Serves Jasper, Polk, Marion, and Poweshiek counties from Newton. Handles probate and trust law matters, estate planning, wills and trusts, and elder law. Randal B. Caldwell is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Probate in Polk County
Probate Court Record
Polk County District Court
Polk County · 5th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines, IA 50309
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Polk County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Polk County? →Settling an estate in Polk County →
Elder Law Firms Serving Polk County
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.
Serves Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Winnebago, and Worth counties and clients throughout Iowa from Mason City. Handles wills and probate, estate administration, trusts and estates, and elder law, with two CPA attorneys practicing taxation. Began in its current form in 1960.
Serves clients throughout Iowa from offices in West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Bettendorf, and Milford. Guides personal representatives and successor trustees through probate and trust administration, represents families in will and trust disputes, and handles elder law and Medicaid planning. Also serves clients in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois.
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.
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.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
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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Free
Last Will and Testament
In Iowa, a will is signed before 2Iowa Code § 633.279Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyIowa Code § 633.279Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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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.
Calculate Costs
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Iowa, four years at a public university cost about $82,188NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 12% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate or inheritance tax. Iowa's inheritance tax is repealed for deaths on or after January 1, 2025 (Iowa Code § 450.98, 2021 Acts ch 177 / SF 619), as is the qualified use inheritance tax (§ 450B.8). Iowa's estate tax (Iowa Code ch. 451) and generation skipping transfer tax (ch. 450A) were repealed outright by 2014 Acts ch 1076 §25. The Iowa Department of Revenue confirms: "Iowa inheritance tax is not applicable for deaths occurring on or after 1/1/25."Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Amount
What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Iowa costs an estimated $21,555Iowa Code § 633.198 (reasonable fee determined by the court, not in excess of the personal representative schedule); § 633.197 (6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory scheduleIowa Code § 633.198 (reasonable fee determined by the court, not in excess of the personal representative schedule); § 633.197 (6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Estates under $100,000Iowa Code § 633.356Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
Check the Rules
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Iowa takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory scheduleIowa Code § 633.198 (reasonable fee determined by the court, not in excess of the personal representative schedule); § 633.197 (6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Iowa automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceIowa Code § 598.20A; § 598.20B; § 633A.3107Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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