Are Lee County deed records available back to 1836?

Yes. The Lee County Recorder states that its land records date to 1836. Record Room provides images for many documents recorded from 1836 through 1983.

How do I get a Lee County deed recorded between 1984 and 2001?

Search the Record Room index first. Lee County states that images for documents recorded from 1984 through 2001 are not digitized online and are held on microfiche, so contact the Recorder to obtain the document.

How much does the Lee County Recorder charge for copies?

The county's published fee page lists regular copies at $1 per page and certified copies at $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee.

What are Lee County Iowa recording fees?

The Recorder's published schedule lists $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Conveyance documents also have an Auditor transfer fee based on township sections or city blocks. Verify the total with the Recorder before submitting.

Can I search Lee County property by address?

For parcel-level property information, the county directs users to Beacon. Recorded deeds themselves are better searched through Record Room or Iowa Land Records using party names and recording information.

Does the Recorder show who legally owns a property?

The Recorder maintains recorded instruments affecting real estate, but a single deed or online property display is not a complete title examination. Review relevant conveyances, liens, releases, easements and other instruments when title status matters.

Where is the Lee County Recorder office?

The main Lee County Recorder office is at 933 Avenue H in Fort Madison, Iowa 52627. The county also lists a Keokuk office at 25 North 7th Street with limited Tuesday and Thursday hours.

What information should be on the first page of an Iowa recording?

Lee County's formatting guidance requires a three-inch top margin on the first page and identifies information such as the preparer, return address, taxpayer information for transfers, document title, parties and legal description.

Can the Recorder prepare a deed for me?

Recording offices receive and preserve recordable documents but generally do not provide individualized legal drafting advice. For deed preparation, ownership changes, trusts, life estates or title questions, consider consulting a qualified Iowa attorney or title professional.

Lee County, Iowa · Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, historic land records and certified copies

Lee County Recorder: Search Deeds, Land Records and Recorded Documents

Q: Where can I search Lee County Iowa deeds online?

Lee County directs users to Record Room for older documents and Iowa Land Records for documents recorded from 2002 forward. The county states that Record Room contains document images from 1836 through 1983 and indexes from 1984 through 2001.

If you are looking for the Lee County Recorder, this guide covers Lee County, Iowa. The Recorder maintains official documents affecting real estate, including deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, easements, plats, surveys and other recorded instruments.

The most important thing to know before searching is that Lee County uses different systems for different recording periods. Older images are available through the county-directed Record Room system, while documents recorded from 2002 forward are searched through Iowa Land Records.

Open Lee County Land Records Search historic records Search 2002–present

Grantor or grantee name Approximate recording year Book and page Instrument number Legal description

Make sure you are using the right Lee County. There are Lee Counties in several states. This page is specifically for Lee County, Iowa, where the elected land-record office is the County Recorder.

Land records begin

The county states that recorded land records date back to 1836.

Main office

933 Avenue H, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627.

Main phone

319-376-1070.

Regular copies

The published county fee is $1 per page.

Certified copies

$5 certification fee plus the $1-per-page copy charge.

Start with your actual task

What do you need from the Lee County Recorder?

Do not search every county system hoping the same record will appear everywhere. Use the office or database that actually controls the information you need.

RECORDED DEED Find a deed or conveyance

Choose Record Room or Iowa Land Records according to the recording year.

Follow the deed-search steps

COPY Get a regular or certified copy

Locate the recording reference first, then request the document from the Recorder when needed.

Review copy options

NEW RECORDING Record a deed or other instrument

Check formatting, transfer documents, fees and return instructions before submitting.

Prepare a recording

PROPERTY LOOKUP Find parcel or assessment information

Use Beacon or the county property systems rather than treating a deed index as a parcel database.

Find property details

HISTORY Trace older ownership

Combine Record Room, recorded deeds and historic Auditor transfer books when researching a chain of transfers.

Trace historic records

LIEN / RELEASE Research another recorded instrument

Search by party and document type, then inspect related references and releases rather than stopping at one result.

Understand the index

Lee County Recorder guide

Jump directly to the task you are trying to complete.

Official deed and land-record search

How to search Lee County Recorder deeds and land records

Fastest method: identify approximately when the document was recorded, use the system assigned to that period, search the grantor or grantee, and confirm the legal description before deciding that you found the correct instrument.

