Frequently Asked Questions
Filter by Department
Assessor Attorney Auditor & Recorder Environmental Health GIS Public Health Treasurer Veteran Affairs Weed Commissioner Show AllAssessor
Our office keeps a record of the mailing address where the owner requested assessment notices and tax statements be sent, however we are not able to provide any other contact information (such as phone numbers or email addresses).
If you know the address or parcel number of the property, you may use our Marshall County Property Search or Beacon - Marshall County, IA - Search page to look up sales information. Simply enter the information in the appropriate search box, and then hit “Search”.
If you know the address the property, you may use our Marshall County Property Search or Beacon - Marshall County, IA - Search page to look up the parcel number. Simply enter the address in the address search box, and then hit “Search”. The parcel number will be located in the “Summary” section of the property record page.
If you know the address the property, you may use our Marshall County Property Search or Beacon - Marshall County, IA - Search page to look up the parcel number. Simply enter the address in the address search box, and then hit “Search”. The parcel number will be located in the “Summary” section of the property record page.
Please be aware that, while our maps are very accurate and will give you a good idea where you lot lines are, they are not the same as a survey. If you are unable to locate you parcel pins by reviewing our map, you may need to hire a licensed land surveyor to locate your property lines for you. Names of licensed surveyors can be found under “surveyors-land” in the Yellow Pages of the phone book. Most licensed surveyors will provide you with an estimate of cost for performing the survey.
If you know the address or parcel number of the property, you may use our Marshall County Property Search or Beacon - Marshall County, IA - Search page to look up who currently owns the property. Simply enter the information in the appropriate search box, and then hit “Search”. The owner information will be located in the “Owner” section of the property record page.
When a lot is platted, pins are placed at all corners of the property. Parcel pins are usually a piece of rebar driven into the ground, and then capped at ground level with a colored plastic cap that includes the name of the surveyor who platted the land. Over time, these pins tend to get pushed underground, but there are several ways to locate them. Review the map on our Marshall County Property Search or Beacon - Marshall County, IA - Search page, and either use a metal detector, or dig at the corners indicated on the map. If you are unable to locate your pins, you will need to hire a licensed land surveyor. Names of licensed surveyors can be found under “surveyors-land” in the Yellow Pages of the phone book. Most licensed surveyors will provide you with an estimate of cost for performing the survey.
Depending on the classification of the property, the assessment is to represent the market value of the property unless otherwise provided by Iowa Code. Residential, agricultural dwellings, commercial, and industrial classed properties are to be assessed at market value. Changes in market value as indicated by research, sales ratio studies and analysis of local conditions as well as economic trends both in and outside the construction industry are used in determining your assessment. Agricultural land and buildings are valued on productivity and net earning capacity.
State law requires all properties to be reassessed every two years. Current law requires the reassessment to occur in odd numbered years. If necessary, assessors may reassess property every year.
Each year, assessed values are subject to a rollback factor determined by the Director of Revenue creating a taxable value. Property tax is calculated by applying a levy rate to the taxable value. Levy rates and rollbacks change from year to year therefore adjusting the amount of property tax.
If you disagree with the assessment of a property, you have two basic options. One option is to have an informal review with the assessor’s office. If an agreement can be reached between April 2 through April 25, a signed document will change the assessment to the mutually agreed to value or classification. The second option is to file a formal appeal with the Board of Review(link when website is created) between April 2 and April 30. Appeal forms are available on the Board of Review page.
Real estate parcels are annually assigned a property classification by the assessor. This classification is to be consistent with the primary use of the property. There are five classifications of property in Iowa. These classes are agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial. Classification may not necessarily be the same as the zoning of the property.
Over the years, the term CSR has become a household word among farmland owners and tenants in Iowa. CSR (corn suitability rating) is a soil productivity rating for Iowa soils that ranges from a low of 5 to a high of 100. It was introduced in 1971 by Thomas Fenton from Iowa State University and has gained in popularity ever since. CSR values are often used when figuring farmland indexes such as land values and cash rents. The index has also been correlated to crop yields although part of the intent of the index was to establish a system for equitable tax assessment, a way to level the playing field by measuring a soil’s productivity and not how well the operator was doing yield-wise with the land. All Iowa counties presently use the CSR rating when figuring individual real estate property taxes.
Note: Agricultural Land in Marshall has been updated with the new Corn Stability Rating (CSR2) map soils and adjustments have been made for tillable/non-tillable ground. CSR2 and land adjustments are mandated by the Iowa Department of Revenue and must be implemented by the 2017 year in all counties.
