Best Probate Attorneys in Des Moines, IA

Hope Wood, JD, can handle your probate case without needing to meet in person. An initial meeting is held by telephone or Zoom video conference. Paperwork can be electronically signed or mailed with prepaid return postage. Communications are ongoing through email, phone, Zoom video conference (optional), and mail. You can have full legal representation without meeting in person. ^

There are flat fees for specific portions of the estate. It is $20 to process the bond and $10 per court order. The main cost is two-tenths of one percent of the probate assets listed in the estate inventory. (2/10) * .01 = .002. For example, if the probate assets are valued at $100,000, then that part of the court cost is $200. View a full schedule of probate court costs in Iowa. As of 2022, the court costs for small estates are calculated the same as regular estates. Exclusions for court cost calculations include: real estate in joint tenancy, financial assets with a surviving joint owner or surviving beneficiary, and real estate located outside of Iowa. ^

In Iowa, probate requires an attorney to represent the executor of the estate. A common misconception is who the attorney represents in probate. The attorney represents the executor as a fiduciary; the attorney does not represent the estate or the individual beneficiaries. A designation of attorney must be signed by the proposed or appointed executor and filed with the court to identify their role. ^

No. It is required to be reported on your 1040 income tax return, however it is not taxable. You may have to pay inheritance tax on the amount that you inherit. Learn about Iowa inheritance tax. ^