The county recorder provides information for the public regarding real estate (land and records management, titles and liens); conservation (licenses, registrations, and applications for boats, snowmobiles, OHV (Off Highway Vehicle), hunting and fishing); vital records (birth certificates, marriage applications and certificates, death certificates); military services records (discharge papers); and genealogy research.

The County Recorder/Vital Statistics services include providing birth, marriage, and death records; certified copies of birth, marriage, and death records; marriage license applications; military service discharge records; ordination certificates; and passport pictures. In addition, the County Recorder records, protects, secures and preserves documentation of land titles; maintains records on documentation of Financing Statements (liens as to personal property). This office also issues hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, trout and duck habitat stamps; issues boat and snowmobile registration certificates and boat titles.

The office of County Recorder is responsible for recording and maintaining official records affecting title to real estate including, but not limited to, deeds, contracts, mortgages, assignments, releases, federal and state tax liens, affidavits, plats and surveys, section corner certificates, easements, condemnations, trade names, leases, 28E and drainage agreements, bills of sale, articles of incorporation, financing statements, and numerous other documents. The Recorder/Registrar issues marriage licenses; registers births, deaths, and marriages; certifies vital records; and records military service records. The Recorder’s office issues boat, snowmobile, and ATV registrations, titles, and liens. The Fayette County Recorder’s office also issues state hunting and fishing licenses, fur harvester licenses, landowner/tenant and paid deer and turkey licenses and tags, habitat, duck, and trout stamps, as well as federal duck stamps. The Recorder's Office does not provide legal services and does not prepare legal documents.

The County Recorder services include land and records management; serving as a licensing agent for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by issuing fishing and hunting licenses, & registering and titling boats, snowmobiles, ATVs and ORVs; serving as County Registrar of Vital Records and has the responsibility of issuing Marriage Licenses, registering Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates and issuing certified copies of Vital Records; and taking pass port photos (the Auditor's Office is the acceptance agent for passports).