Skip to main content

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Land patents filed with the Iowa Land Office

By filing a land patent, you are assigning ownership of a particular tract of land that has gone through various legal processes such as surveying and documentation, then has been signed and recorded with the Land Office.

In Iowa, the document is initially received by the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State, which is the state land office. Once this office has assigned the document a filing number, a letter is drafted requesting the signature of the Governor and is sent over to that office. After the Governor has signed the patent, the Secretary of State signs confirming receipt and filing, and then the original copy is mailed back to the filing party (or whomever may be indicated to receive the paperwork).

If you need assistance in filing a land patent, or don't know where to start, please contact an attorney who is experienced in the sale of land. Our office cannot advise outside of noting the steps in the filing and recording process.

Land Patent Search Tool

Use this dropdown to search land patents by county. If you are looking for a particular land patent that cannot be found by using the drop-down below, please contact sos@sos.iowa.gov for more information.