Wapello County Recorder's Office

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Wapello County Recorder's Office The Recorder's office maintains land records and vital records for the county. We also sell DNR licenses and are a passport acceptance facility.

The Office of the County Recorder was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839. Iowa County Recorders continue to maintain official records of documents affecting real estate in order to disclose information about all real estate transactions. Iowa County Recorders provide many other services to citizens including the management of vital records. In many Iowa counties the County Recorder is also responsible for the registration of recreational vehicles, passport applications and the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. A significant portion of duties performed by the County Recorder is in support of the work of other county officials. Iowa's County Recorders are proud of their tradition and looking forward to the future.

📣 We’re hiring! Join the Wapello County Recorder’s Office team! 📣Are you organized, detail-oriented, and great with peop...
10/06/2026

📣 We’re hiring! Join the Wapello County Recorder’s Office team! 📣
Are you organized, detail-oriented, and great with people? Wapello County is accepting applications for a Clerk in the Recorder’s Office! This role supports daily office operations while providing courteous, helpful service to the public.

What you’ll do:
✨ Assist customers in person, by phone, and by email
📄 Record, scan, index, and retrieve documents
💳 Process applications, payments, receipts, and daily transactions
🗂️ Maintain accurate, organized, and confidential records
⌨️ Prepare correspondence, reports, certifications, and other office documents
🤝 Work cooperatively with coworkers, other departments, and the public
🔗 For the complete job description and application details, see the link below.

10/05/2026

📚 Post 9: What Does the Recorder’s Office Do?

So…what exactly does the County Recorder’s Office do?

As you can see, the answer is: a lot!

From recording real estate documents and preserving public records to issuing vital records, processing marriage applications, registering recreational vehicles, selling hunting and fishing licenses, providing passport services, recording military documents, and helping with genealogy research — our office touches many different parts of our community.

A lot of what we do happens behind the scenes. You may only see us for a few minutes when you stop in to renew a registration or pick up a document, but there are rules, regulations, research, recordkeeping, and attention to detail happening behind that counter every day.

Our goal is to provide accurate, reliable, and helpful service to the people of our county — whether you’re buying a house, getting married, planning a vacation, heading out hunting, researching your family tree, or simply trying to track down an important document.

We’re proud of the work we do, and we’re proud to serve our community. ❤️

10/05/2026

🔎 Post 8: Genealogy & Research

Did you know the County Recorder’s Office can be a great place to start when researching your family history or property history? 🔎📚

Our records contain information that can help connect the dots between generations, properties, and the people who have owned them.

Sometimes customers come in looking for a specific document. Other times, they’re trying to piece together information about an ancestor, find out who previously owned a property, or uncover a little more of their family’s story.

We’re happy to help customers navigate our records and point them in the right direction when we can.

Genealogy and historical research can sometimes feel like putting together a giant puzzle — and we love helping people find the pieces!

You never know what you might discover in the records. 🗂️🏡

10/05/2026

Post 7: Military Documents

One of the responsibilities of the County Recorder’s Office that you may not think about is recording military discharge papers for our veterans.🇺🇸

These documents can become incredibly important long after a veteran leaves the military.

Recorded military documents are accessed over the years by several county offices, including:

🇺🇸Veterans Affairs — for claims and benefits
🚗 Treasurer’s Office — for veteran designation on driver’s licenses
🏡 Assessor’s Office — for property tax benefits

And because of the importance of these records, we do not charge veterans to record their military discharge papers or to receive copies of those recordings.

Our office is proud to provide this service to those who have served our country.

To all of our veterans: thank you for your service and sacrifice. ❤️

10/05/2026

✈️ Post 6: Passports

Planning a trip outside the United States? ✈️🌎

Did you know that some Iowa County Recorder’s Offices process passport applications? Not every Recorder’s Office offers this service, and passport photo services aren’t available at every location either.

For those offices that do offer passport services, we help customers complete their applications accurately and process their paperwork so it can be submitted properly and in a timely manner.

We know that getting a passport is often part of planning a much bigger adventure, and the last thing you want is a paperwork mistake to cause unnecessary delays.

If you’re getting ready for an upcoming trip, check with your local Recorder’s Office to see what passport services they offer and what you’ll need to bring with you.

A little preparation now can save a lot of stress later! ✈️📸

10/05/2026

🎣 Post 5: Hunting & Fishing Licenses

Ready for hunting or fishing season? 🎣🦌

The County Recorder’s Office is one of your local stops for Iowa hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags.

We work closely with the Iowa DNR and local DNR officers to make sure we’re following the latest rules and regulations, and helping hunters and anglers get the licenses and tags they need.

Whether you’re heading out for your first fishing trip of the season, getting ready for deer season, or purchasing your annual licenses, we’re happy to help!

Our goal is simple: make sure you have what you need before you head outdoors so you can enjoy a safe and successful season.

Stop by and see us before you head out! 🌲🎣

10/05/2026

🛞 Post 4: Off-Highway Vehicle & Boat Registrations

Did you know the County Recorder’s Office helps register your boats, ATVs, UTVs, and other off-road recreational vehicles through the Iowa DNR?

When you purchase a boat or off-road vehicle, there’s more to registration than simply handing over a title and paying a fee.

We have to follow the State of Iowa and Iowa DNR’s rules and regulations, and we are to make sure the proper documentation is provided before a vehicle can be registered or renewed.

That documentation helps establish that the vehicle was actually owned by the person selling it and that everything checks out properly.

And there’s another important reason we take that process seriously: protecting you from fraudulent sales.

Making sure the paperwork is correct helps protect both the buyer and the seller and helps ensure that a vehicle being registered is legitimately owned.

So whether you’re buying your first boat or ATV, or renewing the registration on your favorite UTV, we’re here to help make sure you have the documentation you need to get it taken care of correctly. 🛻🌲

10/05/2026

💍 Post 3: Marriage Applications

Getting married? 💍❤️

Before you can say “I do,” there’s some paperwork that has to happen first!

The County Recorder’s Office helps engaged couples complete their marriage applications so they can legally get married in Iowa.

We know that paperwork can sometimes be confusing, especially when you’re trying to make sure everything is completed correctly. We’re happy to answer questions and walk couples through the application process.

And sometimes, couples have questions about having their marriage ceremony at the courthouse. We’re always more than happy to explain how that process works and what you need to know.

Getting married should be an exciting time — not a stressful paperwork experience. 💕 We’re here to help make sure you have the information you need to get everything taken care of before the big day!

09/17/2026

Important Youth Season Reminders!

09/17/2026

🧾 Post 2: Vital Records — Helping You Get the Records You Need

Birth certificates. Death certificates. Marriage certificates.

Our office processes applications for all three, and there’s a lot more involved than simply printing a copy.

We follow state rules and regulations when processing certified copies of vital records, and we carefully verify that customers are entitled to receive the records they are requesting.

Sometimes that record is needed for something as simple as checking a box off a to-do list. Other times, it’s an important piece of a much bigger process.

Need a birth certificate to get the REAL ID star on your driver’s license? ⭐
Need a marriage certificate to update your name on your passport? ✈️
Need a death certificate to help claim funds through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt? 💰

We can help!

We’re also seeing an upward trend in dual citizenship applications, which often require older vital records and documentation. We’re happy to help customers figure out what records they may need and where to find them.

Vital records are some of the most important documents we issue, and we’re here to help you navigate the process and get the records you are legally entitled to receive.

Address

101 W 4th Street
Ottumwa, IA
52501

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16416830046

Website

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