Estate Planning Attorneys in Iowa

62 estate planning firms in Iowa, by county and firm type.

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

FirmDecorah, IA

Anderson, Wilmarth, Van Der Maaten, Fretheim, Evelsizer Olson, Noble, Lynch & Zahasky

Since 1957 · Serves 3 counties

Serves Winneshiek County and the surrounding northern Iowa and southern Minnesota area from offices in Decorah and Ossian. Handles probate filings and the appointment of personal representatives, estate inventories, creditor claims, distributions, and estate tax returns, alongside wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. In practice since 1957.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax Planning

Office: 212 Winnebago StreetDecorah, IA 52101
Phone: (563) 382-2959

FirmBurlington, IA

Anderson, Roberts, Porth, Wallace, Stewart & Werner LLP

Since 1985 · Serves 4 counties

Serves Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa counties from Burlington, along with west-central Illinois. Handles probate and trust administration with the court, estate and inheritance tax returns, and will contests, fiduciary removal and trustee disputes. Six attorneys; in practice since 1985.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more

Office: 524 N Main StreetBurlington, IA 52601
Phone: (319) 754-7585

FirmCedar Rapids, IA

Arenson Hofmeyer PC

Serves 7 counties

Serves Linn, Benton, Johnson, Cedar, Black Hawk, Jones, and Buchanan counties from Cedar Rapids. Handles probate and intestate estates and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills, including trust and probate litigation matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

Office: 425 2nd St SE, Suite 900Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 363-8199

FirmWaterloo, IA

Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C.

Since 1958 · Serves the whole state

Serves clients across Iowa from offices in Waterloo and North Liberty. Guides families through the Iowa probate process and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations, including estate plans for family farms and small businesses. A litigation-focused firm practicing since 1958.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

Office: 3324 Kimball AvenueWaterloo, IA 50702
Phone: (319) 234-2638

Free consultation

FirmDavenport, IA

Bush, Motto, Creen, Koury & Halligan, P.L.C.

Since 2000 · Serves 2 counties

Serves Scott and Muscatine counties from Davenport, with attorneys licensed in Iowa and Illinois. Assists executors and trustees with probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate, inheritance and gift tax returns, and handles will and trust contests. Established in 2000; seven attorneys.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more

Office: 5505 Victoria Avenue, Suite 100Davenport, IA 52807
Phone: (563) 344-4900

FirmCenterville, IA

Craver & Grothe, LLP

Since 2014 · Serves 3 counties

Serves Appanoose, Monroe and Davis counties from Centerville, with offices in Albia and Bloomfield. Handles probate and trust administration and advises on federal and state estate, inheritance, gift and generation-skipping taxes, stepped-up basis and alternate valuation elections. Also handles farm succession planning and Medicaid assistance.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 3 more

Office: 303 West State StreetCenterville, IA 52544
Phone: (641) 856-2244

FirmCenterville, IA

Cox Law Firm, LLP

Serves 1 county

Serves Appanoose County from Centerville. Administers estates and trusts in Iowa and Missouri, including probate, successor-trustee administration, estate tax issues, small estate affidavits, and title issues for jointly owned property. Offers free phone or in-person initial consultations for estate administration matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningAgricultural Law

Office: 105 West Van Buren StreetCenterville, IA 52544
Phone: (641) 216-8350

Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmNewton, IA

Caldwell & Brierly, PLLC

Since 1927 · Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawWills Trusts

Office: 211 First Avenue WNewton, IA 50208
Phone: (641) 792-4160

Solo PracticeBettendorf, IA

David J. Franks, P.C.

Since 1990 · Serves 1 county

Serves Scott County and the Iowa-Illinois Quad Cities from Bettendorf. Attorney David J. Franks practices primarily in estate planning, trust administration and probate, including farm estates and farm probate, and is a member of the Iowa Trust and Estate Council. Serving Quad Cities clients since 1990.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAgricultural Law

Office: 3345 Utica Ridge RoadBettendorf, IA 52722
Phone: (563) 359-4351

FirmDes Moines, IA

Dickinson, Bradshaw, Fowler & Hagen, P.C.

