Detailed Answer — Your Options to Obtain a Copy of Your Parents’ Estate Plan in Iowa

Short answer: Whether you can force your sibling to give you a copy of your parents’ estate plan depends on whether your parents are alive, whether the documents are a will or a trust, and whether you are an identified beneficiary or an interested person. If the parents are alive, they control who sees their private estate planning documents. If a parent has died, certain Iowa probate and trust rules give beneficiaries and interested persons rights to see documents or require that a will be filed with the court. Below is a step‑by‑step explanation of your likely remedies in Iowa and practical steps you can take.

If your parents are still alive

If the parents are alive and competent, they decide who receives copies of their estate plan (wills, trusts, powers of attorney). Your sibling does not have a legal obligation to share parents’ private documents unless the parents authorized that. Actions you can take:

Ask your parents directly to provide a copy or to instruct their attorney to share the documents with you.
Ask your parents to sign a written authorization permitting their attorney to release copies to you.
Request that parents store originals with a neutral third party (their attorney, bank safe deposit box with co‑access, or a trust company) and give you access instructions.
If you suspect undue influence, financial exploitation, or incapacity, you can raise concerns to adult protective services and consult an attorney about a guardianship or conservatorship petition. Guardianship petitions are filed in Iowa district court. See Iowa Courts general information: https://www.iowacourts.gov/.

If a parent has died

Wills. In Iowa, after a person dies, the will should be presented to the probate court for admission to probate. Once a will is filed in probate, it becomes part of the court record, and interested persons can obtain copies through the court file. If your sibling is holding the decedent’s will and refuses to file it, you may petition the district court to compel production or to admit the will to probate. Iowa’s statutes that govern probate and wills are found in the Iowa Code, Title XVI—Decedents’ Estates and Related Matters; see chapter for probate procedures: Iowa Code, Chapter 633 (Decedents’ Estates).

Trusts. If the estate plan includes a trust, your rights depend on whether you are a current beneficiary or a potential beneficiary and whether the trust is revocable. Under Iowa trust law, certain beneficiaries and interested persons are entitled to information about a trust’s administration and to accountings. If the trustee (or a sibling in possession of trust documents) refuses to provide information, a beneficiary can petition the court for discovery, accountings, or appointment of a successor trustee. See general Iowa statutes governing trusts and probate at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/.

Practical legal remedies in Iowa

Document your request. Keep copies of written requests (mail, email, text) and proof of delivery (certified mail receipt). This evidence helps if you later file in court.
Demand in writing from your sibling. Send a polite but firm written demand asking for a copy and stating your interest (e.g., named beneficiary, heir apparent). Give a short deadline and keep proof of delivery.
Ask the attorney who prepared the documents. If you know the law firm or attorney who prepared the will or trust, ask whether they will confirm whether a document exists or whether your parents authorized release. Attorneys must keep client confidentiality unless the client has consented, but the attorney can often tell you how to get access if you are an interested person.
If a parent died and the will is being withheld, file a petition to locate/receive the will. Iowa law provides mechanisms for interested persons to present a will for probate and to ask the court to compel its production if someone is wrongfully withholding it. The district court or probate clerk can advise filing requirements; see Iowa Courts resources: https://www.iowacourts.gov/ and Iowa Code, Chapter 633: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633.pdf.
If a trust is involved and you are a beneficiary, petition the court. As a beneficiary you can ask the court to compel accountings, to produce trust documents, or even to replace a trustee if the trustee is breaching duties. The Iowa Code provisions governing trusts and fiduciary duties are found in the state code; consult the relevant chapters at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/.
Subpoena or discovery in litigation. If you have begun a court action (for example, to open probate or to challenge trust administration), discovery tools and subpoenas may compel production of documents held by third parties.
Consider mediation or neutral third‑party retrieval. If relations are strained, a neutral mediator or a joint request to a law firm holding the documents can be an efficient route.
Get legal help early. A lawyer experienced in Iowa probate and trust matters can evaluate your status (beneficiary vs. interested person) and advise whether to file a petition, how to draft a demand letter, and how to preserve evidence of withholding or misconduct.

Common scenarios and likely outcomes

– Parent alive and competent: courts will not force a sibling to disclose private estate documents if the parent chooses confidentiality. Ask the parent to share or authorize release.
– Parent alive but incapacitated: a concerned sibling can petition for guardianship and for the court to supervise the parent’s affairs; the court can then order disclosure to the guardian.
– Parent deceased and sibling holding the will: you can ask the probate court to compel filing/admission of the will. Once admitted, the court file is accessible.
– Trust with named beneficiaries: beneficiaries generally have enforceable rights to information and accountings under Iowa law; the court can compel disclosure and remedy trustee breaches.

When you should consult an Iowa attorney

Contact a probate or trust attorney if:

You believe a will or trust exists but is being hidden after a parent’s death.
You suspect fraud, forgery, or undue influence.
You are a beneficiary and the trustee (or sibling acting as trustee) refuses to provide accountings or documents.
Family disputes are escalating and you want to preserve legal remedies and deadlines.

Ask potential attorneys about their experience in Iowa probate and trust litigation, and whether they will try to resolve the dispute informally first.

Next steps — quick checklist

Determine whether the parent is alive or deceased.
Ask the parent (or their attorney) for a copy or authorization.
Send a written demand to your sibling and keep proof.
If deceased, check with the local probate court about whether a will has been filed.
If you are a beneficiary or an interested person and the document is withheld, consult a probate/trust attorney about filing a petition to compel production or to open probate.

Key references: Iowa Code (probate and estate rules): Iowa Code, Chapter 633 — Decedents’ Estates. General Iowa court information and forms: https://www.iowacourts.gov/.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. It summarizes general principles of Iowa law and common practical steps. Laws change and specific outcomes turn on facts. Consult a licensed Iowa attorney for advice tailored to your situation.