Market value of a property is an estimate of the price that it would sell for on the open market on January 1st of the year of assessment. This is sometimes referred to as the 'arms-length transaction' or 'willing buyer/willing seller' concept.
There are a number of different taxing districts in a jurisdiction, each with a different levy rate. Each year the county auditor determines for that district a levy rate that will yield enough money to fund the different entities in that district. The entities include local schools, counties, cities, townships, community colleges, local assessors, and others. Since more than one taxing authority is calculating a tax rate for the property, all the rates are added together, resulting in a single tax levy called a consolidated levy. This consolidated levy is always the result of two or more tax rates established by different government entities.
The rollback rate is a statewide rate set annually for each property class by the Iowa Department of Revenue. More than 20 years ago, residential property values were rising quickly. To help cushion the impact of high inflation, the Legislature passed an assessment limitation law called rollback. Increases in assessed values for residential and agricultural property are subject to this assessment limitation formula. If the statewide increase in values of homes and farms exceeds 3 percent due to revaluation, their values are "rolled back" so that the total increase statewide is 3 percent. Rollback is also available for industrial and commercial property when necessary. This does not mean that the assessment on your home will increase by only 3 percent. The rollback is applied on a class of property, not an individual property. This means that the statewide total taxable value can increase by only 3 percent due to revaluation.
Assessment notices are mailed on or before April 1st whenever there is a change in assessment to a taxpayer’s property.
Attorney
At the beginning of the case prosecution, the County Attorney’s Office will mail you registration paperwork. If you choose to complete the registration form and return the completed form to the County Attorney’s Office, you will receive case updates. If you choose not to complete the registration form, you may not receive updates about your case.
You may also contact the County Attorney’s Office and speak with a Victim-Witness Coordinator to get information about your case, whether you register or not.
The County Attorney’s Office represents the State of Iowa, not the victim. The prosecuting attorney has sole discretion on how to proceed. To discuss the case and your wishes for the case, please contact the County Attorney’s Office to schedule an appointment with the prosecuting attorney and Victim-Witness Coordinator.
The County Attorney’s Office encourages victims to participate in the case prosecution. However, the County Attorney’s Office represents the State of Iowa in criminal cases, not individual witnesses or victims. The County Attorney’s Office cannot provide legal representation on behalf of private citizens.
A subpoena is a court order requiring a person to appear at a specific date, time, and location. Sometimes a subpoena also requires a person to provide documents or other materials. If you have to work at the date and time on your subpoena, check with your employer to find out what the company policy is regarding your appearance for court proceedings. If you have questions or concerns about a subpoena, please contact the County Attorney’s Office.
Please contact the Victim-Witness Coordinator assigned to the case and discuss the court process with them.
If you are seeking a domestic relationship protection order, please contact the Marshall County Clerk of Court at 641-754-1603 or in person on the Fourth Floor of the Marshall County Courthouse.
If you are seeking a No Contact Order in a criminal prosecution, please contact the Marshall County Attorney’s Office.
In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, contact law enforcement by calling 641-754-5725.
Jurors must report to the Fourth Floor of the Marshall County Courthouse. The Fourth Floor may be accessed by the eastern stairwell of the Courthouse or the elevators.
Off-street parking is available in the half-circle parking lot on the south side of the Marshall County Courthouse. Street parking for a limited number of hours is available in downtown Marshalltown. Free public parking is available in several parking lots in downtown Marshalltown.
Please contact the Marshall County Clerk of Court at 641-754-1603, extension 222.
The County Attorney’s Office may not have the correct contact information for you, or there may not be any upcoming court appearances. If your contact information has changed or you believe the County Attorney’s Office may not have the correct contact information for you, please contact the County Attorney’s Office to update your contact information.
Auditor & Recorder
Other
Passports are handled in the Marshall County Auditor and Recorder's Office: 641-754-6323.
Real Estate
No, the Auditor and Recorder’s Office does not record or store abstracts. Usually, the abstract is given to the property owner to be kept in a safe place at the time of purchasing the property.
No, the Auditor and Recorder’s Office does not record or store wills. Usually, the will is stored at the attorney’s office where it was prepared or given to the individual at the time of execution to be kept in a safe place.
The Auditor and Recorder’s Office cannot assist property owners in preparing documents. It is wise to contact an attorney for advice on adding or removing names to property records.
The County Auditor and Recorder’s Office can provide the correct form to forward to the County Assessor’s Office and/or the County Treasurer’s Office. Complete the Change of Address Form. Please call 641-754-6323 with any additional questions.
This calculation is based on a $1.60 tax per thousand and the first $500 is exempt.
