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.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in Iowa: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Iowa costs an estimated $21,555Iowa Code § 633.198 ("such reasonable fee as may be determined by the court...but not in excess of the schedule of fees provided in this part for personal representatives" — § 633.197 ceiling: 6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees set by the court and capped at a statutory scheduleIowa Code § 633.198 ("such reasonable fee as may be determined by the court...but not in excess of the schedule of fees provided in this part for personal representatives" — § 633.197 ceiling: 6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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.
Iowa lets the court set executor compensation, capped at a statutory schedule — about $10,120 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.0%Iowa Code § 633.197 ("reasonable fees as may be determined by the court...but not in excess of" 6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K of "the gross assets of the estate listed in the probate inventory", excluding life insurance not payable to the estate per § 633.197(2))Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In Iowa, estates with personal property of $100,000Iowa Code § 633.356Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitIowa Code § 633.356Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 40 daysIowa Code § 633.356Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
In Iowa, creditors have 4 monthsIowa Code § 633.410Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the last publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
Iowa has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableIowa Code §§ 633.290, 633.294 (district court admits the will and grants letters; no registrar/informal track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
62 probate 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.
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62 firms
FirmIowa City, IA
Serves Johnson County from Iowa City. Handles probate and estates, guardianships, and conservatorships, and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills. Also assists with Medicaid planning for clients moving into assisted living or a nursing home.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawConservatorshipand 3 more
FirmDubuque, IA
Serves Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, and Jackson counties from downtown Dubuque. Handles probate and estate administration, contested wills, and trusts, along with wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. Probate attorney Dean Konrardy served on the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationWills Trusts
Solo PracticeDonnellson, IA
Serves Lee County and southeastern Iowa from an office in Donnellson. Handles probate and estate administration, including collecting assets, identifying debts, paying taxes and distributing to beneficiaries, and establishes adult and minor conservatorships and adult guardianships through the probate court. Offers evening and weekend hours and home visits by appointment.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more
Solo PracticeWest Des Moines, IA
Serves Dallas and Polk counties from West Des Moines. Handles probate court filings and reports, estate and inheritance tax returns and tax clearances, and guardianships and conservatorships. Attorney Samuel I. Kreamer is also a certified public accountant; established in 2005.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningConservatorshipand 3 more
FirmIndependence, IA
Serves Buchanan County and eastern Iowa from an office in downtown Independence. Guides executors and administrators through Iowa probate, from opening the estate and notifying heirs and creditors to inventory, paying and contesting claims, fiduciary returns, transferring real property and closing, and handles will contests and disputes among heirs.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationBusiness Successionand 2 more
FirmHumboldt, IA
Serves Humboldt, Pocahontas, and Webster counties from offices in Humboldt and Laurens. Practices primarily in wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate, alongside real estate, business, and taxation law. Founded in 1880 as Garfield and Edwards, and one of the oldest continually operating law firms in Iowa.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateWills Trusts
FirmMason City, IA
Serves Cerro Gordo and Wright counties from offices in Mason City, Clear Lake, and Clarion. Assists executors and trustees through estate and trust administration and probate, and handles probate and trust litigation, wills, trusts, and estate tax planning. In practice in Mason City since 1938.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Solo PracticeGrimes, IA
Serves Des Moines, Urbandale, and the surrounding area from Grimes. Handles probate and estate administration, post-death trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, Medicaid planning for long-term care, and special needs trusts. The attorney and two staff members are Certified Medicaid Planners.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmChariton, IA
Serves Lucas and Wayne counties from offices in Chariton and Corydon. Assists executors and administrators in identifying and gathering property, paying creditors, transferring assets and paying taxes, and represents clients filing a claim in an estate or contesting a will. Ray Meyer continues a family law practice in Chariton that dates to 1942.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
FirmAlgona, IA
Serves Kossuth, Palo Alto, Hancock, Winnebago, Humboldt, and Pocahontas counties from offices in Algona and Pocahontas. Helps executors with probate court filings, creditor claims, asset appraisals and distribution, along with trust administration and farmland transfers. Formed in 2010 from the merger of Cassel, McMahon & Stowater and Lynch & Lynch.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningWills Trusts
FirmSioux City, IA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
FirmCarroll, IA
Serves the Carroll County area from Carroll. Handles probate, wills and trusts, estate planning, elder law, and taxation matters as part of a general practice. The firm and its predecessor partnerships have practiced in Carroll County since 1901.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax PlanningWills Trusts
FirmSpencer, IA
Serves northwest Iowa and clients throughout the state from Spencer. Handles probate, trust and estate administration, will contests and probate disputes, and estate and tax planning alongside agricultural and business law. In practice since 1928.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
FirmLe Mars, IA
Serves Plymouth and Sioux counties from offices in Le Mars and Rock Valley, and also practices in Nebraska and South Dakota. Helps families with a loved one's final affairs and the probate of wills, and with farm estates and generational transfers of agricultural assets. In practice from the same Le Mars location since 1936.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionWills Trusts
FirmFairfield, IA
Serves Jefferson, Henry, and Van Buren counties from offices in Fairfield and Mount Pleasant. Probates wills from petition through inheritance tax returns, final report, distribution, and closing the estate, and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. A family-owned office serving the area since 1976.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax Planning
FirmAmes, IA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmDes Moines, IA
Serves clients from offices in Des Moines, Ames, and Cedar Rapids. Its Wealth Transfer, Trusts & Estates practice handles probate of estates, trust administration and fiduciary duties, trust and estate litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate and gift tax planning and audits. Founded in Des Moines in 1918.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmCharles City, IA
Serves Floyd County and northeast Iowa from Charles City. Administers estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships, including the related estate and trust tax returns, and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Founded in 1918; merged with Eggert, Erb & Ellingson in 2023.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 3 more
FirmDubuque, IA
Serves Dubuque County from an office in downtown Dubuque. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, will and trust disputes, and guardianships and conservatorships for minors and adults, along with estate and gift tax work and fiduciary income tax returns. Senior counsel John C. O'Connor is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 9 more
FirmOttumwa, IA
Serves Wapello, Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, and Wayne counties from Ottumwa, and takes estate planning and probate matters statewide. Handles probate, resolves estate disputes through alternative resolution or trial and appellate litigation, and prepares wills, trusts, and farm and family-business succession plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation