Polk County IA Recorder: Deeds & Records

Polk County, Iowa • deed and real-estate records guide

Polk County Recorder: Search Deeds, Mortgages, Land Records and Property Documents

The Polk County Recorder records, preserves and retrieves permanent documents connected with commercial and residential real estate in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Clive, Grimes, Bondurant and other communities in Polk County, Iowa.

Recorded documents can include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, contracts, easements, plats, liens, groundwater statements and other instruments affecting real estate.

Fastest deed-search route: open Polk County Recorder’s official Search Records page → select the county’s new real-estate search → search the current or former owner’s name → narrow with document type/date when useful → open the correct index result → verify legal-description and party details → save the file number/book-page → view or print the image. Real-estate records from January 1, 1992 forward are available to search, view and print online.
OWNER Current owner, seller, trust or business name.
INDEX Document kind, recording date and parties.
FILE # Save the strongest exact recording identifier.
IMAGE Read the actual deed before relying on it.
1992-present online Free online printing Pre-1992: Imaging/Microfilm PropertyCheck alerts
County Recorder Julie M. Haggerty
Real Estate phone 515-286-3160
Imaging / Microfilm 515-286-3175
Office 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, IA 50309
General hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Real-estate filing cutoff: documents presented after 4:00 p.m. go on record the next business day. Plats need to be presented by 2:30 p.m. because Polk County states that plats cannot be held overnight.
Independent informational guide: County-CAD.us is not affiliated with Polk County Recorder, Polk County Assessor, Polk County Auditor, Treasurer, Iowa Land Records, Iowa Department of Revenue or the State of Iowa. Use the linked official systems for final searches, filings, tax calculations and certified-copy requests.
Choose your real task

What Do You Need From the Polk County Recorder?

Official government starting points

Polk County Deed and Property Record Websites

NEW
Recorder Search Records Official gateway to Polk County’s new 2026 real-estate search.
Open Current Recorder Search
OLD
Legacy Polk eSearch Name, book/page and detailed indexed-record searching for the 1992-present range.
Open Legacy Name Search
IA
Iowa Land Records Statewide search covering all 99 Iowa counties.
Search Statewide Iowa Records
PROP
Polk County Assessor Property Search Address, owner, legal description and parcel searching.
Search Assessor Property Records
ALERT
PropertyCheck Free email alert service for matching newly recorded documents.
Open PropertyCheck
FEE
Recorder Recording Fees Current page, parcel and transaction charges.
Check Current Fees
Useful search fields in Polk’s land-record index

What Information Can You See in a Polk County Search Result?

Polk County’s indexed land-record system can display several fields that are useful when verifying a deed or mortgage.

Date Recorded The date the document entered the county public record.
Instrument Date Date associated with execution of the instrument when indexed.
Kind Warranty deed, corrected deed, mortgage, groundwater statement and other document type.
Indexed Names Parties under whom the document was indexed.
Remarks Can include subdivision, lot, block or other legal-description clues.
File Number Strong exact identifier such as a year-based instrument number.
Book / Page Helpful for returning directly to a known document.
Reference Can connect a corrected, released or related document to an earlier recording.
Amount May display transaction consideration when indexed.
Best field to keep: save the exact File Number whenever one is available. It is usually safer than repeating a broad name search later.
Useful bridge between tax records and deeds

Polk County Auditor Transfer Index

The County Auditor separately tracks real-estate ownership transfers that affect taxation, including deeds, contracts and certain right-of-way easements.

The Auditor’s Real Estate Atlas and Transfer Index can be useful when you know a parcel but are trying to identify the ownership-transfer trail before searching the Recorder’s document images.

AUD
Auditor Real Estate Records Owners, addresses, land records, transfer index and historical road records.
Open Auditor Real Estate Records
Auditor records are maintained for tax-administration purposes. Use the Recorder’s actual recorded deed for document-level ownership research.
Documents before January 1, 1992

How to Get an Older Polk County Deed

Polk County’s free online real-estate image range begins January 1, 1992.

If the deed or other real-estate document was recorded before that date, the Recorder directs users to its Imaging / Microfilm Department.

