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Probate in Iowa · 99 counties

Iowa Probate Courts

Estates here go through the District Court (Probate Division). Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit
$50,000
Wait 40 days
Death taxes
None
No state death tax
Executor fee
Statute
Percentage set by statute
Handwritten wills
No
Witnesses required
Plate · IA

Every Iowa county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked
§ I

Iowa probate rules

Court
District Court (Probate Division)In Iowa, probate proceedings are conducted in the District Court of the county where the decedent resided, supervised by District Associate Judges and Clerks of Court.
Small estates
$50,000 gross value of probate personal property; no real property may pass by affidavit (deaths on/after Jan 1, 2025)Iowa Code § 633.356 (Distribution of Property by Affidavit)
Filing the will
Custodian must deliver will to the court after learning of death, no fixed day count (Iowa Code § 633.285); probate barred after 5 years from death (Iowa Code § 633.331)
Creditor claims
Later of 4 months after second publication of notice to creditors, or 1 month after mailed notice to reasonably ascertainable creditorsIowa Code § 633.410
Executor fees
Statutory maximum (Iowa Code § 633.197): 6% of first $1,000; 4% of $1,000–$5,000; 2% of gross assets over $5,000 (life insurance excluded unless payable to estate); extraordinary services may be allowed under § 633.199Iowa Code § 633.197 · calculator
Estate tax
NoneIowa has no state estate tax.
Inheritance tax
NoneIowa inheritance tax was completely phased out and repealed as of January 1, 2025.
Typical duration
6 to 12 months
Official courts site
iowacourts.govCase search: Iowa Judicial Branch Case Search (Iowa Courts Online)

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: legis.iowa.gov (statute) · legis.iowa.gov (statute) · legis.iowa.gov (statute) · legis.iowa.gov (statute) · legis.iowa.gov (statute)

Need help with an estate in Iowa?

Where to get help.

We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.

  1. 01 Iowa courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
  2. 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
  3. 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
§ II · Register

