The County Recorder is responsible for land and records management, maintaining and recording a wide variety of official documents affecting real estate and numerous other valuable miscellaneous documents. The office collects real estate transfer tax for the Iowa Department of Revenue and collects and reports the County Auditor's fee on transfer of property.

The Recorder's office serves as a licensing agent for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by issuing fishing and hunting licenses, and registering and titling boats, snowmobiles, and ORV's.

As of July, 1997 the Recorder's office is the County Registrar of Vital Records and has the responsibility of issuing Marriage Licenses, registering Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates and issuing certified copies of Vital Records.

The Recorder's duties are defined by state statutes and established by state agencies through administrative actions. The County Recorder works with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Revenue, and the Iowa Department of Public Health. Detailed reports are filed monthly and annually to the county and to the state agencies.

Monroe County Recorder/Registrar charges the following amounts for services listed.

Copy Fees

Copies: $15 per page
Certified Copies: $5.00 certification fee, plus $15 per page copy fee
Multi-document Real Estate Related Filing: (i.e. instruments that release or assign multiple mortgages, assign multiple leases, etc.)
$7.00 for the 1st page + $5.00 for each additional page
$7.00 for each additional transaction

Recording Fees

$7.00 for 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page
Plats of survey: $7.00 for 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page
Documents that convey property: $7.00 for 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page, PLUS
Auditor transfer fee of $5.00 for each township section or city block