Find the newest deed you can locate.
Write down its prior deed reference. Older chains frequently depend on book/page references.
Record the grantor/grantee names.
Note the approximate recording year.
Call Imaging/Microfilm. Provide the party names, book/page and approximate date.
Select in-office, mailed or emailed copy service.
Do not interpret “not online” as “does not exist.” Pre-1992 real-estate documents can still be part of Polk County’s permanent records even though they fall outside the free online image range.
Modern online copies are free

Polk County Deed Copy and Certified Copy Options

Polk County provides several different copy routes depending on the age of the document and how you want it delivered.

$0 1992-Present Online Search, view and print Recorder real-estate documents online.
$0.50 In-Office Copy Current charge per page for documents not available online.
$1 Mailed First Page Current mailed-copy first-page charge.
$0.50 Mailed Additional Page Each additional mailed page.
+$5 Certified Copy Additional certification charge for a mailed copy.
$2 Emailed First Page Current emailed-copy first-page charge.
Emailed copies currently cost $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. When requesting an emailed copy, Polk County asks for your name, company name if applicable, phone number, email and book/page information.
Copies of federal tax liens and releases use a separate current fee of $5 per copy.
Mortgage payoff research

Paid Off Your Mortgage? Search for the Release

Paying off a mortgage normally does not cause a new ownership deed to be recorded. Instead, research the later mortgage-release or satisfaction document.

Search the property owner’s name.
Find the original mortgage.
Save its File Number and Book/Page.
Search later records under borrower and lender names.
Look for a release, satisfaction or related mortgage document.
Open the later image.
Compare its reference to the original mortgage.
Use the reference field. Polk’s index can display a prior-record reference on corrected or related instruments. That can help confirm that you found the right release.
Know which office holds which lien

How to Search Liens in Polk County

Polk County Recorder states that its office maintains and retrieves UCC liens for real estate.

Other UCC filings are handled by the Iowa Secretary of State.

Recorder Recorded real-estate documents and real-estate UCC filings.
Iowa Secretary of State Other UCC filings not handled as Polk County real-estate records.
Current Polk County fee for a real-estate UCC filing is $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page.
Title-search warning: one Recorder name search is not a complete title examination. Court judgments, federal matters, tax issues, probate interests, easements and other claims can require additional research.
Iowa-specific distinction

Does the Polk County Recorder Keep Your Property Abstract?

No. The Polk County Recorder’s FAQ specifically states that property abstracts are not filed in the Recorder’s office.

An Iowa abstract is different from the recorded deed/index maintained by the county Recorder.

Recorder record Permanent public record of individually recorded deeds, mortgages, releases and other instruments.
Property abstract A compiled title history generally maintained/updated through an abstracting or title professional rather than stored as the property’s county Recorder file.
If an abstract is missing, do not assume the Recorder can recreate it instantly from one deed search. Contact an Iowa abstract/title professional.

How Do You Add or Remove Someone From a Polk County Property Title?

Polk County’s FAQ explains that a new Quit Claim Deed can be used for certain title changes.

However, the Recorder also states that its office does not provide Quit Claim Deed or Warranty Deed forms. Legal forms normally originate with attorneys and real-estate professionals.

Adding or removing an owner can affect marital rights, estate planning, creditor issues, transfer tax, mortgages and future title. The Recorder records an eligible document but does not choose or draft the legally appropriate deed for you.
Before submitting a deed for recording

How to Record a Deed in Polk County, Iowa

Prepare the correct legal instrument. Polk County does not provide every deed form and does not provide legal drafting advice.
Confirm the property is in Polk County.
Use a complete legal description.
Provide grantor and grantee information.
Complete all required signatures and notarization.
Check the first-page information requirements.
Determine whether a Declaration of Value is required.
Determine whether a Groundwater Hazard Statement must accompany it.
Calculate Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax.
Calculate Recorder page and parcel fees.
Submit in person, by mail or eligible electronic submission.
Submit before 4:00 p.m. for same-day in-person recording.
Save the final recording File Number.
Iowa recording format rules

Polk County Document Formatting Checklist

White paper At least 20-pound paper without watermarks or visible inclusions.
One side only Recorder formatting standards call for one-sided pages.
3-inch top margin Leave at least three inches across the top of the first page.
¾-inch other margins Other margins should be at least three-quarters of an inch.
Legible text At least 8-point text; Polk’s guidance notes 10-point fill-in information.
Dark signatures Use black or dark-blue ink.
Printed names under signatures Names should be typed, printed or stamped beneath signatures.
No white-out Polk County does not accept a document corrected with white-out.
Iowa’s formatting rules allow an additional $10 nonconforming-document recording charge in the circumstances described by the county’s current formatting guidance.