Marshall County Abstract Company
23 South Center Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158 · Google Maps
641-752-5358
OR
Evans Abstract Company
23 North Center Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158 · Google Maps
641-752-4283
Vitals
If the death occurred between 1954 and the present, you can obtain the record at any County Auditor/Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa. Prior to 1954, please contact the county office where the death occurred.
If the marriage occurred between 1954 and the present, you can obtain the record at any County Auditor/Recorder’s Office in the State of Iowa. Prior to 1954, please contact the county office where the marriage application was filed.
Marshall County Auditor and Recorder’s Office
1 East Main Street, 3rd Floor
Marshalltown, IA 50158
641-754-6355
There is no formal “registration” of Officiants in Iowa. You are authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in Iowa if you are:
- An Iowa judge, magistrate, or associate judge serving on the Iowa supreme court, court of appeals, or district court; or
- An individual ordained or designated as a leader of the person’s religious faith, regardless of the state of residence or service (595.10)
No. We will record your military documents at no fee and provide certified copies at no fee.
Once it is picked up from the Auditor/Recorder’s Office, it is good until you are married. The Auditor/Recorder’s Office will hold the paperwork for six months. If not picked up before the expiration of six months, it will expire and be unusable.
- Both parties need a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license) or passport.
- $35 fee, cash or credit card only accepted (3% fee applies for credit card).
- One witness, 18 years of age or older. They must know both parties.
$15 per certified copy. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted (fee applies to credit card transactions).
Military discharge records are not available to anyone who cannot prove they are entitled to the record. Identification must be given to prover entitlement (unless the record is 62 years or older).
Divorce records are court actions, so they are kept at the Marshall County Clerk of Court: 641-754-1600.
A traffic violation is a court filing; you can pay your fines at Marshall County Clerk of Court: 641-754-1600.
Entitlement to a record includes the person named on the record, or the person’s spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian (legal guardians and representatives must provide proof of guardianship or representation). Applicant must be 18 years old or older.
Environmental Health
All of unincorporated Marshall County is zoned and permits are required for most structures (pole buildings, dwellings, decks, signs, etc.). A permit is required when any excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing or enlarging is done on a property. This also includes altering or moving of a building or structure.
A permit is also required to change the use or occupancy of any building, structure or land from one classification to another, or to change a non-conforming use without the issuance of a Building Permit.
GIS
The GIS website is updated on a weekly basis, usually at the end of the week. The Assessor Information website is updated on a daily basis.
GIS stands for Geographic Information System, which integrates hardware, software, and spatial data to manage, edit, and analyze geographic information.
The GIS department can print maps on paper that range from 8.5"x11" to 42"x60" in a variety of paper formats. For more information regarding pricing, visit our Fee Schedule page.
Public Health
- Call 1-844-469-2742 if you think you are sick with a foodborne illness.
- Resources: Foodborne Illness - Health & Human Services
These are conducted by the Iowa Department of Inspections of Appeals and Licensing. To submit a complaint, complete the State of Iowa DIAL Food Complaint Form.
While bedbugs are gross, they do not carry disease and so are not a public health initiative that receives funding for mitigation. We suggest contacting an exterminator or pest control specialist.
The department you are looking for is Marshall County Environmental Health. Call 641-754-2707 to speak to Tyler Kelley.
- Contact your healthcare provider or the healthcare office (who gave your immunizations).
- Contact Marshall County Health Department and request immunization records. Must have name and date of birth. ID will be required.
- Call 641-844-2799 or email us at publichealth@marshallcountyia.gov
- Note: Make copies of your immunization records for schools, colleges, work, or daycares.
Contact your local provider and Iowa HHS.
No, all restaurant inspections are handled by the Iowa Department of Inspections Appeals and Licensing. Contact them at 515-281-3425 or visit their website.
Treasurer
Motor Vehicles
No. The Treasurer does not process Driver's Licenses in Marshall County. Please visit the Iowa DOT website.
In our office if you have the renewal notice, and or the driver’s license/social security and plate number of the persons plate that needs to be renewed, we will allow that.
Yes. You can return your currently registered vehicle plates and have it coded as "Stored" status and pay no further registration or penalty fees until you are ready to resume driving it.
A full year's registration fee will be charged when taking the vehicle out of storage, so it is only beneficial if the vehicle remains stored for over a year.
There is no charge for a parking permit or plates. It does require a letter from your physician indicating a temporary or permanent disability.
There is no charge to re-print a sticker. If you just need the registration paper re-printed it is $3.00.
You will need to bring in the following items:
- Certificate of Title (if available).If your out of state title is unavailable due to lienholder retention—you will need to bring in your most current registration document for the vehicle.