All 99 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#CountySeatPopulationRecord
1 Polk County Des Moines 505,255 office checked
2 Linn County Cedar Rapids 228,972 courthouse mapped
3 Scott County Davenport 174,270 courthouse mapped
4 Johnson County Iowa 157,528 courthouse mapped
5 Black Hawk County Waterloo 130,471 courthouse mapped
6 Dallas County Adel 111,092 courthouse mapped
7 Woodbury County Sioux 105,951 courthouse mapped
8 Dubuque County Dubuque 98,887 courthouse mapped
9 Story County Nevada 98,566 courthouse mapped
10 Pottawattamie County Council Bluffs 93,179 courthouse mapped
11 Warren County Indianola 55,205 courthouse mapped
12 Clinton County Clinton 46,158 courthouse mapped
13 Cerro Gordo County Mason 42,406 courthouse mapped
14 Muscatine County Muscatine 42,218 courthouse mapped
15 Marshall County Marshalltown 40,014 courthouse mapped
16 Des Moines County Burlington 38,253 courthouse mapped
17 Jasper County Newton 37,919 courthouse mapped
18 Webster County Fort Dodge 36,485 courthouse mapped
19 Sioux County Orange 36,246 courthouse mapped
20 Wapello County Ottumwa 35,166 courthouse mapped
21 Marion County Knoxville 33,770 courthouse mapped
22 Lee County Fort MadisonandKeokuk 32,565 courthouse mapped
23 Boone County Boone 26,590 courthouse mapped
24 Benton County Vinton 25,796 courthouse mapped
25 Plymouth County Le Mars 25,722 courthouse mapped
26 Bremer County Waverly 25,307 courthouse mapped
27 Washington County Washington 22,560 courthouse mapped
28 Mahaska County Oskaloosa 21,874 courthouse mapped
29 Jones County Anamosa 20,900 courthouse mapped
30 Buchanan County Independence 20,691 courthouse mapped
31 Buena Vista County Storm Lake 20,567 courthouse mapped
32 Carroll County Carroll 20,522 courthouse mapped
33 Winneshiek County Decorah 19,815 courthouse mapped
34 Henry County Mount Pleasant 19,547 courthouse mapped
35 Jackson County Maquoketa 19,342 courthouse mapped
36 Fayette County West Union 19,210 courthouse mapped
37 Poweshiek County Montezuma 18,453 courthouse mapped
38 Cedar County Tipton 18,302 courthouse mapped
39 Dickinson County Spirit Lake 18,056 courthouse mapped
40 Delaware County Manchester 17,600 courthouse mapped
41 Madison County Winterset 16,971 courthouse mapped
42 Clayton County Elkader 16,969 courthouse mapped
43 Tama County Toledo 16,833 courthouse mapped
44 Clay County Spencer 16,511 courthouse mapped
45 Hardin County Eldora 16,463 courthouse mapped
46 Iowa County Marengo 16,381 courthouse mapped
47 Crawford County Denison 16,013 courthouse mapped
48 Jefferson County Fairfield 15,440 courthouse mapped
49 Floyd County Charles 15,326 courthouse mapped
50 Page County Clarinda 15,014 courthouse mapped
51 Hamilton County Webster 14,729 courthouse mapped
52 Harrison County Logan 14,670 courthouse mapped
53 Mills County Glenwood 14,633 courthouse mapped
54 Kossuth County Algona 14,396 courthouse mapped
55 Butler County Allison 14,172 courthouse mapped
56 Allamakee County Waukon 14,074 courthouse mapped
57 O'Brien County Primghar 14,012 courthouse mapped
58 Cass County Atlantic 13,130 courthouse mapped
59 Wright County Clarion 12,656 courthouse mapped
60 Grundy County Grundy Center 12,384 courthouse mapped
61 Lyon County Rock Rapids 12,324 courthouse mapped
62 Appanoose County Centerville 12,119 courthouse mapped
63 Union County Creston 11,906 courthouse mapped
64 Shelby County Harlan 11,806 courthouse mapped
65 Chickasaw County New Hampton 11,658 courthouse mapped
66 Cherokee County Cherokee 11,605 courthouse mapped
67 Guthrie County Guthrie Center 10,722 courthouse mapped
68 Hancock County Garner 10,615 courthouse mapped
69 Winnebago County Forest 10,571 courthouse mapped
70 Mitchell County Osage 10,518 courthouse mapped
71 Louisa County Wapello 10,513 courthouse mapped
72 Montgomery County Red Oak 10,139 courthouse mapped
73 Keokuk County Sigourney 9,914 courthouse mapped
74 Franklin County Hampton 9,875 courthouse mapped
75 Calhoun County Rockwell 9,763 courthouse mapped
76 Sac County Sac 9,686 courthouse mapped
77 Clarke County Osceola 9,588 courthouse mapped
78 Humboldt County Dakota 9,500 courthouse mapped
79 Howard County Cresco 9,376 courthouse mapped
80 Emmet County Estherville 9,229 courthouse mapped
81 Davis County Bloomfield 9,169 courthouse mapped
82 Palo Alto County Emmetsburg 8,810 courthouse mapped
83 Lucas County Chariton 8,747 courthouse mapped
84 Greene County Jefferson 8,584 courthouse mapped
85 Monona County Onawa 8,493 courthouse mapped
86 Decatur County Leon 7,665 courthouse mapped
87 Monroe County Albia 7,504 courthouse mapped
88 Adair County Greenfield 7,389 courthouse mapped
89 Worth County Northwood 7,297 courthouse mapped
90 Van Buren County Keosauqua 7,266 courthouse mapped
91 Pocahontas County Pocahontas 6,976 courthouse mapped
92 Ida County Ida Grove 6,833 courthouse mapped
93 Wayne County Corydon 6,557 courthouse mapped
94 Fremont County Sidney 6,458 courthouse mapped
95 Osceola County Sibley 5,978 courthouse mapped
96 Taylor County Bedford 5,924 courthouse mapped
97 Audubon County Audubon 5,534 courthouse mapped
98 Ringgold County Mount Ayr 4,642 courthouse mapped
99 Adams County Corning 3,544 courthouse mapped
§ III

Iowa probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Iowa?
$50,000 gross value of probate personal property; no real property may pass by affidavit (deaths on/after Jan 1, 2025) (Iowa Code § 633.356 (Distribution of Property by Affidavit)). It can be used 40 days after death. Wait 40 days after death. Gross estate cannot exceed $50,000. Real estate cannot be transferred via small estate affidavit.
How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Iowa?
Statutory maximum (Iowa Code § 633.197): 6% of first $1,000; 4% of $1,000–$5,000; 2% of gross assets over $5,000 (life insurance excluded unless payable to estate); extraordinary services may be allowed under § 633.199 (Iowa Code § 633.197). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.
What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Iowa?
Later of 4 months after second publication of notice to creditors, or 1 month after mailed notice to reasonably ascertainable creditors (Iowa Code § 633.410). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
Does Iowa recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?
No — witnesses are required. Iowa does NOT recognize holographic wills without two competent witnesses (Iowa Code § 633.279).
Does Iowa have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?
Iowa has no state estate tax. There is no inheritance tax.