What property taxes are due or paid? | Dallas County Treasurer | Tax bills, balances, payments and tax-sale matters | Open Property Tax |
| Where is the parcel located? | Dallas County GIS / Assessor | Parcel mapping and geographic context | Open Interactive Mapping |
| I need a statewide non-real-estate UCC record | Iowa Secretary of State | State-level UCC filing services | Use the Iowa Secretary of State rather than the county Recorder. |
How to search Dallas County Iowa deeds online
Dallas County’s official Recorder page provides an Online Record Search link that currently opens the county’s Fidlar AVA land-record system. Use it for recorded real-estate documents instead of starting with a paid people-search or generic property website.
Prepare the strongest search clues first
How to confirm you found the correct Dallas County deed
A search result is only a lead. Before using a deed for title research, a transaction, estate matter or legal decision, match the document to the property with several independent identifiers.
Compare grantor and grantee names with the owners you expected to see at that point in the property’s history.
Confirm that the recording date makes sense in relation to the sale, inheritance, refinancing or other transaction.
A warranty deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage, release, easement and lien serve different purposes. Do not substitute one for another.
Match subdivision, lot, block, section, township, range, acreage or other legal-description language when available.
Compare the Recorder result with Dallas County Assessor or GIS information when a parcel identifier appears.
Look for later releases, assignments, corrective instruments, affidavits or deeds that may modify the earlier record.
How to record a real estate document in Dallas County Iowa
Dallas County states that documents may be brought to the Recorder’s Office with payment during office hours or mailed to the Recorder. The office cannot provide legal advice or prepare a deed for you.
Dallas County Iowa Recorder recording and copy fees
| Service | Published amount | When it matters | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| First recording page | $7 | Base fee for recording a document | Count all pages before preparing payment. |
| Each additional page | $5 | Every page after page one | Legal-description exhibits can increase the page count. |
| Conveyance transfer fee | $5 per non-contiguous parcel, up to $50 | Certain conveyance documents | Multiple parcels can change the final recording cost. |
| Regular document copy | $0.50 per page | Obtaining an ordinary copy | Find the instrument first so you know the page count. |
| Certified copy | $5 plus copy fee | When certification is required | Ask the receiving institution whether certification is necessary. |
| Non-standard document | $10 additional fee | Document does not conform to Iowa formatting standards | Review the format before submitting to avoid preventable cost or delay. |
Use the Dallas County transfer tax calculator before recording
Dallas County provides an official Transfer Tax Calculator for estimating Iowa real-estate transfer tax. Iowa law generally imposes transfer tax on taxable consideration at the statutory rate, while certain transactions are exempt.
Declaration of Value and Groundwater Hazard Statement
Declaration of Value
Iowa requires a Declaration of Value for certain nonexempt conveyances. The form reports information about the transfer and consideration and accompanies qualifying real-estate instruments presented for recording.
Groundwater Hazard Statement
Iowa’s groundwater-hazard process addresses conditions such as wells, waste-disposal sites, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, private burial sites and private sewage-disposal systems when the law requires the statement.
Current Iowa DNR instructions distinguish transactions where the form must be submitted from situations in which statutory language is placed on the deed instead. Because this depends on the transfer and property conditions, use the current DNR form and instructions rather than copying wording from an old deed.
How to get a copy of a Dallas County Iowa deed
Dallas County Iowa plat maps, GIS and legal boundaries
Dallas County provides a dedicated Plat Maps resource for viewing recorded subdivisions. The county specifically warns that the displayed document represents the original recorded plat and that later changes made through an affidavit or another recording may not appear on that original image.
Use the Recorder’s Plat Maps page when you need the recorded subdivision document.
Search Dallas County Plat MapsUse the Assessor when you need parcel identity, ownership display, assessment data or a property search starting from an address.
Open AssessorUse Dallas County Interactive Mapping for location and map context, but not as a professional boundary survey.
Open Interactive MappingSearching Dallas County mortgages, releases and UCC records
The Recorder index is useful for more than deeds. Depending on the recording, you may encounter mortgages, mortgage releases or satisfactions, assignments, easements, real-estate liens, plats, affidavits and other instruments affecting property.
Search the lender name, borrower name and later recording dates. A release may be indexed under different parties or as a separate instrument.
Dallas County states that its Recorder maintains and retrieves real-estate liens only. Other UCC filings are handled by the Iowa Secretary of State.
A single owner-name search is not a complete title examination. Names, indexing practices and different filing systems can affect what appears.
Do not assume it is still unpaid merely because the original mortgage is recorded. Search for satisfactions, releases, assignments or subsequent related recordings.