What Information Belongs on the First Page?

Polk County’s current formatting page lists the following first-page information:

  • name, address and phone number of the preparer;
  • name of taxpayer and complete address;
  • return address;
  • title of the document;
  • grantor name;
  • grantee name; and
  • legal description, or a reference to the page where the legal description appears if it will not fit on the first page.
FORM
Polk County Recorder Forms Includes a recording coversheet and current transfer-related forms.
Open Recorder Forms
Iowa Declaration of Value

Does a Polk County Deed Need a Declaration of Value?

Polk County states that deeds and other conveyance documents generally require an Iowa Declaration of Value unless the transaction qualifies for an applicable statutory exception.

The Recorder currently links the Declaration of Value / Sales Condition Reporting Form 57-019 and instructions on its Forms page.

Current 2026 law change: Iowa legislation effective July 1, 2026 amended the Declaration of Value requirement for a deed or other instrument containing multiple parcels located in more than one county. Separate declarations are required for the parcels located in each county under the amended rule.
Do not use a transfer-tax exemption simply because a deed says “$1,” “gift,” “family” or “trust.” Iowa Code Chapter 428A contains specific exceptions and tax rules.
Iowa conveyance requirement

Groundwater Hazard Statement

Polk County’s current recording guidance says that when a Declaration of Value is submitted to the Recorder, a Groundwater Hazard Statement must also be submitted, subject to the applicable Iowa statutory exemptions.

The Recorder’s Forms page currently provides the Groundwater Hazard Statement form effective February 15, 2023, instructions and Attachment #1.

Conveyances that are exempt from the Declaration of Value can also be exempt from the Groundwater Hazard Statement under the county’s stated rules.
GW
Declaration & Groundwater Forms Use current county-linked forms rather than an old saved copy.
Open Current Forms
Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax

How Much Is Polk County Iowa Transfer Tax?

Polk County’s current tax calculator states that Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax is calculated at:

$1.60 Per $1,000 The first $500 of taxable value is exempt under the county’s current calculator.
Determine the amount paid/taxable value under Iowa law.
Subtract the first $500 exemption from the taxable calculation.
Calculate $1.60 per $1,000.
Check whether a Chapter 428A exemption applies.
If exempt, state the applicable exemption on the document as required.
Complete the Declaration of Value when required.
TAX
Polk County Transfer Tax Calculator Official county calculator and historical rate information.
Open Transfer Tax Calculator
Transfer tax and recording fees are separate. A deed can involve Iowa transfer tax, page-based recording fees and parcel-transfer fees.
Current Iowa / Polk recording fee structure

Polk County Recorder Recording Fees

$7 Base First Page Current Iowa base recording amount used for ordinary filings.
$5 Additional Page Each additional recorded page.
$12 Deed First Page Polk County states the deed amount includes the $5 first-parcel transfer fee.
+$5 Additional Parcel Each additional separate parcel involved, subject to the county’s stated cap.
$50 Parcel Add-On Cap Polk County’s current maximum fee for additional parcels.
+$7 Additional Transaction Current charge when one document contains more than one transaction.
Polk County states that the current $12 fee shown for deeds, change of name, condemnations and contracts includes the $5 auditor transfer fee for the first separate parcel.
$
Official Polk County Recording Fees Use this page immediately before submitting a document.
Verify Current Recorder Fees
Do not calculate a multi-parcel deed using only “$7 first page + pages.” Deeds can include the auditor-transfer amount, additional parcel fees, multiple-transaction fees and Iowa transfer tax.
Most Polk filings are now electronic

Electronic Recording Through Iowa Land Records

Polk County accepts electronic submission of qualifying real-estate documents through Iowa Land Records.