Prepare these details first

Current or former owner’s full or partial name

Approximate year of the transaction or recording

Document type such as deed, mortgage, release or easement

Book and page when shown on an older deed

Instrument or document number for a newer record

Legal description, subdivision, lot, block or section

Open Lee County’s official Land Records page Use the county’s own page first because it explains which search system applies to each time period. Open Lee County Land Records

Determine whether the recording is before or after 2002 For older records, use Record Room. For documents recorded from 2002 forward, use Iowa Land Records.

Search the grantor and grantee separately when necessary The grantor is generally the party transferring an interest; the grantee is generally the party receiving it. A later deed may be easier to locate under a prior owner’s name than under a current property address.

Use a broad name search before adding too many filters Try the surname, business name or trust name first. Then narrow by date, document type, book and page, instrument number or related index fields.

Verify the property described in the document Compare the legal description, subdivision, lot, block, township section or other land description. A matching owner name alone is not enough when the name is common.

Check for related documents A mortgage may have a later release. A deed may reference a prior instrument. An easement, lien, assignment or corrective document can also affect what you are trying to establish.

Save the recording reference Write down the instrument number or book and page, recording date, parties and document type. These details make a copy request much easier.

The most important Lee County search distinction

Choose the correct land-record database by recording year

HISTORIC DOCUMENT IMAGES 1836–1983

Lee County directs researchers to Record Room for document images from this period. Start with a party-name search, then inspect the available image.

Search Record Room

INDEX ONLINE · IMAGE OFFLINE 1984–2001

The Record Room system contains index information, but Lee County states that the corresponding document images have not been digitized and are maintained on microfiche.

Call the Recorder: 319-376-1070

STATEWIDE ONLINE SYSTEM 2002–Present

Search Iowa Land Records. The county notes that users need to create a free username and password to search the system.

Open Iowa Land Records

Historic reference detail: Lee County’s recording-fee page says references to related documents filed before January 1, 1984 should use the Book and Page. For documents from 1984 through 2014, the county instructs users to include the applicable N or S designation when referencing the document.

Recorded-document decoder

Understand what you are seeing in a Lee County land-record search

Use the index to identify the document, then use the recorded instrument for the actual language
Field	What it means	How to use it	Common mistake
Grantor	The party giving, transferring or otherwise conveying an interest.	Useful for locating a deed made by a former owner.	Assuming every indexed grantor is the sole owner.
Grantee	The party receiving the interest described by the instrument.	Search a buyer or recipient to find the acquisition document.	Treating the grantee index alone as a complete title history.
Book / Page	A traditional reference showing where an older document was recorded.	Give both numbers when requesting or cross-referencing an older document.	Entering only the page without its book.
Instrument number	A unique recording reference commonly used for newer filings.	One of the strongest identifiers for requesting the exact document.	Confusing it with a tax parcel number.
Document type	The classification assigned to the filing, such as deed, mortgage or release.	Filter a long list of results to the kind of instrument you need.	Searching only “deed” when a corrective deed, contract or other conveyance may be relevant.
Legal description	The land description used to identify the affected real estate.	Compare it against other recorded instruments and parcel information.	Relying only on a street address.
Recording date	The date the instrument was accepted into the public record.	Place instruments in chronological order when researching history.	Confusing the recording date with the signing or closing date.

A search result is not a title opinion. A deed index can help you locate recorded documents, but it does not by itself establish that no other lien, easement, covenant, mortgage, judgment, probate interest or competing claim affects the property.

Regular and certified copies

How to get a copy of a Lee County deed or recorded document

If the image is available online

First open the correct search system and locate the instrument. Confirm the parties, date and legal description before saving or printing an online image. For research purposes, this may be all you need.

If the document was recorded from 1984 through 2001

Search the Record Room index so you can identify the document before calling. Lee County states that images from this period are held on microfiche rather than digitized online.

Search the index first Record the names, year, document type and available book/page or instrument reference. Open Record Room

Call the main Recorder office Give the staff member the recording reference rather than asking them to identify a property from a vague description. Call 319-376-1070

State whether you need a plain or certified copy A certified copy includes the Recorder’s certification and may be required for certain legal, governmental or financial purposes.

