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    Iowa guide

    What to do when someone dies in Iowa

    Iowa fully repealed its inheritance tax — for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2025, no Iowa inheritance tax applies to any beneficiary. Iowa also has strong homestead rights for surviving spouses, and probate runs through District Court.

    Content updated: October 2026

    What's unique in Iowa

    State-specific rules that affect how an estate is handled here.

    Iowa inheritance tax — fully repealed

    Iowa repealed its inheritance tax. For deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2025, no Iowa inheritance tax applies to any beneficiary. If the death occurred before that date, the applicable rate depended on when the death occurred and the beneficiary's relationship to the deceased — consult a tax professional for prior-year deaths.

    Strong homestead rights

    Iowa gives the surviving spouse strong homestead rights. The spouse has the right to occupy the homestead for life, and the property is exempt from most creditor claims during that time.

    District Court probate

    Iowa probate runs through District Court in the county where the deceased lived. A small estate affidavit may be available when personal property is $50,000 or less and there is no real property.

    IPERS pension

    If the deceased was an Iowa public employee, IPERS (Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System) survivor benefits may be available. Contact IPERS directly to file a claim.

    A glimpse at what Order covers in Iowa

    These are just a few of the Iowa-specific tasks Order surfaces automatically when you select your state.

    File for Iowa probate in District CourtLegal & Estate

    Small estate affidavit available for personal property of $50,000 or less with no Iowa real property. File in the county where the deceased lived.

    Confirm Iowa inheritance tax statusLegal & Estate

    Iowa fully repealed its inheritance tax — for deaths on or after January 1, 2025, no return is required for any beneficiary. For earlier deaths, filing obligations depend on the year and the beneficiary's relationship to the deceased.

    Review Iowa homestead rights for surviving spouseLegal & Estate

    Iowa gives the surviving spouse the right to occupy the homestead for life — this can override a will that directs the property to be sold, which sometimes surprises other heirs.

    Plus dozens more tasks across all 8 categories: funeral arrangements, digital accounts, dependents, and more.

    Official resources for Iowa

    Iowa CourtsFile probate in the District Court and obtain letters testamentaryIowa Department of RevenueFile the final state income tax return and any applicable estate filingsIowa DOT (vehicle titles)Transfer vehicle titles to heirs using estate documentationIowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)Notify the pension and apply for any survivor benefit for public employeesIowa Dept. of Veterans AffairsApply for the Military Service Property Tax Exemption for surviving spouses and burial eligibility at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter

    What families commonly miss in Iowa

    • Families handling Iowa estates are sometimes unsure whether an inheritance tax return is required — Iowa repealed its inheritance tax effective January 1, 2025, so for deaths on or after that date nothing is owed, but earlier deaths may still have filing obligations worth confirming with a tax professional.
    • In estates where the surviving spouse wants to stay in the home and other heirs want to sell, families often don't realize that Iowa law gives the spouse the right to occupy the homestead for life — overriding even a will that says otherwise.
    • Iowa families often don't realize that District Court probate comes with a formal filing schedule for inventories and accountings — missing a court-imposed deadline can result in penalties and court-ordered action even in otherwise smooth estates.

    Deeper reading

    Probate: what families need to know

    Probate rules vary significantly by state. Our full guide explains the process, timelines, and how to avoid common delays in Iowa.

    Military families in Iowa

    Iowa has additional veteran & survivor benefits

    • Apply for Iowa Military Service Property Tax Exemption (surviving spouse)
    • Contact Iowa Veterans Cemetery

    Iowa-specific

    Start these Iowa-specific tasks in Order

    These tasks appear automatically in your checklist when you select Iowa as your state.

    File for Iowa probate in District CourtLegal & Estate

    File in the district court of residence.

    Review Iowa elective share and homestead rightsLegal & Estate

    Surviving spouse entitled to one-third of estate plus homestead rights

    Transfer vehicle at Iowa DOTLegal & Estate

    Submit title transfer application with estate documentation

    Plus dozens more tasks added automatically for Iowa families.

    Order walks your family through every step, for Iowa and beyond.

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    Covers all 50 states + DC · Jurisdiction-specific tasks added automatically

    See guides for other states

    Browse all 51 state guides Full guide: what to do when someone dies Back to home