Detailed answer — what to do first and why

Many co-owners want a clear, legally defensible boundary or an up-to-date survey to support a sale, refinance, fence installation, or development. Below is a step-by-step plan you can follow under Iowa practice, with a short hypothetical to illustrate common issues.

Hypothetical

Imagine you and your sibling own a 2-acre parcel as tenants in common, each with a 50% share. You want a boundary survey to confirm where to place a driveway and to avoid a fence dispute.

Step 1 — Confirm ownership and get the legal description

Start at your county recorder or assessor office. Ask for the recorded deed and the parcel’s legal description and any recorded easements or plats. The deed’s legal description lets a licensed surveyor locate the property precisely.

Step 2 — Talk with your co-owner

If your sibling cooperates, you can jointly hire a surveyor and share cost and decision-making. If the co-owner refuses to cooperate, you still have options: you can hire a surveyor to mark and map the boundaries based on the deed and existing evidence, or you can pursue a court action (partition) to force a formal division or sale of the property. See Iowa Judicial Branch resources for information about court actions related to real property: https://www.iowacourts.gov/.

Step 3 — Choose the right kind of survey

Tell the surveyor what you need. Common types:

• Boundary survey — locates property corners and boundary lines implied by the deed and evidence on the ground.
• ALTA/NSPS survey — a detailed survey used for commercial transactions and some loan closings.
• Topo or site survey — shows elevations and improvements for design or construction.

For co-owner disputes and fence or line location, a boundary survey is usually appropriate.

Step 4 — Hire a licensed land surveyor

Iowa requires licensed professional land surveyors for boundary surveys. Verify credentials and ask for sample plats, references, and proof of liability insurance. You can look up licensing information on the Iowa Board of Professional Land Surveyors site: https://plsb.iowa.gov/.

Step 5 — Provide documents and on-site access

Give the surveyor the deed, any prior surveys, and permission to access the property. If the co-owner blocks access, document refusals in writing. A surveyor may still perform a survey from public records and observable evidence, but physical access gives the most reliable result.

Step 6 — Review the survey and establish markers

The surveyor will produce a plat or map and often set physical markers (iron pins, monuments). Keep a copy of the plat with your deed. If the co-owner agrees, sign a boundary agreement or acknowledgement that identifies the found or agreed-upon line.

Step 7 — If the co-owner refuses, consider legal options

If your sibling actively objects or refuses to allow a survey or to accept boundary markers, you can:

• Try mediation or a written negotiated agreement.
• Hire an attorney experienced in Iowa real property law to demand cooperation in writing.
• File a partition action in Iowa district court to force a division of the property or sale. The Iowa courts handle partition and related property disputes; begin with information on the Iowa Judicial Branch site: https://www.iowacourts.gov/. You can also review Iowa statutes and regulations via the Iowa Legislature site: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/.

Costs, timing, and what to expect

Costs vary by parcel size, terrain, required research, and survey type. A simple boundary survey on a small residential lot may take a few days of research and a day in the field; more complex parcels take longer. Get a written estimate. If you file for partition, legal fees and court time add significantly to cost and delay.

What a survey will and won’t do

A survey locates boundaries according to the deed, monuments, and recorded plats. It does not, by itself, resolve title disputes or change ownership shares. If someone claims adverse possession, boundary by acquiescence, or competing title, you may need an attorney and possibly a court ruling.

Key Iowa resources

• Iowa Legislature — official site for state statutes and to search relevant law: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/
• Iowa Judicial Branch — information on filing actions in district court: https://www.iowacourts.gov/
• Iowa Board of Professional Land Surveyors — licensing and lookup for surveyors: https://plsb.iowa.gov/

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. It summarizes common steps and resources to arrange a property survey in Iowa. Consult a licensed Iowa surveyor for surveying work and an Iowa attorney for legal disputes.

Helpful Hints

• Gather the deed, prior surveys, tax parcel number, and any recorded easements before contacting a surveyor.
• Ask the surveyor for a written scope: what they will research, what markers they will set, and the deliverables (plat, certificate, digital files).
• Get multiple written estimates from local licensed surveyors to compare price and turnaround time.
• If co-owners will split costs, document the agreement in writing (who pays what and who retains the original survey).
• Keep photographs of boundary markers and the features the surveyor identifies.
• If you expect a bank or title company requirement, ask whether an ALTA/NSPS survey is necessary.
• If the co-owner refuses access, document attempts to communicate; an attorney can advise whether to pursue a court remedy.
• Consider mediation early — it often costs less than litigation and preserves family relationships when co-owners are relatives.