Opinion ID: 1852300
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Written Assignment.

Text: Iowa Code section 446.31 requires an assignment of a certificate of purchase acquired by the county be by written agreement, with a copy filed with the treasurer. Iowa Code § 446.31. Schaer claims the addendum to the certificate of purchase failed to comply with this statutory mandate because it did not detail the terms of the assignment and was not signed by Schaer. He claims noncompliance with the statute renders the assignment void. An assignment is a transfer to another of the whole of any property or right in property. Red Giant Oil Co. v. Lawlor, 528 N.W.2d 524, 533 (Iowa 1995); see Midland Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Mercy Clinics, Inc., 579 N.W.2d 823, 833 (Iowa 1998). In the absence of a statutory provision prescribing a particular form for an assignment, no special words are necessary to effect an assignment. Petty v. Mut. Benefit Life Ins. Co., 235 Iowa 455, 465, 15 N.W.2d 613, 618 (1944); 6A C.J.S. Assignments § 43(b), at 655 (1975); III E. Allan Farnsworth, Farnsworth on Contracts § 11.3, at 67 (2d ed.1998) [hereinafter Farnsworth]. Any language is sufficient to vest property in an assignee if it shows the intent of the owner to transfer the property. Petty, 235 Iowa at 465-66, 15 N.W.2d at 618; 6A C.J.S. Assignments § 43(b), at 655-56; III Farnsworth, § 11.3, at 67 & n.4. As determined by the district court, the language added to the certificate of purchase clearly expressed the intent of the County to transfer all rights in the certificate to Schaer. The language expressed the essential terms of the assignment, including the consideration paid by Schaer. Moreover, the statute does not require any specific terms of the assignment, or that the agreement be signed by the assignee. See Iowa Code § 446.31. The statute also does not require the written agreement to be a separate document from the certificate. See In re Dalbey's Estate, 143 Neb. 32, 8 N.W.2d 512, 515 (1943) (`A valid assignment ... evidenced by a written [agreement] may be made either by a separate writing, or by indorsement on the original instrument ....' (citation omitted)); 6A C.J.S. Assignments § 49, at 664 (valid assignment may be by separate writing); see also III Farnsworth, § 11.3, at 75 (discussing assignments by indorsement on the writing under which the rights arise and by a separate writing). Thus, the district court did not err in concluding the County Treasurer complied with the writing requirements of section 446.31.