GETTING STARTED WITH E-SUBMISSION

1. Submit an Application to Become an E-Submitter

This online application is simple and only takes minutes to fill out. Simply enter your information, click submit and wait to hear from our team!

2. Your Application Will Be Processed in 1-2 Business Days 

Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by one of our customer service and account management professionals. Once approved, you will be added as an Iowa Land Records e-submitter. Please note, while we strive to process applications as soon as possible, in some cases it might require 1-2 business days. Don’t wait for the emergency need to electronically file a document in Iowa to apply; have your account set up and ready to go!

3. Configure Your Account and Start Submitting

After you’ve worked with our team to set up a username and password, you’ll need to add a method of payment, as well as additional users from your team who might need to submit documents. Once you’ve updated your account settings and are satisfied, you can start submitting to every county in the state of Iowa.

When you consider e-submission, you can think of saving time and money. No extra envelopes, time or extra postage. Your document can be recorded in a few minutes by using this streamlined approach.

Kris Colby

Winnebago County Recorder

Become an E-Submission Customer

Elevate Your E-submission Expertise

At Iowa Land Records, we know how important it is not just to set up our customers, but to set them up for success. We offer a number of resources to help you learn the ins and outs of the e-submission, which in turn will improve the percentage of your submitted documents that are approved. 

One-on-One Walk-Through

Need a little extra guidance to get through your first e-submission? Reach out to schedule a phone call with our customer service and account manager, who will walk you through your first electronic document submission as well as answer any lingering questions you might have.

Make an Appointment

Training Video Libray

Submitting land records electronically at any time of day can save valuable time. Our step-by-step video demonstrations are available below to help make the process even easier by covering topics from setting up payment to replacing a document.
Watch Training Videos

Live Webinar Demonstration

Led by a systems specialist, you’ll get to experience a step-by-step demonstration and ask direct questions. Plus, in our e-submission training webinars, you get n opportunity to see both the customer’s and recorder’s interface, so you get an understanding of the submission process from start to finish.
Attend a Webinar

Downloadable PDF Guides

Some customers prefer to download and/or print a copy of our 2020 E-Submission Training Guide to keep handy while working in Iowa Land Records e-submission. This guide covers various processes within the e-submission, providing best practices along the way.
See More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to submit documents electronically through Iowa Land Records?
Customers are charged standard county recording fees plus a $3 e-submission fee per document. There are no fees for Declaration of Value and Groundwater Hazard documents. There are no application fees or fees to set up your account.
Who reviews the documents I submit through the Iowa Land Records e-submission service?
County recorders in all 99 counties use Iowa Land Records. The local recorder for the county that corresponds to your document will review, then approve or decline your submission.
How can I pay for my submission?
Customers have a few options for payment:

ACH/EFT
Funds will be deducted from your account on the day of recording. During the setup process, we will check with your bank to ensure that an ACH block is not on the account.

Credit or Debit Card
The fee is .01865% of the recording fee.

You will not be charged until your document is successfully recorded.

How is e-submission different than over-the-counter or mail submissions?
There are a variety of benefits to e-submission, including the following:

  • Documents are reviewed within 24 hours or one business day
  • No waiting on the mail
  • No postage or courier fees
  • No waiting in line
  • Faster error correction
  • Secure file transmission
What types of documents can I submit using e-submission?
Any document you can submit to an Iowa county recorder can be submitted via e-submission.
Are there reports to help my accounting team reconcile our transactions?
Yes!
E-submission customers have a “reports” section in their account that allows them to pull various reports from a specified date range. This lets customers reconcile changes for any given period.
How will I know when my document has been recorded?
Iowa Land Records sends our customers a series of emails through the e-submission process so you know the status of your document. This includes information on any fee change, whether the document needs to be corrected, and when the document has been successfully recorded.
Is there a way to obtain the official recorded document with the recording stamp after it has been recorded?
Yes.

There are several ways to obtain a PDF copy of your final recorded document for your records. You will receive an email with a link to the digital file when your document is recorded. If you can’t access the document via the link in your email message, you may download the PDF from the recently recorded “documents” section in the e-submission portal or visit the search portal to search for the document.

Is there training available for my team to learn how to use e-submission?
Iowa Land Records offers an e-submission webinar once a month, which includes a live step-by-step demonstration of the e-submission service. In addition to these webinars, our team is happy to set up a live training with members of your team. We also have a variety of helpful video tutorials and training guides to help you understand the e-submission process.