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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

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

Free · general informationIowa

Small estates in Iowa

Where Iowa law lets a smaller estate be settled without full probate, these are the official words on how: who may use the route, what it covers and what the paperwork must say. Whether a particular estate fits is for the court, the bank or company holding the asset, or an attorney in Iowa; nothing on this page decides it.

  • 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.

The value limit as the Act amended it, and the rule that the estate holds no interest in real estate

(3) That the decedent’s probate assets consist only of personal property, with no interest in real estate, and that the gross value of the decedent’s personal property is, or has been at any time since the decedent’s death, one hundred thousand dollars or less.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1048 §3 (amending Iowa Code §633.356(3)(a)(3))

The affidavit: the waiting period and the death certificate, more than one successor, and no administration pending

and if forty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, a successor as defined in subsection 2 may, by furnishing an affidavit prepared pursuant to subsection 3 or 8, and without procuring letters of appointment

(2) That at least forty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, as shown by an attached certified copy of the death certificate of the decedent.

If there are two or more successors, any of the successors may execute an affidavit under this subsection.

The procedure provided by this section may be used only if no administration of the decedent’s estate is pending.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.356(1), (3)(a)(2), (3)(b), (10)

What else the affidavit must state: paying creditors, the will, and the penalty of perjury

(12) That the affiant affirms under penalty of perjury that the affidavit is true and correct.

(11) That creditors, if any, will be paid to the extent of funds received pursuant to the affidavit.

(6) If applicable pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “a”, that the attached copy of the decedent’s will is the last will of the decedent and has been delivered to the office of a clerk of the district court in accordance with Iowa law.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.356(3)(a)(6), (11), (12)

Administration of small estates, the court route: its own value limit, and the clerk’s letters of appointment

When the gross value of the probate assets of a decedent subject to the jurisdiction of this state does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars, and upon a petition as provided in section 635.2 … the clerk shall issue letters of appointment for administration to the proposed personal representative named in the petition

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §635.1

The same page for other states

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Common questions

(3) That the decedent’s probate assets consist only of personal property, with no interest in real estate, and that the gross value of the decedent’s personal property is, or has been at any time since the decedent’s death, one hundred thousand dollars or less.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1048 §3 (amending Iowa Code §633.356(3)(a)(3))

When the gross value of the probate assets of a decedent subject to the jurisdiction of this state does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars, and upon a petition as provided in section 635.2 … the clerk shall issue letters of appointment for administration to the proposed personal representative named in the petition

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §635.1

and if forty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, a successor as defined in subsection 2 may, by furnishing an affidavit prepared pursuant to subsection 3 or 8, and without procuring letters of appointment

(2) That at least forty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent, as shown by an attached certified copy of the death certificate of the decedent.

If there are two or more successors, any of the successors may execute an affidavit under this subsection.

The procedure provided by this section may be used only if no administration of the decedent’s estate is pending.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.356(1), (3)(a)(2), (3)(b), (10)

(3) That the decedent’s probate assets consist only of personal property, with no interest in real estate, and that the gross value of the decedent’s personal property is, or has been at any time since the decedent’s death, one hundred thousand dollars or less.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1048 §3 (amending Iowa Code §633.356(3)(a)(3))

Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · H.F. 2660 (2026), bill history

(12) That the affiant affirms under penalty of perjury that the affidavit is true and correct.

(11) That creditors, if any, will be paid to the extent of funds received pursuant to the affidavit.

(6) If applicable pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “a”, that the attached copy of the decedent’s will is the last will of the decedent and has been delivered to the office of a clerk of the district court in accordance with Iowa law.

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §633.356(3)(a)(6), (11), (12)

When the gross value of the probate assets of a decedent subject to the jurisdiction of this state does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars, and upon a petition as provided in section 635.2 … the clerk shall issue letters of appointment for administration to the proposed personal representative named in the petition

Iowa · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Iowa Code §635.1

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