Probate in Black Hawk County

Probate Court Record

Black Hawk County District Court

Black Hawk County · 1st Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

316 East 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Black Hawk County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Black Hawk County? →Settling an estate in Black Hawk County →

Conservatorship Firms Serving Black Hawk County

Serves Linn, Johnson, and Black Hawk counties from Cedar Rapids, with remote consultations elsewhere in Iowa. Handles uncontested probate and uncontested adult guardianships, and prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts for flat fees. A solo practice where Scott Shoemaker handles every file personally.

Solo PracticeServes 3 countiesVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts

Serves Woodbury County from downtown Sioux City, just east of the Woodbury County Courthouse, and clients throughout Iowa. Guides executors and administrators through probate and estate administration, including court appointment, bonds, asset transfers, and estate taxes, and represents them in beneficiary disputes. Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax PlanningConservatorshipGuardianship

Serves Story County and central Iowa from an office in Ames. Settles the estates of deceased persons through formal probate court administration or informal trust administration, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and advises on inheritance and estate taxes. Formed in July 2023 by the merger of the Newbrough and Pasley & Singer firms, tracing to 1906.

Since 1906Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning+4

Serves the greater Iowa City area, including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Mt. Pleasant, and Des Moines, from Iowa City. Handles estate and trust administration, estate and inheritance tax filings, disputed wills and elective-share litigation, and guardianships and conservatorships. In practice in Iowa City since 1906.

Since 1906Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

Serves Dubuque and clients across Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and West Union, from downtown Dubuque. Helps executors, beneficiaries, and families with wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and the administration of decedents' estates. Founded in 1890; offers free initial consultations to estate planning and probate clients.

Since 1890Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipGuardianship+2

Serves central Iowa from Marshalltown. Handles probate and formal estate administration, trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning including revocable, special needs, and Miller trusts. Both attorneys also practice agricultural and tax law.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningConservatorship+5

All 8 Iowa conservatorship firms serving Black Hawk County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Iowa

Free Iowa forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Iowa and download the PDF.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Iowa allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Iowa Code § 144B.5Verified Jul 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Iowa treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultIowa Code § 633B.105Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryIowa Code § 633B.105Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.

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$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Iowa

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Iowa: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Iowa.

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Iowa runs $3,140Estimate: 10 hours at $314, Clio's Iowa Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,710Estimate: 15 hours at $314, Clio's Iowa Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $864Estimate: 3 hours at $288, Clio's Iowa Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,728Estimate: 6 hours at $288, Clio's Iowa Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Iowa: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysIowa Code §§ 633.361, 633.364, 633.365 (§ 633.361 as amended by 2026 Acts, HF 2532, § 4)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsIowa Code §§ 633.230, 633.304, 633.410, 633.413, 633.425, 633.442Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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