Confirm the final cost and delivery method The county’s published schedule lists $1 per page for copies and an additional $5 certification charge for certified copies.

Regular copy

Published fee: $1 per page.

Useful when you need the recorded text or image for research or reference.

Certified copy

Published fee: $1 per page + $5 certification.

Ask the receiving institution whether certification is actually required before ordering.

Submitting a document

How to record a deed with the Lee County Recorder

Recording is different from drafting. The Recorder receives and preserves documents that meet recording requirements. If you need help deciding what type of deed to use, changing ownership, creating a life estate, transferring property into a trust or resolving a title issue, those are legal-document questions rather than simple recording questions.

Prepare the correct instrument Make sure the document accurately reflects the transaction and contains the signatures, acknowledgments, legal description and other information required for that instrument.

Check Lee County’s formatting standards before signing or mailing Iowa recording standards address page size, the first-page margin, preparer information, return information, party names, legal description and other required items. Review official formatting standards

Determine whether transfer forms are required Certain real-estate transfers require a Declaration of Value. Lee County also directs users to Iowa’s Groundwater Hazard Statement requirements for applicable transfers. Open Lee County real-estate guidance

Calculate recording and transfer-related charges Use the county’s current recording-fee page and confirm the amount when the document conveys property, includes multiple pages or has special recording circumstances. Check Lee County recording fees

Prepare the return package Lee County asks mail filers to include a self-addressed stamped return envelope. The fee page also says separate checks for recording fees and real-estate transfer tax are appreciated.

Submit the document to the Recorder Mail filings to Lee County Recorder, 933 Avenue H, PO Box 190, Fort Madison, IA 52627, or contact the office before an in-person visit when you have a complex filing.

Keep the recording reference after processing When the recorded instrument is returned, retain the instrument number or book and page with your permanent property records.

Processing note: Lee County’s published recording information says document processing can take up to two weeks. Do not wait until a private contractual deadline to confirm recording logistics.

Published Lee County charges

Lee County Recorder fees for recordings and copies

Published county fees — confirm the exact total before submitting a document
Service	Published amount	Important detail
Standard recording	$7 first page + $5 each additional page	The county’s schedule reflects the Iowa per-page charge plus statutory transaction-related fees.
Property conveyance	$7 first page + $5 additional pages	An additional Auditor transfer fee applies for each township section or city block listed by the county.
Plat of survey	$7 first page + $5 additional pages	Confirm any special plat or survey requirements before submission.
Plain copy	$1 per page	Useful for ordinary research when certification is not needed.
Certified copy	$5 certification + $1 per page	Ask the receiving party whether an official certified copy is required.
Nonconforming document	$10 additional fee in eligible cases	The additional charge does not cure every statutory defect or recording problem.

Do not calculate a deed filing from page count alone. A real-estate conveyance can involve an Auditor transfer fee and real-estate transfer tax in addition to the basic recording charge. Exemptions and transaction-specific requirements can change the total.

Avoid a rejected or delayed recording

Lee County deed and document formatting checklist

Lee County publishes Iowa’s recording-format requirements directly on the Recorder’s website. Before sending a deed, mortgage, release or other instrument, compare the final document against these requirements rather than assuming a form downloaded elsewhere is recordable.

Individual pages should not be permanently bound or in continuous form.

A page generally may not exceed 8½ × 14 inches.

Reserve at least three inches of vertical space across the top of the first page for Recorder use.

Show the preparer’s name, business or individual information, address and phone number as required.

Provide the name and complete address to which the document should be returned.

For a transfer, include required taxpayer name and address information.

Clearly identify the title or type of document.

Identify the grantors and grantees.

Include the legal description or identify where it appears in the document.

Do not place prohibited personally identifiable financial information in a document intended for public recording.

If the first page does not have enough space: Lee County’s guidance permits the first page to reference the page where required information such as the legal description or party details appears.

Open official formatting standards Check recording fees

Transfer documents

Declaration of Value, transfer tax and Groundwater Hazard Statement

A deed is not always the only paper involved in an Iowa real-estate transfer. Lee County’s Recorder real-estate page links directly to state materials for the Declaration of Value, real-estate transfer tax and the Groundwater Hazard Statement.