As of the Recorder’s May 2026 update, 75% of Polk County real-estate filings were being submitted electronically.

Who commonly uses it Abstractors, banks, attorneys, title/real-estate companies and other eligible professional submitters.
Current Recorder processing Polk County says e-recordings are processed Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Polk County states that electronic submissions are processed within 24 hours or one business day after initial filing.
Iowa Land Records Support
1-888-790-2246
Email
support@clris.com
E-SUB
Official Polk E-Submission Information Recorder workflow and Iowa Land Records support.
Open E-Submission Guide
Free 24/7 recording notification

Polk County PropertyCheck Fraud Alerts

PropertyCheck is Polk County Recorder’s free 24/7 notification service. It sends email alerts when a newly recorded document matches a name/notification you activated.

Polk County moved PropertyCheck to its newer RECORDhub-based account system.

FREE
PropertyCheck Free Recorder document-alert service.
Set Up PropertyCheck
Open the county PropertyCheck page.
If you had an account in the older system, use Forgot Password. Polk County says a new password is required after the transition.
If you are new, create a RECORDhub account.
Log in.
Create the name-based notifications you want monitored.
Watch the registered email account.
When an alert arrives, open the Recorder search.
Verify the actual document before assuming fraud.
PropertyCheck is an alert tool, not a title lock. A legitimate deed, mortgage, release, easement or correction can trigger an alert. Read the document before taking further action.

Where Do You Search Polk County Property Taxes?

The Recorder records real-estate instruments. Current property-tax information and payments are handled through the Polk County Treasurer.

TAX
Polk County Property Tax Search Search by parcel, address, owner or company.
Search Property Taxes
Treasurer property-tax phone: 515-286-3060 .

Recorder vs Assessor vs Auditor vs Treasurer

Your task
Office
Use it for
Deed / mortgage / release
Recorder
Recorded document index, image, copies and recording.
Address / owner / assessment
Assessor
Parcel search, ownership carried for assessment, legal-description summary and value.
Ownership transfer for taxation
Auditor
Transfer index, auditor transfer fee and tax-administration records.
Tax bill / payment
Treasurer
Current property-tax balances and payment history.
Property abstract
Abstract/title professional
Abstract continuation and professional title work.
Non-real-estate UCC
Iowa Secretary of State
UCC filings outside Polk Recorder’s real-estate UCC responsibility.
Current Polk County Recorder contact

Polk County Recorder Address, Phone and Hours

Recorder’s Office

Recorder
Julie M. Haggerty
Address
Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue
Suite 250
Des Moines, IA 50309
Real Estate
515-286-3160
Imaging / Microfilm
515-286-3175
Email
recorder@polkcountyiowa.gov

Hours & Cutoffs

General Office
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Same-Day Real Estate Recording
Present by 4:00 p.m.
Plat Presentation
Present by 2:30 p.m.
Imaging / Microfilm
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Directions to Polk County Recorder

Before Calling the Recorder, Have These Details Ready

  • current owner’s full name;
  • former owner/seller name;
  • property address;
  • District/Parcel or Geoparcel number;
  • legal description;
  • approximate recording date;
  • document type;
  • File Number;
  • Book and Page;
  • whether the document is before or after January 1, 1992;
  • whether you need a plain, emailed, mailed or certified copy.
For an older document, the book/page is especially useful when calling Imaging/Microfilm at 515-286-3175.
Polk County-specific search shortcuts