When Iowa Land Records is useful
Iowa Land Records provides statewide access to land-record information from Iowa’s 99 counties and supports electronic document submission for eligible users.
For a straightforward Dallas County deed search, the simplest starting point is usually the Dallas County Recorder’s own Online Record Search. Iowa Land Records becomes especially useful when research crosses county lines or when a professional workflow requires statewide searching or electronic submission.
Monitor recorded documents instead of discovering a suspicious filing later
Dallas County has promoted fraud-notification tools associated with its public-record systems. Property owners should periodically review recorded documents under their names and investigate unfamiliar deeds, liens or other filings promptly.
Search your name and property periodically, especially after buying, refinancing, paying off a mortgage or completing an estate transfer.
Dallas County launched a Notary Fraud Alert program in 2026 that can alert participating notaries when documents using their name are recorded in the county.
Review Notary Fraud AlertDallas County Recorder office address, hours and phone
Administration Building, 1st Floor
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: 515-993-5804
Recorder: ReNae Arnold
Open official Recorder pageMonday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dallas County states that passports are by appointment only. Other in-person Recorder transactions do not require a passport appointment.
Official Dallas County Iowa Recorder and property links
Office information, services, contact details and official Online Record Search entry point.
Open RecorderCounty-linked Fidlar AVA system for deeds and other recorded real-estate documents.
Search recordsRecording fees, mailing instructions, DOV, groundwater, cover-sheet and related recording information.
Open Real Estate pageCounty calculator for estimating Iowa real-estate transfer tax.
Open calculatorProperty search, owner display, assessment records and parcel information.
Open AssessorGIS parcel and geographic research with county mapping disclaimer.
Open mappingSearch and view official recorded subdivisions.
Open Plat MapsTax bills, payment information, delinquency and Treasurer services.
Open Property TaxStatewide land-record access and electronic submission resources.
Open Iowa Land RecordsCurrent official Groundwater Hazard Statement and instructions.
Open DNR formDallas County Iowa Recorder FAQs
How do I search Dallas County Iowa deeds online?
Open the Dallas County Recorder page and choose its Online Record Search, or go directly to the county-linked Fidlar AVA search. Begin with a grantor or grantee name, then narrow results by document type, recording date or known recording reference.
Can I search a deed using only a property address?
An address is often more useful in the Assessor system than in a Recorder document index. Search the Dallas County Assessor first to identify the owner, parcel number and legal-description clues, then use those details in the Recorder search.
Where is the Dallas County Iowa Recorder’s Office?
The Recorder’s Office is at 800 Court Street, Suite 130, Administration Building 1st Floor, Adel, IA 50003. The phone number is 515-993-5804.
What are the Dallas County Recorder office hours?
Dallas County currently lists in-person Recorder transactions, except passports, as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Passports are by appointment. Check the official site for holiday or temporary closure notices.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Dallas County Iowa?
Dallas County lists $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Conveyance documents also have a $5 transfer fee per non-contiguous parcel, up to $50. Transfer tax and a possible non-standard document fee are separate considerations.
How much does a copy of a recorded deed cost?
Dallas County lists ordinary recorded-document copies at $0.50 per page. For a certified copy, add $5 to the copy fee.
Where do I find Dallas County Iowa property taxes?
Property-tax bills, payment status and delinquency are handled by the Dallas County Treasurer’s Property Tax division, not by the Recorder.
Where can I find the assessed value and parcel number?
Use the Dallas County Assessor. The Assessor maintains assessment information and links to property-search tools by address and map.
Do I need a Declaration of Value to record an Iowa deed?
Certain nonexempt real-estate conveyances require a Declaration of Value under Iowa law. Some transfers are exempt, and the documentation requirements vary. Review the current Iowa Department of Revenue DOV instructions and Dallas County’s Real Estate page before filing.
Can the Recorder tell me how to prepare a deed?
No. Dallas County states that the Recorder’s Office is not allowed to provide legal advice on documents it records. Staff can explain recording procedures and published requirements, but legal drafting and title decisions should be handled by an appropriate qualified professional.
The fastest path to a Dallas County Iowa deed record
If you already know a party name, start with the Dallas County Recorder’s official online record search. If you have only an address, identify the parcel and owner through the Assessor first. Then match the recorded deed using the parties, date, instrument type, legal description and parcel clues.
For recording a new document, review Dallas County’s current fee schedule, Iowa document-formatting rules, transfer-tax treatment, Declaration of Value requirements and groundwater-hazard requirements before submitting the instrument. Doing those checks before mailing or visiting the office reduces the risk of an avoidable rejection or return.