- Iowa DL/ID or previous state DL/ID and Social Security #
- Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (IA DOT Form 411007), completed and signed by all owners.
- Damage Disclosure Statement (IA DOT form 411108), only if vehicle is 7 years old or newer.
- Odometer reading only if vehicle is 9 years old or newer.Any vehicle over 9 years old is exempt from odometer disclosure.
If the vehicle is a lease, you can contact our office for further information and help determining the documents you will need to transfer and register the vehicle in Iowa.
If a vehicle is sold or junked, you may be eligible for a refund of registration fees. A refund may be applied for at the county treasurer’s office in any county by presenting plates and a current registration. Refunds will be mailed from the State of Iowa and will take approximately 4-6 weeks.
If a vehicle is traded in for a different vehicle, we can apply the credit towards the newly acquired vehicle.
Yes, you DO need to remove their name from the certificate title. This can be done at no charge. Required documentation can vary, for more information please contact our office at 641-754-6360.
You will need to bring the following items:
- Certificate of Title with the appropriate signatures and printed names of the seller(s) and buyer(s).
- Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (IA DOT form 411007), completed and signed by all buyers.
- Damage Disclosure Statement (IA DOT form 411108), only if vehicle is 7 years old or newer.
- Odometer reading only if vehicle is a 2011 or newer. Vehicles years 2010 and older are exempt.
- Bill of Sale from the dealer.
You will need to bring the following items:
- Certificate of Title with the appropriate signatures and printed names of the seller(s) and buyer(s).
- Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (IA DOT form 411007), completed and signed by all buyers.
- Damage Disclosure Statement (IA DOT form 411108), only if vehicle is 7 years old or newer.
- Odometer reading only if vehicle is a 2011 or newer. Any vehicle which is 2010 or older is exempt from odometer disclosure.
- Bill of Sale is required as of 1/1/2020. Must be signed by the seller.
Trailers with an empty weight of 2000 pounds or less cannot be titled but will have a registration. The current registration, signed at the bottom by the buyer and seller, will be used to transfer ownership.
Trailers with an empty weight of 2000 pounds or more will be titled, and transferred similarly to a motor vehicle.
Forms are available in our office, in the common forms and applications section of our website or on the IA DOT Website.
Property Tax
Because we run on a fiscal year and not a calendar year:
- First half taxes are September 1st, delinquent October 1
- Second half taxes are due March 1st, delinquent April 1
If a customer wants to pay the full year taxes at one time, they will typically pay the whole year in September.
You may pay by any of the following convenient ways:
- Through the mail. Postmark must be by September 30 for the first half payment and March 31 for the second half payment to avoid penalty.
- In our office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Online through the Iowa Treasurer's website. You must have the 5-digit receipt number located on your tax statement available.
Taxes are billed every fall and statements typically go out in the mail in mid-late August.
Your receipt number is printed on your statement.
Your payment history can be found on your annual statements and also online through the Iowa Treasurers website. You may need to contact our office at at 641-754-6360 for assistance.
Almost all credits are applied for through the Assessor's Office. To apply for a homestead credit, please contact the County Assessor.
The only credit handled by the Treasurer’s Office is the Disabled/Senior Credit. Please visit the Property Tax page for more information.
A 1.5% penalty is assessed per month after the due date.
The tax sale is the sale of any unpaid property taxes within the county as of the first part of June. The tax sale is held electronically on the third Monday in June.
Veteran Affairs
Please fill out the Relocation Application and return it with the required documents.
The Veterans Affairs will always look for volunteer drivers to take veterans to their appointments. If you are interested in becoming a drive please contact our office. Please view the Application to become a driver.
The Department of Veteran Affairs has setup My HealtheVet so you can manager your healthcare.
If you were a resident of Iowa at the time of your discharge, you may contact the Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs at 800-838-4692 to find out if it’s on file and request a copy. If you were a resident of another state, you will have to contact that state’s Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you have ever filed a copy of your DD 214 at the Marshall County Offices, you can request a copy of your DD 214 from the County Veteran Affairs or Recorder Offices:
- The Recorder's Office can be reached at 641-754-6355. If you filed in another county, you can contact those county offices.
- The Veteran Affairs Office can be reached at 641-754-6335.
- For other Military Service Records, you can make a request through the National Archives.
Call 641-754-6335 during business hours to arrange transportation. We need 5 business days notice due to volunteer driver scheduling. We reserve Mondays and Fridays for Iowa City or Ames trips. If there is an immediate need, please call and let us know. For trips to our local clinic, please utilize the local bus system. Our van lease requires all riders to be able to get in and get out of the van without assistance. Our van does not carry wheelchairs. Veterans may have a rider with them by providing a written letter from the medical provider of necessity.
