When are property taxes due?
First half property taxes are due September 30 each year.
Second half are due March 31.
How do I get a copy of my birth certificate?
You can apply in person and get the certificate while you wait, or you can apply by mail request.
For births between 1990-present, you can obtain here from any county of birth in Iowa.
1880 – 1989, you can get here if you were born in Calhoun County.
Or, you can apply here and we can forward the request to the state Vitals office.
Each certified copy is $20.00 and will need to show government issued ID.
When are off road vehicles renewals due?
Off road vehicles expiration is December 31 of every year.
When are boat renewals due?
Boat renewals begin January 1, 2022 – April 30, 2022. This is for a 3 year renewal.
How can I protest my property assessment?
The property assessment is mailed out by April 1. Protest time is April 2-April 30.
What do I need to bring to get a passport?
New passport:
DS-11 Application form (available online and at passport agencies) filled out in black ink
One passport photo-The Recorders office can do passport photos for a fee of $10
Copy of ID
Certified birth certificate
Fee 16 and older: 130.00 & an additional separate Acceptance payment of $35.00 to The Calhoun County Auditor’s Office
Fee for a minor: $100.00 & an additional separate Acceptance payment to The Calhoun County Auditor’s Office
*NOTE Minors under the age of 16 will need both parents present
*NOTE A check or money order made to The US Department of State is the only acceptable form of payment that can be sent in with the passport application
Renewal Passport:
DS-82 Application form (available online or at passport agencies) filled out in black ink
Passport
Copy of ID
Fee for 16 and older: $130.00
Fee for Minor: $100.00
*NOTE A check or money order made to The US Department of State is the only acceptable form ofpayment sent in with the application
Passport Card:
Fee 16 and older: $30.00
Minor: $15.00
*NOTE Passport cards are good for travel to North America and Caribbean by LAND or SEA ONLY
*Passports are accepted Monday-Friday 9AM to 4PM
*In some cases, additional forms or paperwork are required
*Processing time for applications is 8-11 weeks
*You do have the option to Expedite your application with an additional fee which makes the processing time only 4-6 weeks.
Will I get a bill if I call the ambulance and I am not transported?
We currently do not bill for requests for the ambulance if we do not transport you to the hospital.
Calhoun County EMS contracts its billing services through PCC - Ambulance Billing Company.
To get further details regarding your billing you may contact them Toll Free: 866.332.5335
Where is my abstract?
The Recorder’s office does not handle any abstracts, the abstractors get their information from our office to build the abstracts. If you received an abstract when you purchased the property, you should check your lock box first, because it should always be kept in a safe place. Often times the bank will keep the abstract if you took out a loan to buy the property, and you should get it back when your loan is paid. If you took out a contract instead of a deed, perhaps the attorney is keeping it in escrow. If it can’t be found, you would have to pay to get another one made, depending on the property, this can be quite costly.
Can the Recorder's office prepare my deed?
No we cannot. We usually send customers to the attorney’s office, and take all the information you will need for them to prepare the deed. Unless you are familiar with the process, there is a long list of documenting standards that must be followed, along with some necessary documents to be submitted with the filing of the deed. If you are working with a realtor, they do not prepare the deed either but have an attorney do all the legal work.
I just bought a 4-wheeler, what do I need to do to get it in my name?
If it was bought through a private sale, you need to find out some information about the machine BEFORE you buy it. First, was it currently registered in Iowa? If so then you need a signed title and a bill of sale. Then you bring into the Recorder’s office to get it registered in your name. If it had never been registered in Iowa, you still need a bill of sale from whom you are purchasing it from. THEN come get a form from us for you to present to any law enforcement officer along with the machine, for him/her to check out the VIN number etc. and he will then sign off on it. Bring that paperwork back to us for registration. IF you don’t have any paperwork from prior owner, then you will have to go through the state DNR office for the bonding process, which in turn takes time. If purchasing from a dealer, they should do all the paperwork and send to us.
