The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Iowa with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Iowa reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Iowa probate pages.
Iowa probate fees
| Item | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Filing and clerk's court costs generally run a few hundred dollars; Iowa also assesses court costs tied to the size of the estate. |
| Attorney fees | Iowa Code §633.198 limits the attorney's fee for ordinary services to the same schedule as the executor: $220 on the first $5,000 of gross assets plus 2% of everything above $5,000, subject to the court finding it reasonable. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Iowa Code §633.197 sets executor compensation at 6% of the first $1,000, 4% of the next $4,000, and 2% of the gross estate above $5,000. A family executor may waive the fee, and many do. |
| Fee basis | statutory |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Iowa does not appoint a state appraiser. The executor files a probate inventory and may hire appraisers for assets that need valuation. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Iowa estate, the statutory maximum executor fee is about $10,120 (6% of $1,000 = $60, plus 4% of $4,000 = $160, plus 2% of $495,000 = $9,900). Iowa Code §633.198 allows the estate's attorney the same schedule separately, so ordinary fees together can approach roughly $20,000.
Iowa thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates with gross assets of $200,000 or less qualify for simplified small-estate administration under Iowa Code Chapter 635; a separate affidavit under §633.356 handles personal property of $50,000 or less with no administration. |
| Creditor claim period | Claims are barred unless filed within the later of four months after the second publication of the notice to creditors or one month after mailed notice to a known creditor, under Iowa Code §633.410. |
| Typical duration | About 6 to 12 months for a routine estate, and longer where inheritance-tax clearance or contested claims are involved. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Iowa does not recognize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Despite repeated bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, the legislature has never passed one, so a recorded 'TOD deed' has no legal effect. Real property owned solely by the decedent must pass through probate, a living trust, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or a life estate. |
What passes outside Iowa probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Iowa does not recognize a transfer-on-death deed for real estate. Despite repeated bills to adopt the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, the legislature has never passed one, so a recorded 'TOD deed' has no legal effect. Real property owned solely by the decedent must pass through probate, a living trust, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, or a life estate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Iowa Code §633.197; Iowa Code §633.198; Iowa Code §633.356; Iowa Code §633.410; Iowa Code Ch. 635
- State authority: Iowa Legislature (Iowa Probate Code, Chapter 633)
- Attorney fees: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633.197.pdf
- Creditor claim period: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633.410.pdf
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://legalclarity.org/iowa-transfer-on-death-deed-how-it-works-and-legal-requirements/
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Iowa court before relying on it.
The full Iowa guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Iowa? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Iowa? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Iowa? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Iowa — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Iowa — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Iowa? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out Iowa probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Iowa courts or a licensed Iowa attorney.