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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

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Probate in Iowa

What Iowa’s own law and courts say about probate, from how an estate comes before the court to when creditors must claim. Nothing on this page decides whether a particular estate needs probate. That question belongs to the court, or to an attorney in Iowa.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Which court sits in probate, and what its jurisdiction covers

the district court sitting in probate shall have jurisdiction of: 1. Estates of decedents and absentees. The probate and contest of wills; the appointment of personal representatives; the granting of letters testamentary and of administration; the administration, settlement and distribution of estates of decedents and absentees

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.10(1)

Who may petition for administration when there is no will

Where there is no will, administration shall be granted to any qualified person on the petition of: 1. The surviving spouse; 2. The heirs of the decedent; 3. Creditors of the decedent; 4. Other persons showing good grounds therefor.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.227

What a petition to probate a will must state about the person who died

A petition for probate of a will shall state: 1. The name, domicile, and date of death of the decedent.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.291(1)

The notice the executor publishes once the will is admitted, and the time it gives creditors

On admission of a will to probate, the executor, as soon as letters are issued, shall cause notice to be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a daily or weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the estate is pending.

a notice to creditors having claims against the estate to file them with the clerk within four months from the second publication of the notice, or thereafter be forever barred.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.304(2)

When a creditor’s claim is barred, after the published notice or a mailed one

are forever barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the distributees of the estate, unless filed with the clerk within the later to occur of four months after the date of the second publication of the notice to creditors or, as to each claimant whose identity is reasonably ascertainable, one month after service of notice by ordinary mail to the claimant’s last known address.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.410(1)

The clerk’s court costs on an estate, how they are figured, and the assets left out

For other services performed in a decedent’s estate administered under this chapter or chapter 635, the clerk shall charge and collect court costs equal to two-tenths of one percent of the value of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory.

(1) Joint tenancy property.

(3) Life insurance, annuities, individual retirement accounts, retirement plans, transfer on death accounts, payable on death accounts, and similar assets payable to beneficiaries other than the estate of the decedent.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.31(3)(a)–(b)

The end of the inheritance tax, and which deaths it no longer applies to

Effective January 1, 2025, this chapter shall not apply to property of estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025. The inheritance tax shall not be imposed under this chapter in the event the decedent dies on or after January 1, 2025, and, to this extent, this chapter is repealed.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §450.98

What the person holding the will must do once told of the death, and the contempt for refusing a court order

After being informed of the death of the testator, the person having custody of the testator’s will shall deliver it to the court having jurisdiction of the testator’s estate. Every person who willfully refuses or fails to deliver a will after being ordered by the court to do so shall be guilty of contempt of court.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.285

Depositing a will with the clerk for safekeeping during life

The clerk shall maintain a file for the safekeeping of wills. There shall be placed therein wills deposited with the clerk by living testators or by persons on their behalf

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.286

A deposited will after the death: when it is publicly opened, and what the court does

If no petition for the probate thereof has been filed within thirty days after the death of the testator, it shall be publicly opened, and the court shall make such orders as it deems appropriate for the disposition of said will.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.289

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

the district court sitting in probate shall have jurisdiction of: 1. Estates of decedents and absentees. The probate and contest of wills; the appointment of personal representatives; the granting of letters testamentary and of administration; the administration, settlement and distribution of estates of decedents and absentees

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.10(1)

Where there is no will, administration shall be granted to any qualified person on the petition of: 1. The surviving spouse; 2. The heirs of the decedent; 3. Creditors of the decedent; 4. Other persons showing good grounds therefor.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.227

On admission of a will to probate, the executor, as soon as letters are issued, shall cause notice to be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a daily or weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the estate is pending.

a notice to creditors having claims against the estate to file them with the clerk within four months from the second publication of the notice, or thereafter be forever barred.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.304(2)

are forever barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the distributees of the estate, unless filed with the clerk within the later to occur of four months after the date of the second publication of the notice to creditors or, as to each claimant whose identity is reasonably ascertainable, one month after service of notice by ordinary mail to the claimant’s last known address.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.410(1)

For other services performed in a decedent’s estate administered under this chapter or chapter 635, the clerk shall charge and collect court costs equal to two-tenths of one percent of the value of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory.

(1) Joint tenancy property.

(3) Life insurance, annuities, individual retirement accounts, retirement plans, transfer on death accounts, payable on death accounts, and similar assets payable to beneficiaries other than the estate of the decedent.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.31(3)(a)–(b)

Effective January 1, 2025, this chapter shall not apply to property of estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025. The inheritance tax shall not be imposed under this chapter in the event the decedent dies on or after January 1, 2025, and, to this extent, this chapter is repealed.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §450.98

After being informed of the death of the testator, the person having custody of the testator’s will shall deliver it to the court having jurisdiction of the testator’s estate. Every person who willfully refuses or fails to deliver a will after being ordered by the court to do so shall be guilty of contempt of court.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.285

If no petition for the probate thereof has been filed within thirty days after the death of the testator, it shall be publicly opened, and the court shall make such orders as it deems appropriate for the disposition of said will.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.289

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