Local Tips That Make Polk County Deed Research Easier

Use the county Search Records page as your bookmark. Polk launched a new search in June 2026, so this gateway is safer than bookmarking an old vendor screen.
1992 is the key online date. Modern index records and images begin January 1, 1992.
Pre-1992? Call Imaging. Do not waste time repeatedly searching the modern portal.
Modern copies can be free. Download/print 1992-present real-estate documents yourself when an ordinary copy is enough.
Use the File Number after you find it. It is more precise than a common owner surname.
Save Book/Page too. It helps when following older references or requesting copies.
Use Assessor first for address-only research. The Recorder is stronger once you know the owner/legal description.
Check the seller if the buyer search looks incomplete. Newly recorded transfers and downstream assessment/tax systems do not always update simultaneously.
Mortgage payoff means release research. Do not search only for another deed.
Do not look for your abstract at the Recorder. Polk County says abstracts are not filed there.
Remember the 4:00 p.m. cutoff. General office hours continue later, but same-day real-estate recording does not.
Plats have an earlier cutoff. Bring plats by 2:30 p.m.
Count parcels on a deed. Additional separate parcels add Auditor transfer fees.
Groundwater and Declaration forms are related. Review both before submitting a taxable conveyance.
Use PropertyCheck. It is free, automated and easier than repeatedly searching your name manually.
Use Iowa Land Records for multi-county research. It can search all 99 Iowa counties from one statewide service.

Buying Polk County Property? Research in This Order

1. Confirm the parcel Search Assessor records by address or parcel and save the legal-description summary.
2. Find the current deed Search owner/seller names and open the actual recorded image.
3. Trace prior deeds Follow book/page and file-number references backward.
4. Search mortgages Identify financing recorded against current and former owners.
5. Search releases Verify whether earlier mortgages were later released.
6. Review easements / plats Follow subdivision, lot, block and referenced document clues.
7. Check property taxes separately Use Treasurer search for balances and payment history.
8. Use title / survey professionals Recorder and GIS research do not replace an Iowa abstract/title opinion or boundary survey.

Common Polk County Recorder Search Mistakes

Mistake
Why it fails
Better action
Searching an address only
Recorder indexing is stronger by party and recording references.
Use Assessor search first.
Searching a 1985 deed online repeatedly
Free online real-estate coverage begins in 1992.
Contact Imaging/Microfilm.
Expecting a new deed after mortgage payoff
Loan payoff is documented by a release/satisfaction.
Search later mortgage-related filings.
Looking for the property abstract
Polk Recorder does not file property abstracts.
Contact an Iowa abstract/title professional.
Calculating only a $7 deed fee
Deeds include parcel-transfer charges and can include transfer tax.
Use Recorder fee page + tax calculator.
Arriving at 4:20 p.m. for same-day recording
Real-estate same-day service ends at 4:00 p.m.
Present earlier or expect next-business-day recording.

County-CAD.us Research Standards

Sources & Methodology

Review how official Recorder, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer and state sources are checked.

Read Sources & Methodology
Editorial Policy

See update, correction and verification standards.

Read Editorial Policy
Report an Outdated Link

Tell County-CAD.us if a Recorder search, fee, form or office detail changes.

Contact County-CAD.us
Independent Website Disclaimer

Review the limits of independent public-record guidance.

Read Disclaimer
Primary government and statewide record sources

Official Sources Used for This Polk County Iowa Recorder Guide

Polk County Recorder

Used for current Recorder services, news, office hours and contact information.

Open Recorder
Meet the Recorder

Used to verify Julie M. Haggerty as Polk County Recorder.

Open Recorder Profile
Search Records

Used for new 2026 search availability, 1992-present online coverage, older-copy routing and statewide Iowa Land Records access.

Open Search Records
Real Estate Department

Used for same-day recording cutoff, plat cutoff and Recorder real-estate functions.

Open Real Estate Department
Get a Copy

Used for free online images, in-office, mailed, emailed and certified-copy fees.

Open Copy Information
Recording Fees

Used for deed parcel-transfer fees, additional parcels and multiple-transaction charges.

Open Recording Fees
Formatting Standards

Used for paper, margins, text, signatures, first-page information, Declaration of Value and Groundwater Hazard rules.

Open Formatting Standards
Recorder Forms

Used for Declaration of Value, Groundwater Hazard Statement, coversheet and other current Recorder forms.

Open Forms
Transfer Tax Calculator

Used for current $1.60-per-$1,000 rate and $500 exemption.

Open Tax Calculator
E-Submission

Used for Iowa Land Records filing, current processing hours, 75% electronic filing share and one-business-day processing guidance.

Open E-Submission
PropertyCheck

Used for RECORDhub account transition and free email recording notifications.

Open PropertyCheck
Iowa Legislature — Chapter 428A

Used to verify Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax and current Declaration of Value law.

