Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers. If you have questions or comments about the Iowa Land Records system, please submit them through the Customer Service page.

Why is it necessary for me to go through the Captcha screening before I login to ILR? .

The Captcha feature is a security measure. It is to prevent automated searches, screen scraping and an unauthorized transfers of document images by organizations engaged in data mining. We've recently updated the Captcha function with an easy to use check box. Be sure to wait for the checkmark to appear before selecting the Log In button.

I am having issues logging in to the web site, what should I do? .

You may want to try a different browser such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox when accessing the Iowa Land Records site. If you are using Internet Explorer, you may experience issues.

I have not logged into Iowa Land Records for a while and now I can't login, what should I do? .

If it has been more than a year since you logged in you were probably deactivated and will need to re-register. Set up a new user account and accept the updated Terms of Use and Privacy Notice by clicking on "Become a Registered User" link on https://iowalandrecords.org/portal and complete the registration process.

What should I do if my username is still pending? .

When you registered for Iowa Land Records you should have received a confirmation E-Mail from us. From the E-Mail you need to click "confirm registration", this will take you back to the website to set your password and then you will be able to log in.

What should I do if I forgot my password? .

From the Iowa Land Records home page select "forgot password" and follow the prompts to reset your password.

What should I do if I forgot my username and password? .

From the Iowa Land Records home page select "forgot username" and follow the prompts to retrieve it.

I can't view the Adobe PDF, what should I do? .

Have you cleaned out your internet history recently? Sometimes you will have a cookie that will remember a setting not letting you more forward. Go to your internet window, from the tool bar go to Tools, scroll down to Internet Options, select delete browsing history, this should pop up a window that shows you what will be deleted. Click delete - then ok. Once you have done this you may want to restart your computer.

Do I need to have two different accounts for searching the portal and submitting documents? .

Yes, if you want to be a registered user with Iowa Land Records E-Submission Service and with the Iowa Land Records Portal then you will use two different user accounts.

How far back do documents go in my county? .

To see how far back documents go in a specific county click "Land Record Search" on the home page of our web site and then click "Search Tips" and select a county. Search tips will provide you with information about a specific counties records that are helpful for searching their records.