Family-owned Cedar Falls funeral home and cremation service established in 1865, with a 150-seat chapel, a family lounge, elevator access to family areas and a Reflection Room for receptions after a service.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Black Hawk County, Iowa
How probate works in Black Hawk County: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Black Hawk County District Court
Black Hawk County · 1st Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
316 East 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysFiling is electronic through the Iowa Judicial Branch eFile system (EDMS), self-represented filers included, and filing electronically adds no fee. The clerk can accept a single paper filing for good cause while the office is open (Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.302). On paper: Self-represented parties may be excused from mandatory e-filing for the duration of a case for good cause, such as lack of regular internet access, by court order (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302(2)(c)).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe statewide court-forms page carries one probate form, the referee's report (Rule 7.4, Form 1). A petition to open an estate is filed with the designation Iowa Code § 633.82 requires; in a 2024 Scott County case a self-represented son's petition was denied for lacking a proposed order, an oath and that designation, and the Court of Appeals affirmed without deciding whether an attorney is required (In re Estate of White).
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card, Debit card.Filing fees are paid by credit or debit card in the eFile system at filing, or in person at the clerk's office within five business days of filing. The court takes no action on a filing until its fee is paid.
Fax
1-319-833-3251
Departments
- Case Scheduling1-319-833-3332
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Black Hawk County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Black Hawk County, probate runs through the District Court at 316 East 5th Street, Waterloo. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Iowa intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Iowa estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsIowa Code §§ 633.230, 633.304, 633.410, 633.413, 633.425, 633.442Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the last publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Black Hawk County
What probate costs in Black Hawk County, Iowa comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 316 East 5th Street, Waterloo. The court is part of the 1st Judicial District.
Iowa charges $215Iowa Code § 602.8105(1)(a); 2026 Iowa Acts, ch. 1192, § 24, 27, 28Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Iowa are based on reasonable compensation — usually hourly billing or a flat fee for the engagement.
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 determined by the court, not in excess of 6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K of the gross assets in the inventory); § 633.197(2) (life insurance excluded)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Iowa requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Iowa Code § 633.169Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Iowa typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the District Court
Probate cases in Black Hawk County, Iowa are filed at the District Court. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Case Scheduling.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Black Hawk County Self-Filing Assessment.
Black Hawk County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Original documents must be retained by filer
When the law requires an original document such as a will or codicil, the filer scans it and files the scan electronically, keeps the original for at least two years or until the case, appeal or estate concludes, and delivers it to the court on request. An original will or codicil may also be submitted to the clerk for paper preservation after it is filed electronically (Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.411).
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the District Court: Verified petition for probate of will and appointment of executor, or for administration (Iowa Code § 633.290; small estate § 635.2); Original will and any codicils, where testate; Personal representative's oath / certification under penalty of perjury (Iowa Code § 633.168); Bond with surety unless waived (Iowa Code §§ 633.169-633.173); Written testimony of a subscribing witness proving due execution of the will, where the proof is not taken orally (Iowa Code § 633.295; statutory form)Iowa Code §§ 633.10 (jurisdiction), 633.290 (petitions after death of testator), 633.291-633.292 (contents of the testate petition), 633.229 (contents of the intestate petition), 633.168 (oath), 633.178 (clerk issues letters); ch. 635 (small estates)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Black Hawk County
In Iowa a death is registered locally, and in Black Hawk County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Black Hawk County Recorder as well as by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services - Bureau of Health Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Black Hawk County · Black Hawk County Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
316 East 5th Street, Room 208, Waterloo, IA 50703
Website
Local rule
- The Recorder holds county death records except 1921 through 1941, which the state holds. Every application must be notarized and carry a state-issued ID.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Black Hawk County
Website
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Black Hawk County
9 funeral homes and crematories in Black Hawk County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
La Porte City funeral home with a chapel in a traditional funeral home setting, formerly La Porte City Funeral Home and part of a fourth-generation family-owned Waterloo firm since 2013.
Waterloo funeral service with two funeral homes in the city, each open to an online virtual walkthrough, and pre-need counselors on staff who help families arrange funerals in advance.
Waterloo funeral service with two funeral homes in the city, each open to an online virtual walkthrough, and pre-need counselors on staff who help families arrange funerals in advance.
Waterloo funeral home of a fourth-generation family-owned firm, with an on-site crematory and Care Center, rooms for services, visitations and shared meals, a catering kitchen with bar service on request, and weekly grief support groups.
Crematory of a fourth-generation family-owned Waterloo firm, the Locke Cremation Center at its Tower Park location, where every cremation the firm arranges stays under the direct care of its own team.
Funeral homes by city: Cedar Falls, La Porte City, Waterloo
Cremation Services in Black Hawk County
6 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Black Hawk County
7 listings
Burial Services in Black Hawk County
5 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Black Hawk County
4 listings
Funeral Transport in Black Hawk County
4 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Black Hawk County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Black Hawk County are recorded with the County Recorder at 316 East 5th Street, Room 208, Waterloo, IA 50703. Phone: 1-319-833-3012. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Recorder charges $7 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page.
Black Hawk County accepts electronic recording through Iowa Land Records.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Black Hawk County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
316 East 5th Street, Room 208, Waterloo, IA 50703
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $7 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| County Auditor's Transfer FeeRequired with most deeds | $5 per parcel, capped at $50 per instrument |
Iowa Code 331.604(1)-(3)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Black Hawk County
Iowa uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Black Hawk County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Iowa are set by the court as reasonable compensation, capped at a statutory schedule tied to the estate's value. Black Hawk County firms quote within that ceiling, so ask for the structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
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.
Serves Black Hawk County and Northeast Iowa from Cedar Falls. Advises individual and corporate fiduciaries through trust and estate administration, prepares fiduciary income, estate and Iowa inheritance tax returns, assists guardians and conservators with annual reports, and handles will contests. In general practice since 1898.
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.
Serves Linn, Johnson, and Black Hawk counties from Cedar Rapids, with remote consultations elsewhere in Iowa. Handles uncontested probate and uncontested adult guardianships, and prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts for flat fees. A solo practice where Scott Shoemaker handles every file personally.
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.
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.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- Iowa Code § 602.8105(1)(a); 2026 Iowa Acts, ch. 1192, § 24, 27, 28
- Iowa Code § 633.197 (reasonable fees determined by the court, not in excess of 6% first $1K, 4% next $4K, 2% over $5K of the gross assets in the inventory); § 633.197(2) (life insurance excluded)
- Iowa Code §§ 633.10 (jurisdiction), 633.290 (petitions after death of testator), 633.291-633.292 (contents of the testate petition), 633.229 (contents of the intestate petition), 633.168 (oath), 633.178 (clerk issues letters); ch. 635 (small estates)
- Iowa Code §§ 633.230, 633.304, 633.410, 633.413, 633.425, 633.442
- Iowa Code §§ 633.290, 633.294 (district court admits the will and grants letters; no registrar/informal track)
- Iowa Code 331.604(1)-(3)
- Black Hawk County District Court, official page
- Black Hawk County Recorder, official page
- Black Hawk County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Iowa statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Iowa
Free tools for settling an estate in Iowa: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Iowa.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Iowa happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteIowa Code § 633A.1101 et seq. (Iowa Trust Code)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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 availableIowa Code §§ 633.290, 633.294 (district court admits the will and grants letters; no registrar/informal track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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