Serves 2 counties

Serves Polk and Marion counties from offices in Des Moines and Pella. Represents fiduciaries in trust and estate administration, including probate, fiduciary tax returns, guardianships and conservatorships, and disputed probate proceedings such as will and trust contests. Formed in 2024 by the merger of Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen and Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 9 more

Office: 801 Grand Avenue, Suite 3700Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 243-4191

FirmDavenport, IA

Duffy Law Office, PLLC

Since 1995 · Serves 2 counties

Serves Scott County and the Iowa Quad Cities from Davenport. Handles probate and trust administration for families after a death, along with estate planning, Medicaid and elder-law planning, and special-needs planning. Offers free consultations to families who have lost a loved one.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more

Office: 1840 East 54th StreetDavenport, IA 52807
Phone: (563) 445-7400

Free consultation

FirmWaverly, IA

Engelbrecht and Buchholz, PLLC

Since 1895 · Serves 5 counties

Serves Waverly, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and the greater Cedar Valley and northeast Iowa from Waverly. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, wills, and trusts within a two-attorney general practice. Traces its roots to the 1895 law partnership of Sager & Sweet.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Office: 123 First Street SEWaverly, IA 50677
Phone: (319) 352-1148

FirmIndianola, IA

Ellis Law Offices, P.C.

Since 2003 · Serves 2 counties

Serves Warren County and Central Iowa from Indianola. Helps executors and administrators through probate, handles will contests, and represents guardians and conservators from appointment through the required annual reports. Founded in 2003 by Ryan J. Ellis, a former Warren and Marion County drug prosecutor; four attorneys.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationConservatorshipGuardianship

Office: 2007 N. 6th StreetIndianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 962-9080

FirmNew Hampton, IA

Elwood, O'Donohoe, Braun & White, LLP

Serves the whole state

Serves Chickasaw County from New Hampton, with offices in Cresco, Charles City and West Union. Its attorneys list probate and estate planning among their main practice areas, alongside real estate, income tax and agricultural law. Formed in 1993 by the merger of the Elwood firm of Cresco and the O'Donohoe firm of New Hampton, founded in 1948.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAgricultural LawReal Estate

Office: 101 North Locust AvenueNew Hampton, IA 50659
Phone: (641) 394-5943

Solo PracticeOttumwa, IA

Gaumer, Emanuel & Goldsmith, P.C.

Serves 6 counties

Serves Wapello County and southeast Iowa from Ottumwa. Handles probate, estate settlements and closures, trust administration and distributions, and will and trust drafting. Offers free consultations and live video appointments.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Office: 111 W. Second StreetOttumwa, IA 52501
Phone: (641) 682-7579

Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmSioux City, IA

Goosmann Law Firm, PLC

Since 2009 · Serves the whole state

Serves families throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota from its Sioux City office, with offices in Omaha and Sioux Falls. Guides executors, trustees, and personal representatives through probate filings, creditor notices, and trust administration, and mediates estate disputes. A women-owned firm founded in 2009.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAsset ProtectionBusiness Succession

Office: 410 5th StreetSioux City, IA 51101
Phone: (712) 226-4000

FirmWest Des Moines, IA

Howes & Anderson, P.C.

Since 1989 · Serves the whole state

Serves Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties from West Des Moines. Prepares wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills, and handles probate and estate administration. Clients work directly with attorneys Richard Howes, Ron Anderson, and Molly Anderson, in practice since 1989.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts

Office: 4401 Westown Parkway, Neptune Building #302West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: (515) 225-9000

Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeOrange City, IA

Huizenga Law Firm, P.C.

