Need to change who owns your Iowa property? We prepare and record the deed.
Adding a spouse, removing an ex, fixing a mistake, or moving property into an LLC or trust all start with the right deed. We draft it, make sure the right people sign, handle the transfer tax paperwork, and record it with the county. Homes, farms, commercial and development land in all 99 Iowa counties.
What deed work can Danilson Law handle for you?
We prepare and record Iowa deeds for the changes people make most often: adding someone to title, removing someone after a divorce or buyout, fixing errors in an earlier deed, and moving property into or out of an LLC or trust. Most of these use a quit claim deed. When your situation calls for promises about title, we use a warranty deed. You tell us what you want to happen. We pick the right document, draft it, collect the right signatures and get it on record.
As an Iowa Title Guaranty field issuer, we write more than 1,500 lender title opinions a year and partner with settlement agents across Iowa, so we read deeds and county records every day.
Add someone to your deed
Adding a spouse, partner, child or other family member changes who owns your home or land. We draft the deed so it states exactly how the new owners hold title (joint tenancy with survivorship or tenancy in common), and we check whether your spouse must sign under Iowa law.
Remove someone from your deed
After a buyout, the person leaving title usually signs a deed giving up their share. After a divorce, the decree may already decide who gets the property, but a decree alone may not clear the record. We'll tell you whether you need a deed from your ex or a certified copy of the decree recorded with the county. If an owner has died, a deed usually isn't the answer. That typically takes an affidavit or a probate step, and we'll tell you which one fits.
Corrective, LLC and trust deeds
A misspelled name, a wrong legal description or a name change after marriage can cause problems when you sell or refinance. We prepare corrective deeds to clean up the record. We also move property into or out of an LLC or trust and confirm who has authority to sign.
Should you use a do-it-yourself deed form or have a lawyer prepare it?
A blank form can work if you already know the right deed type, how title should be held, who has to sign and what the recorder needs. Most people don't. One mistake can get the deed rejected for recording or leave the wrong owners on record. When we prepare your deed, we handle each of those pieces and record it for you. That way the change you wanted is the change that actually shows up in the county records.
| Feature | Do-it-yourself form Template | Danilson Law Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Right deed type | You pick one and hope | Chosen for your exact situation |
| Legal description | Copied from somewhere, unchecked | Checked against the prior recorded deed |
| How title is held | Easy to leave unclear | Survivorship or shares stated clearly |
| Spouse signature | Often missed on homestead property | Checked before anyone signs |
| Transfer tax and recorder forms | You research each requirement | Prepared with the deed |
| Notarized and recorded | You find a notary and file | Remote or in-office signing, then we record |
How does the Iowa deed process work with us?
It starts with a short call where you tell us what you want to change. We review the current deed, choose the right type of deed, draft it and send it to you for review. Once everyone who needs to sign has signed in front of a notary, we record the deed with the county recorder. After that, the county auditor updates the ownership records used for property taxes. You get the recorded deed for your files.
- Book a Discovery Call. Tell us who owns the property now and who should own it when we're done. We'll lay out the plan before any work starts.
- We review the current deed. We pull the last recorded deed so the names and legal description in your new deed match the record.
- We draft the deed and supporting forms. A deed between spouses, or between parent and child, with no actual consideration is exempt from transfer tax under Iowa Code 428A.2(11), but the recorder still needs a signed exemption statement (Iowa Code 428A.4). If your deed needs a declaration of value, we prepare it. If a groundwater hazard statement is needed with it, we prepare that too. Most no-money family deeds don't need either form.
- The right people sign. If you're married and the property is your homestead, Iowa law generally requires your spouse to sign too, even if they aren't on title (Iowa Code 561.13). Every signature is notarized, because Iowa law doesn't treat a deed as properly recorded unless it has been acknowledged before a notary (Iowa Code 558.42).
- We record it. We file the deed in the county where the property is located. An unrecorded deed may not protect you against a later buyer who paid for the property and didn't know about your deed (Iowa Code 558.41).
- You get the recorded copy. Once the recorder indexes the deed, the county auditor updates the transfer books. We send you the recorded deed.
Not sure who has to sign? Read who signs the deed in a real estate transaction, or for company-owned property, who can sign a deed for an LLC in Iowa.
What do people ask before changing an Iowa deed?
What should you know before you change your deed?
Changing a deed is quick to do and hard to undo. We've written plain-English guides on the questions people ask most, so you can come to your call ready.
- What an Iowa quit claim deed is and when it fits.
- The risks of adding a child or family member to your deed.
- How adding a spouse or partner to title works.
Prefer to watch? This short video covers what to think through before you add family to your deed.
When you're ready, we'll prepare the deed that matches your plan.
Let's get your deed done and recorded.
Tell us what you want to change and we'll lay out the plan before any work starts. Book a Discovery Call or call 515-512-5500. We prepare and record deeds for property in all 99 Iowa counties.