Open Iowa Code Chapter 428A
Iowa Legislature — Chapter 331

Used for county Recorder fee and document-formatting statutory framework.

Open Iowa Code Chapter 331
Polk County Assessor

Used for address, owner, legal and District/Parcel search workflow.

Open Assessor Search
Auditor Real Estate Records

Used for ownership-transfer tracking, Transfer Index and tax-purpose land records.

Open Auditor Records
Polk County Treasurer Property Tax Search

Used to route tax-bill and payment questions away from the Recorder.

Open Tax Search
Editorial verification: August 15, 2026. Polk County’s Recorder search changed in June 2026, PropertyCheck uses a newer RECORDhub-based account system, and Iowa law changed part of the Declaration of Value process effective July 1, 2026. Search interfaces, fees, forms, tax rules and office procedures can change again, so verify the final transaction through the linked government source before recording or paying.
10 Polk County Iowa Recorder questions

Polk County Recorder FAQs

1. How do I search Polk County Iowa deeds online?

Open the Polk County Recorder Search Records page and select the county’s current real-estate search. Search the current owner, former owner, trust or business name, narrow the results by date or document type when useful, and open the matching document. Verify the parties, legal-description information, File Number and Book/Page before relying on the deed.

2. How far back can I search Polk County deeds online?

Polk County’s public online real-estate search, view and print coverage begins January 1, 1992 and continues to the present. For a deed or other real-estate document recorded before January 1, 1992, contact the Recorder’s Imaging/Microfilm Department at 515-286-3175.

3. Are Polk County deed copies free online?

Yes. Polk County states that real-estate documents from January 1, 1992 to the present can be viewed and printed online free of charge. Older documents can be copied through Imaging/Microfilm. Current in-office copies are $0.50 per page, mailed copies start at $1 for the first page, and certified mailed copies add a $5 certification charge.

4. How do I find a Polk County deed if I only know the property address?

Start with the Polk County Assessor property search and enter the street address without adding the city, state or ZIP code. Open the correct parcel and save the owner’s legal name, District/Parcel or Geoparcel number and legal-description information. Then search that owner in the Polk County Recorder system and compare the deed’s legal-description details with the property record.

5. How much does it cost to record a deed in Polk County Iowa?

Iowa’s ordinary base recording fee is $7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Polk County’s current deed fee is shown as $12 because it includes a $5 auditor transfer fee for the first separate parcel. Additional parcels currently add $5 each, subject to the county’s stated $50 maximum for additional parcels. Transfer tax and other applicable charges are separate.

6. What is the Iowa real estate transfer tax rate in Polk County?

Polk County’s current official calculator uses $1.60 per $1,000 of taxable consideration, with the first $500 exempt from the calculation. Some transactions qualify for statutory exemptions under Iowa Code Chapter 428A. Use the county calculator and current Iowa law rather than assuming a nominal-price or family transfer is automatically exempt.

7. Do Polk County deeds need a Declaration of Value and Groundwater Hazard Statement?

Deeds and other qualifying conveyances generally require an Iowa Declaration of Value unless a statutory exception applies. Polk County also states that a Groundwater Hazard Statement must accompany each submitted Declaration of Value, subject to the applicable exemptions. Use the current forms and instructions on the Recorder’s Forms page.

8. What should I search after paying off a Polk County mortgage?

Search for a later mortgage release or satisfaction instead of a new ownership deed. Locate the original mortgage first and save its File Number or Book/Page. Then search later records under the borrower and lender names and compare any release or satisfaction reference with the original mortgage.

9. What is Polk County PropertyCheck?

PropertyCheck is a free 24/7 Polk County Recorder service that sends email alerts when a newly recorded document matches a notification configured in your account. The current service uses a RECORDhub-based account system. PropertyCheck is a monitoring tool and does not itself prove that an unfamiliar document is fraudulent.

10. Where is the Polk County Iowa Recorder office?

The Polk County Recorder is in the Polk County Administration Building at 111 Court Avenue, Suite 250, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Julie M. Haggerty is the current Recorder. The Real Estate phone number is 515-286-3160 and the office is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Real-estate documents must be presented by 4:00 p.m. for same-day recording.

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