Iowa: Using a Small Estate Affidavit for an Intestate Estate — Can You Avoid Formal Probate?
Detailed Answer Short answer: You cannot use a North Carolina form or procedure in Iowa. Whether you can avoid formal probate in Iowa depends on Iowa law and the specific assets involved. Iowa provides limited simplified procedures for transfers of small estates and for some categories of property that avoid full formal probate, but those […]
Read article →Iowa: Can You Access a Minor’s Settlement Money Before Age 18?
Can You Use a Child’s Settlement Money for College or Medical Expenses Before Age 18? Short answer: Possibly — but not automatically. In Iowa, money recovered for a minor (for example, from a personal-injury settlement) generally cannot be spent without court oversight or a court-approved plan. A parent, guardian, or attorney must usually ask the […]
Read article →Iowa: Next Steps When Mediation Fails in a Partition and Probate Dispute
Detailed Answer This article explains what typically happens in Iowa when mediation does not resolve a dispute involving partition of real property or a probate (estate) matter, and whether you must still go to court. Is mediation final? Mediation is usually a voluntary, private process. The mediator helps the parties negotiate, but does not impose […]
Read article →Opening Probate in Iowa When You Live Out of State
Can I open probate in Iowa for my sibling’s estate if I live out of state? Short answer: Yes — you can start probate in Iowa even if you live in another state, but you must follow Iowa court procedures. Expect to file paperwork in the district court where your sibling lived, provide the original […]
Read article →Settling a Parent’s Estate in Iowa and Handling Out‑of‑State Property: Steps & FAQ
Detailed Answer Disclaimer: This is educational information only and not legal advice. Consult a licensed Iowa attorney about your specific situation. Overview — What happens when a parent dies with property in more than one state? When a person who was domiciled in Iowa dies, the primary probate administration normally happens in the Iowa county […]
Read article →Iowa: How to File and Record a New Deed After a Spouse’s Death So a Child Becomes Owner
How to transfer real estate to your child after your wife's death (Iowa) Short answer: The exact steps depend on how title to the property was held when your wife died. Common approaches are: (1) if the property passed automatically to you as surviving joint owner, you can sign and record a new deed to […]
Read article →How to Ensure a Wrongful Death Settlement Is Filed and Split Correctly in Iowa
How to make sure a wrongful death settlement in Iowa is filed and split correctly Short answer: Get the settlement in writing, confirm the personal representative or plaintiff has authority to settle, resolve liens and subrogation, obtain any required court approval or a consent judgment, and use clear disbursement instructions and a closing order so […]
Read article →Iowa: Can a Co‑heir Be Required to Reimburse an Appraisal Before an Estate Buyout?
Quick answer Under Iowa practice, whether a co‑heir must reimburse you for an appraisal before completing an estate buyout depends on who ordered and paid for the appraisal, any written agreement between the heirs, and whether the appraisal was an official estate expense handled by the personal representative. If the appraisal was obtained as an […]
Read article →Iowa: Do I need a TOD deed or POD designation if my will leaves everything to my daughter?
Short answer Yes — possibly. A will controls how assets that go through probate are distributed, but many assets pass outside probate by title or beneficiary designation. If accounts, deeds, or contracts name a transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) beneficiary, or if property is jointly owned with rights of survivorship, those nonprobate mechanisms generally govern […]
Read article →Transferring a Deceased Parent’s Iowa House to Children: Steps Under Iowa Law
What to do when a parent dies without a will and their Iowa house needs to be transferred This FAQ-style guide explains, in plain language, how property owned only in a deceased parent's name can be put into the names of the children under Iowa law. This is educational information only and not legal advice. […]
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