As a veteran there is a large list of compensations available to you and your family. For more information you can either call our office or visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Weed Commissioner
Don’t plant invasive weeds. Be selective when you choose plants for home landscaping. Some invasive plants, such as purple loosestrife varieties, are still illegally sold in nurseries and garden shops, so beware! If you plant these in your yard, they may escape into nearby areas and become a problem by displacing native species. Consider planting native species in your home garden. Natives offer a good choice for home landscaping because they are well adapted to local conditions and often thrive with less care than required by many non-native plants. Native plant gardening also enhances the value of your yard for local wildlife including birds and butterflies.
Remove invasive weeds. Be on the lookout for invasive weeds and remove or report them whenever possible. You may have invasive plants already growing in your backyard. Birds and other animals may eat the seeds of these plants and then travel to nearby uninfested lands, resulting in the spread of invasive weeds. You can help stop these invasions by removing the source plants. Talk to your neighbors and local greenhouses about the problem and share your concerns. Report sightings on public lands to the land manager. If you do remove these plants from your own land, be sure not to spread the seeds when disposing of them.
Help prevent the accidental spread of invasive weeds. When you venture into natural areas, roadsides, or any place with invasive weeds, be aware that you could be introducing or carrying invasive weeds inadvertently. Check your shoes, socks, clothing, etc., which might carry seeds. Another important thing you can do is to try to limit soil disturbances on your property. Invasive weeds thrive on disturbance and can quickly colonize areas that don’t have a good vegetative cover. If invasive weeds are moving in, try to control them before they get well established and the area is infested.
Educate yourself and spread the word. Become better informed about how to identify invasive weeds, how to avoid spreading them, and how to control them. The battle to control invasive weeds cannot be won without public awareness and support.
Weeds are simply undesirable plant species. The same principle holds true for Marshall County’s roadsides, natural areas, farm fields, etc., which are home to a diverse array of native plants. The number and variety of these native species is described by the term "biological diversity." Over the past 150 years, many non-native plants have been introduced to our region, both intentionally and accidentally. The vast majority of these plants coexist with native species, and are ecologically harmless.
What makes a plant noxious in the context of Marshall County’s natural resources, is its negative impact on agriculture, or its ability to spread and crowd out native plants. This is why noxious weeds are distinguished from those weeds that occur in small numbers and are innocuous. Noxious weeds are those able to reproduce in the wild, spread rapidly, which are difficult to control, or which cause the decline or loss of our native plants. It is not completely understood why some weeds become noxious and some don’t. But because noxious weeds did not evolve locally, their populations are not held in check by natural predators or diseases, giving them a competitive edge over native plants. Noxious weed species can proliferate and spread over large areas. Some are able to completely displace other vegetation, forming a homogenous (single species) cover. Contrast this situation with the rich variety and diversity of a native plant community such as is seen in prairies, wetlands, or forests.
Noxious weeds are exotic plants that have reached Marshall County and Iowa by escaping from gardens, being transported by hay or straw, air, dirt, tires, clothing, etc. They grow aggressively, lack natural enemies, and resist management methods. These species can move quickly into bare areas which have been disturbed by construction or erosion, have poor vegetative cover, or have other soil disturbances. Some of Iowa’s noxious weeds are spread by wind-blown seed, birds, or other organisms. Other weeds spread though poorly timed mowing, or baling of hay to be fed to livestock or sold. And other noxious weeds spread by sending rhizomes (long underground roots) to uninfested areas. Most of Iowa’s noxious weeds can be easily controlled through proper management. Use of mowing, cutting, burning, competitive seeding, cultivation, herbicide usage, etc., are some of the various techniques used to combat weeds. Several of the State of Iowa and Marshall County’s worst noxious weeds are very difficult to control, such as Canada Thistle, Leafy Spurge, or Teasel. A primary key to weed control is early detection and management, before that weed has spread and built up a large seed bank and energy reserve.
Should we worry whether the plants growing around us are native to our area or not? Isn’t it all just "nature?" Before you dismiss this issue as unimportant, consider the following:
- Noxious and invasive weeds in agricultural and natural areas cost our country $13 Billion dollars per year.
- Noxious and invasive weeds are the second most important reason for the loss of biological diversity, after habitat destruction.
- The Bureau of Land Management, our nation’s largest public landowner, estimates that 2,300 acres per day of its land are being lost to noxious and invasive plants. Nearly 4,000 acres per day are estimated to be lost to weeds nationwide.