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A basic revocable living trust in Iowa costs roughly $3,140–$4,710 when drafted by an attorney, based on the typical 10-15 hours of attorney work at $314 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025. Online services offer trust packages for $300–$700, though they generally don't include attorney advice or review of your specific situation. See the Iowa trust cost calculator for a detailed breakdown.
Even if you create a revocable trust in Iowa, you generally still need a will — most commonly a "pour-over" will that captures any assets you forgot to retitle into the trust. Whether a trust adds enough value over a will-only plan depends on your situation: real property, blended families, and out-of-state assets are the most common reasons. The trust-or-will tool walks through the decision.
Estate planning attorneys in Iowa average $288 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $864–$1,728 for a simple individual will and $3,140–$4,710 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Iowa allows estates under $50,000 to use a simplified Small Estate Affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Iowa probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Iowa, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
62 firms
Since 1957, this Decorah-based law firm has provided trusted legal services to clients in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, handling estate planning, probate, business law, litigation, and mediation.
Location
212 Winnebago StreetDecorah, IA 52101
Phone
(563) 382-2959
Established
1957
Service Area
4 counties
Since 1985, this Burlington firm has focused on practical legal solutions and personalized service throughout southeast Iowa and west-central Illinois, offering comprehensive estate planning including wills, trusts, and probate administration.
Location
524 N Main StreetBurlington, IA 52601
Phone
(319) 754-7585
Established
1985
Service Area
4 counties
Formerly Arenson Law Group, this Cedar Rapids firm has over 100 years of collective experience providing estate planning, wills, trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, and probate services throughout Eastern Iowa.
Location
425 2nd St SE, Suite 900Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone
(319) 363-8199
Established
2000
Service Area
3 counties
Serves southwest Iowa's Montgomery, Page, Fremont, Mills, and Adams counties from offices in Red Oak and Clarinda. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and the agricultural and tax matters common to farm estates. Founded in 1959 by La Von E. Billings; offers a free initial consultation.
Location
608 N. 2nd St., Suite 100Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone
(800) 875-4310
Established
1959
Service Area
5 counties
Since 1958, Ball, Kirk & Holm has represented Iowans in estate planning and probate matters. Their attorneys assist with drafting wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, guardianships, and healthcare directives throughout Iowa.
Location
3324 Kimball AvenueWaterloo, IA 50702
Phone
(319) 234-2638
Established
1958
Service Area
Statewide
A Davenport firm serving Scott and Muscatine counties in the Iowa Quad Cities. Handles estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and Medicaid planning for families and executors. Established in 2001; AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Location
5505 Victoria Avenue, Suite 100Davenport, IA 52807
Phone
(563) 344-4900
Established
2001
Service Area
2 counties
Southern Iowa law firm with dual Iowa/Missouri licensure, providing estate planning, probate, and agricultural law services. Attorney Ed Cox focuses primarily on agricultural law, estate planning, and probate matters, serving Appanoose County and surrounding communities.
Location
105 West Van Buren StreetCenterville, IA 52544
Phone
(641) 216-8350
Service Area
4 counties
A combination of two longstanding Newton firms -- Brierly Law Firm LLP (founded 1927) and Caldwell, Caldwell & Caldwell, P.L.C. (founded 1976) -- providing estate and trust planning, elder law, real estate, and family law services in Jasper County and central Iowa. All attorneys are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Location
211 First Avenue WNewton, IA 50208
Phone
(641) 792-4160
Established
1927
Service Area
3 counties
A Keokuk solo practice serving Lee and Des Moines counties in Iowa's southeast corner near the Missouri and Illinois lines. Attorney Curtis Dial handles probate, estate, family, and general civil matters for the Keokuk and Fort Madison area, known locally for affordable fees. (Firm website is down; practice confirmed active via Martindale, Yelp, and Lawyers.com as of mid-2026.)
Location
401 Main Street, Suite 5Keokuk, IA 52632
Phone
(319) 524-7817
Service Area
2 counties
David J. Franks has been practicing in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities since 1990, focusing on estate planning, trust administration, probate, small business formations, and agricultural law with emphasis on contested wills and trusts. The firm has grown to five attorneys.
Location
3345 Utica Ridge RoadBettendorf, IA 52722
Phone
(563) 359-4351
Service Area
2 counties