Since 2010 · Serves 5 counties

Serves northwest Iowa from Orange City. Handles probate and trust administration for executors and trustees through a nine-meeting process, along with Medicaid and long-term-care planning, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning. Founded by attorney Ethan Huizenga in 2010.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 6 more

Office: 118 2nd St NWOrange City, IA 51041
Phone: (712) 737-3885

FirmKnoxville, IA

Johnson, Lane & Hughes

Serves 1 county

Serves Marion County from Knoxville, one block from the Marion County Courthouse. Handles probate, wills, trusts, estate planning, and elder law alongside real estate, business, and tax matters. Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax PlanningWills Trusts

Office: 113 East Marion StreetKnoxville, IA 50138
Phone: (641) 828-7373

FirmBoone, IA

Jordan & Mahoney Law Firm, P.C.

Since 1960 · Serves 3 counties

Serves Boone, Hamilton, and Dallas counties from offices in Boone and Madrid. Guides families through probate and estate administration and handles guardianship and conservatorship filings through the court-required annual reports. A family firm formed in 1960 when Richard T. Jordan and Robert E. Mahoney merged their practices.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipWills Trusts

Office: 710 Keeler StreetBoone, IA 50036
Phone: (515) 432-4510

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A basic revocable living trust in Iowa costs $3,140 to $4,710 when drafted by an attorney, ten to fifteen hours of work at $314 an hour. An online service prices a trust package in the low hundreds of dollars without attorney advice on your situation. The Iowa trust cost calculator carries the breakdown.

Even with a revocable trust in Iowa, you still need a will, most commonly a pour-over will that catches any asset never retitled into the trust. Whether a trust adds enough over a will-only plan turns on the situation: real property, a blended family and out-of-state assets are the common reasons. The Iowa trust-or-will tool walks through the decision.

Estate planning attorneys in Iowa average $288 an hour for wills and estates work. A flat-fee package runs $864 to $1,728 for a simple individual will and $3,140 to $4,710 for a basic revocable trust. An online service prices the same documents in the tens to low hundreds of dollars; the Iowa will cost calculator sets the two side by side.

In Iowa, estates with personal property of $100,000 or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit, 40 days after death. That route is a form rather than a court case, and most families handle it without an attorney. Above the line, formal probate generally benefits from counsel for the procedural work, even when nothing is contested. The Iowa probate calculator estimates the cost by estate value.

In Iowa, the situations where counsel is typically worth the cost are: a blended family with children from a prior relationship; a business, rental property or significant investment assets; a dependent with special needs, who needs a special-needs trust to keep benefits; substantial property in more than one state. Where none of these apply, an online or self-help document is often enough.

Estate Planning Attorneys in Iowa

Estate planning attorneys focused on trusts in Iowa charge $314 per hour for trust work. A basic revocable trust runs $3,140 to $4,710 when drafted by counsel. Trusts make the most sense in Iowa when you own real property, have a blended family, or want to avoid probate court entirely.

Estate planning attorneys in Iowa charge $288 per hour for wills and estates work. A simple will done through an attorney typically runs $864–$1,728; online services cost $30–$300 for the same document.

Iowa hasn't adopted the Uniform Probate Code and doesn't offer simplified independent administration. The procedural floor is higher than most states, which is why retaining counsel for uncontested matters here is more practical than optional.

Worth knowing: estates under $100,000 can use Iowa's simplified affidavit instead of formal probate. If your situation is straightforward and the estate fits, you may not need an attorney at all.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated October 15, 2026

Legal Sources

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Data sourced from Iowa statutes and official state code. How we research.

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Iowa

Free Iowa forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

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

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Free

Last Will and Testament

In Iowa, a will is signed before 2 witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimony.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Iowa allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2 witnesses or a notary.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Iowa treats a power of attorney as durable by default, and it is signed before a notary.

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Free

Pour-Over Will

In Iowa, a pour-over will is signed before 2 witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

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Free

Transfer on Death Deed

Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

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All Iowa forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Iowa

Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Iowa: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.

Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Iowa, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory schedule; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

Compare Options

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 schedule; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

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What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Iowa runs $3,140 to $4,710 and a simple will $864 to $1,728, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Compare Costs

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Iowa costs an estimated $21,555. Attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory schedule.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

Iowa automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Iowa costs an estimated $21,555 and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory schedule. Estates under $100,000 can use a small-estate procedure instead.

Check Your State

All Iowa tools