Iowa — Enforcing or Disputing an Oral Agreement to Divide Wrongful-Death Proceeds
Quick answer If family members or beneficiaries made an oral agreement to divide wrongful-death proceeds in Iowa and one side now disagrees, you can try to enforce the agreement, challenge it, or ask the probate court to resolve the dispute. Oral agreements can be enforceable, but they are harder to prove than written agreements. The […]
Read article →Iowa: Selling an Estate House Facing Foreclosure When a Co‑Administrator Refuses to Sign
What to do when an estate-owned house faces foreclosure and a co-administrator refuses to sign This FAQ explains how the probate sale process works in Iowa, what tools the probate court has to authorize a sale over a co-administrator’s objection, and practical steps to protect the estate from foreclosure. This is general information only and […]
Read article →Iowa: How to Get Court Approval to Release Contested Estate Funds
Getting Court Approval to Release Contested Estate Funds in Iowa FAQ-style guide for executors, administrators, and beneficiaries Detailed answer — what to do when beneficiaries dispute how estate money should be split This section explains, in plain language, the steps to ask an Iowa probate court to allow the release or distribution of estate funds […]
Read article →Iowa: Will Distribution After Sale of Parents' Home — What Happens to Leftover Proceeds?
Detailed answer — how net sale proceeds are treated under Iowa law If your parent’s house is sold and the sale pays off all debts, whether any leftover money is distributed under your father’s will depends on who owned the property and how title or beneficiary arrangements were set up. Key rule: if the house […]
Read article →Iowa: Reimbursing Personal Payments for a Decedent’s Vehicle Lien
Can a person be reimbursed from an Iowa estate for funds paid to clear a decedent's vehicle lien? Detailed answer — how reimbursement usually works under Iowa probate practice This answer explains the common rules and practical steps when someone uses personal money to pay a lien on a vehicle that belonged to a person […]
Read article →Iowa: How Remaining Estate Funds Are Distributed to a Decedent's Children
How the Remaining Estate Is Distributed to Children Under Iowa Law This guide explains the typical steps a personal representative (executor or administrator) follows in Iowa to distribute the remainder of an estate to the decedent's children after taxes, creditor claims, and administrative expenses are paid. This is educational information only and is not legal […]
Read article →Iowa — Posting a Bond to Serve as Administrator of an Intestate Estate
Short answer Usually yes. Under Iowa probate law, a personal representative appointed to administer an intestate estate generally must give a bond (a surety) to protect the estate and its heirs. However, the court can sometimes waive the bond in specific circumstances—for example, when heirs agree, when the court finds the bond unnecessary, or when […]
Read article →Iowa: Factors Courts Consider When Appointing an Estate Administrator
What Factors Will an Iowa Court Consider When Appointing an Estate Administrator? Short answer: Iowa courts follow statutory priority rules and then consider practical factors such as the proposed administrator’s relationship to the decedent, fitness, willingness to serve, residency or bond requirements, potential conflicts of interest, and whether the appointment will promote an orderly, timely […]
Read article →Iowa: Using Estate Sale Proceeds to Pay Cleanup, Junk Removal, and Personal Property Costs
Short answer Short answer: Usually yes. Under Iowa probate rules, a personal representative (executor or administrator) may use estate money — including proceeds from the sale of estate property — to pay reasonable costs of administration. That generally includes necessary expenses such as junk removal, cleanup, and removal of personal property when those costs protect […]
Read article →Iowa — How Unauthorized Charges to My Parent's Estate Are Handled in Probate
How unauthorized charges to a parent’s estate are handled in Iowa probate Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article explains general Iowa probate concepts to help you understand options and next steps. This is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Iowa attorney about your specific case. Quick answer Unauthorized charges against your parent’s estate […]
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