Free Iowa Small Estate Affidavit

In Iowa, the Small Estate Affidavit covers estates with personal property of $100,000 or less, 40 days after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.

Progress0%

Your Information

The Iowa affidavit identifies the claiming successor and the basis of entitlement.

State Where the Property Is Collected*

The decedent's state. Only states where this tool prepares the affidavit are listed.

Your Full Legal Name*

The successor signing the affidavit.

Your Entitlement to the Property*

Street Address*

City*

State

ZIP Code*

Telephone

Email Address*

FREE & PRIVATE: This form is free—no account or credit card required. Your document contents and generated PDF never leave your browser—SimplyTrust does not transmit or store them. Contact details you provide (name, email, phone, state) are transmitted only to send the updates you agree to receive at download. You are responsible for saving your completed document.

SELF-HELP SERVICE: SimplyTrust provides a self-help document preparation service. We are not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice, select forms for you, or tell you how to complete forms. Our role is limited to providing a platform where you input your own information into document templates.

NOT LEGAL ADVICE: This document was created entirely based on your selections. SimplyTrust does not review, analyze, or verify your entries, nor do we verify your identity, capacity, or authority to act. You are solely responsible for determining whether this document meets your needs and for completing all required execution formalities (signatures, witnesses, notarization, or recording) in accordance with your state's laws. For any legal questions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

No. Iowa publishes no statewide form; the affidavit is prepared to the statute, which lists 12 statements the affidavit must contain.

In Iowa, estates with personal property of $100,000 or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit, 40 days after death. Real property cannot pass through the affidavit; an estate that includes real estate uses a separate process. Iowa sets the limit by the decedent's date of death; an earlier death may be measured against a lower figure. An estate over the limit does not qualify, and no affidavit is prepared for it.

40 days after the death. The affidavit states that the period has passed, so it cannot be signed earlier.

The Small Estate Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court. The holder of the decedent's property (bank, transfer agent, or other person), with the certified death certificate attached, reasonable proof of each successor's identity (subsec. 5), and — where the decedent held evidence of ownership the holder could have demanded — that evidence, if available (subsec. 4(a)); otherwise the holder may require an indemnity bond or agreement (subsec. 4(b)).

The Iowa affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury; the statute does not require notarization, though holders commonly request it.

Small Estate Collection in Iowa

Because Iowa publishes no statewide form, the affidavit is composed to the statute. The statute lists 12 statements the affidavit must contain. The procedure's name in the statute is “Small Estate Affidavit”; it collects the decedent's property from whoever holds it without a probate case being opened.

Eligibility turns on the figures: the estate qualifies when its value does not exceed $100,000. Real estate cannot pass through it. The ceiling is set by the decedent's date of death, so an earlier death may be measured against a lower figure. The affidavit may be signed 40 days after the death.

Iowa says who may sign: A successor of the decedent: if testate, the reasonably ascertainable beneficiary who succeeded to the item under the will (including the trustee of a lifetime trust that takes under the will); if intestate, the reasonably ascertainable person who succeeded under Iowa intestate succession; and, where the decedent received medical assistance, the Iowa Medicaid agency under subsection 8. The affiant signs it under penalty of perjury, with no notary required by the statute.

Who receives it: The holder of the decedent's property (bank, transfer agent, or other person), with the certified death certificate attached, reasonable proof of each successor's identity (subsec. 5), and — where the decedent held evidence of ownership the holder could have demanded — that evidence, if available (subsec. 4(a)); otherwise the holder may require an indemnity bond or agreement (subsec. 4(b)).

The effect on the holder and on the successor: Receipt of the affidavit constitutes sufficient acquittance and discharges the holder from further liability; the holder may rely in good faith on the affidavit's statements with no duty of inquiry and is not liable for the decedent's debts by reason of paying (subsec. 7). If a holder unreasonably refuses, the successor may sue to compel transfer and the court SHALL award attorney fees against an unreasonable holder — and shall award fees to a holder sued despite acting reasonably (subsecs. 6(b), 7(b)).

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 8, 2026

Legal Sources

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

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

Named as Executor

What an executor actually does: getting appointed, notifying creditors, paying debts and taxes, and where personal liability starts.

Learn more

Death of a Parent

A step-by-step guide to what happens after a parent dies: the documents to find, the certificates to order, and whether probate is even required.

Learn more

Loss of a Spouse

What a surviving spouse needs to do: death certificates, survivor benefits, whether probate is even required, and the tax election that expires.

Learn more

Free tools for settling an estate in Iowa: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Iowa lets the court set executor compensation, capped at a statutory schedule — about $10,120 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.0%.

Use Calculator

Can I Self-File Probate?

Iowa has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.

Check Now

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

In Iowa, the District Court sitting in probate appoints the personal representative and the Clerk of the district court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the court.

See the Steps

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Iowa, creditors have 4 months from the last publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.

Check Deadlines

What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

When an estate owes more than it holds, Iowa pays the claims in 10 classes in statutory order, beginning with court costs.

Check the Payment Order

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.

See Bank Requirements

What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?

Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.

Estimate Value

Hire an Iowa Probate Attorney

Browse 62 probate firms in Iowa with addresses, contact info, and practice details.

Browse firms

All Iowa tools

Iowa Estate Settlement Resources

In-depth guides covering Iowa probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.

Free Iowa Small Estate Affidavit

In Iowa, the Small Estate Affidavit covers estates with personal property of $100,000 or less, 40 days after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.

Progress0%

Small Estate Collection in Iowa

Free Iowa Small Estate Affidavit

Your Information

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Loss of a Spouse

Forms for Settling an Estate in Iowa

Notice to Creditors

Renunciation of Executor

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

Letter of Instruction

Digital Assets Recovery Letter

Tools for Settling an Estate in Iowa

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Can I Self-File Probate?

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?

Hire an Iowa Probate Attorney

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Iowa Estate Settlement Resources

Free Iowa Small Estate Affidavit

Your Information