Declaration of Value

Iowa requires a Declaration of Value for certain nonexempt real-estate conveyances presented for recording. The state instructions explain exemptions and how the consideration is reported.

Transfer tax

Transfer tax is separate from the basic Recorder filing fee. The amount depends on the transaction and whether an exemption applies.

Groundwater statement

Lee County states that the Groundwater Hazard Statement is required when a Declaration of Value is required and in certain private-sewage inspection situations.

Open Lee County transfer guidance Open Iowa DOV instructions

Do not confuse a deed search with a property search

Where to find Lee County parcel, assessment and tax information

A Recorder index is designed around recorded instruments. If your real goal is to find a parcel, assessed value, property-tax information or mapped location, start with the county-directed property tools instead.

Choose the office based on the question you are trying to answer
Your question	Best starting point	Why
What deed was recorded?	Lee County Recorder / Iowa Land Records	The Recorder controls recorded real-estate instruments.
What parcel matches this address?	Beacon / county property search	Parcel systems are easier for address, assessment and map research.
Who maintains transfer and plat records?	Lee County Auditor	The Auditor maintains transfer records and county plat information used for taxation.
What is the assessed value?	Assessor / property record system	Assessment is different from recording a deed.
How much property tax is due?	Lee County Treasurer	The Treasurer handles property-tax collection rather than the Recorder.

Open Beacon property records Open Auditor real-estate information

Important: Lee County specifically notes that the Recorder is not responsible for updating the information displayed in Beacon. Use Beacon as a parcel-research tool and the recorded document itself when the wording of a deed, mortgage, easement or other instrument matters.

Historic ownership research

How to trace an older Lee County property transfer

Lee County is unusually useful for historical land research because the Recorder’s records extend back to 1836 and the county also provides access to older Auditor transfer information.

Start with the newest owner or deed you know A current deed can give you a legal description and may reference a prior book/page or recorded instrument.

Search backward by grantor Locate the deed where the current or known owner acquired the property, then identify the prior owner shown as grantor.

Repeat the process with each prior owner Move backward one conveyance at a time instead of assuming people with similar names are part of the same ownership chain.

Compare the legal description every time Owners can have multiple tracts. A matching surname does not prove that two deeds concern the same land.

Use historic transfer books when helpful Lee County’s Maps & Real Estate page states that Auditor transfer books from the mid-1800s through 2015 can also be searched for transfer history. Open Maps & Real Estate resources

Move to the Recorder when an image is not online For 1984–2001 records, take the index information to the Recorder so staff can identify the microfiche document.

Genealogy research versus document access: Lee County states that the Recorder’s office does not perform genealogy research for users, although land and certain vital records maintained by the office may be open for public research.

Search troubleshooting

What to do when you cannot find a Lee County deed

Fix the likely search problem before assuming the record does not exist
Problem	Likely reason	Best next step
No result under current owner	The transaction may be indexed under a former name, trust, estate or business.	Search the prior owner, surname only, trust name or business name.
Address search fails	Recorded deeds are often indexed by parties and legal description rather than modern street address.	Find the parcel in Beacon first, then use the owner and legal description in the Recorder search.
Record is from the 1990s but no image opens	Lee County states that 1984–2001 document images remain on microfiche.	Save the index reference and call 319-376-1070.
Old book/page reference does not work	Historical North/South Lee reference conventions may apply.	For 1984–2014 related-document references, check whether an N or S designation is required.
Too many people have the same surname	Name-only searching can return unrelated transactions.	Compare document type, year, spouse or co-owner, legal description and recording reference.
I found the deed but not a mortgage release	The release may be recorded later and indexed as a separate instrument.	Search the borrower, lender and mortgage recording reference across later dates.
Property changed hands recently	Different county databases may update on different schedules.	Verify the recorded deed first, then check parcel and assessment systems separately.

Contact Lee County directly

Lee County Recorder office locations

Main Recorder Office — Fort Madison

933 Avenue H
P.O. Box 190
Fort Madison, IA 52627

Phone: 319-376-1070
Fax: 319-372-7033
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Open official Recorder page

Keokuk Office

25 North 7th Street
Keokuk, IA 52632

Published schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays only
8:30 a.m.–noon
1:00–4:30 p.m.

The county specifically advises users to call and verify service availability before relying on the satellite-office schedule.

Call main Recorder office before traveling

Current county listing: Lee County identifies Nancy Booten as County Recorder. Office personnel, satellite schedules and contact numbers can change, so confirm time-sensitive visit details on the official county page.

Official resources

Direct links for Lee County deeds and land records

Lee County Recorder

Department information, office contacts and Recorder services.

Visit official Recorder page

Lee County Land Records

County explanation of historic records, current search systems and available document types.

Visit Land Records page

Record Room

County-directed search for older Lee County recorded-document images and indexes.

Search Record Room

Iowa Land Records

Statewide land-record system used by Lee County for documents recorded from 2002 forward.

Open Iowa Land Records

Recording fees

Published Lee County charges for recording, copies and certified copies.

Check official fees

Document standards

First-page margin, page format, required information and nonconforming-document guidance.

Review recording standards

Real-estate transfer information

Declaration of Value, Groundwater Hazard Statement and transfer-tax resources.

Open real-estate guidance

Beacon property records

Parcel-level assessment, tax and related property information referenced by the county.

Open Beacon

Practical answers

Lee County Recorder FAQs

Where can I search Lee County Iowa deeds online?

Start with the Lee County Land Records page. The county directs users to Record Room for older records and Iowa Land Records for documents recorded from 2002 forward.

How far back do Lee County Recorder records go?

Lee County states that its land records date back to 1836. Record Room provides online images for many documents recorded between 1836 and 1983.

Why can I find a 1990s deed in the index but not open the image?

Lee County says the Record Room system includes indexes for documents recorded from 1984 through 2001, but the corresponding images are not digitized online. They are maintained on microfiche. Save the index details and contact the Recorder at 319-376-1070.

Do I need an Iowa Land Records account?

Lee County’s land-record guidance says users need to sign up for a free username and password to search Iowa Land Records. Use that system for Lee County documents recorded from 2002 forward.

How much is a copy of a Lee County deed?

The county’s published fee schedule lists regular copies at $1 per page. A certified copy adds a $5 certification fee to the per-page copy charge.

How much does it cost to record a deed in Lee County Iowa?

Lee County currently publishes a base recording schedule of $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. A conveyance can also involve an Auditor transfer fee and real-estate transfer tax. Use the official fee page and confirm the total before filing.

Can I search for a Lee County deed by property address?

Recorded-document systems are often easier to search by grantor, grantee and recording reference than by modern street address. If you only know the address, use Beacon to identify the parcel and owner, then move to the Recorder systems.

What records are available from the Lee County Recorder?

The Recorder’s land-record page lists deeds, contracts, mortgages, assignments, releases, federal and state tax liens, affidavits, plats, surveys, easements, leases and a variety of other recorded documents. Some records, including certain military service records, have access restrictions.

Does a deed search prove clear title?

No. Finding one deed tells you what that recorded instrument says, but a complete title investigation may require reviewing earlier and later deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, judgments, easements, probate matters and other instruments. For a purchase, refinance or ownership dispute, a qualified Iowa attorney or title professional may be appropriate.

Where is the Lee County Recorder located?

The main office is at 933 Avenue H, Fort Madison, IA 52627, with published Monday-through-Friday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county also lists a limited-hours Keokuk office at 25 North 7th Street and advises visitors to verify service availability.

Bottom line

The simplest way to use the Lee County Recorder

For a deed or recorded land document, begin by identifying the approximate recording year. Use Record Room for the historic collection, contact the Recorder for document images from the microfiche period, and use Iowa Land Records for 2002-present recordings.

Once you locate a record, verify the parties, legal description, document type and recording reference before ordering a copy or relying on it. If your real question is about assessed value, parcel location or tax payment rather than the language of a recorded instrument, move to the county’s parcel, Assessor, Auditor or Treasurer resources instead.

Start at Lee County Land Records Search older records Search 2002–present

Information review: This guide was independently assembled from Lee County Recorder pages, Lee County land-record resources, Iowa Land Records, Iowa Department of Revenue materials and current Iowa recording law reviewed in October 2026.

Online systems, staff listings, satellite-office schedules, fees, document requirements and external portal addresses can change. Use the linked official resources to confirm a time-sensitive filing before mailing or traveling to an office.

Lee County Recorder (Iowa): Search Deeds, Land Records & Copies