What Happens to a Safe Deposit Box After Someone Dies in IA?
Detailed Answer — How Iowa handles safe deposit boxes after a box owner dies This page explains, in plain language, what typically happens to a deceased person’s safe deposit box in Iowa and what family members or the appointed estate representative should expect to do. This is an educational summary only and not legal advice. […]
Read article →When Can an Executor Be Removed in Iowa?
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Iowa law, a court can remove an executor (the person named in a will who administers the estate) when the executor fails to qualify, breaches fiduciary duties, is incompetent or incapacitated, wastes or misappropriates estate property, has a conflict of interest, is guilty of misconduct (including certain crimes), or otherwise […]
Read article →What Is "Probate in Common Form" in Iowa (IA)?
Detailed Answer — What "Probate in Common Form" Means Under Iowa Law Short answer: The phrase "probate in common form" is used in some states to describe an informal or routine admission of a will to probate without a full trial. In Iowa, the practical equivalent is an informal or routine probate process where a […]
Read article →Is probate administration required when there is no will in Iowa? (IA)
Detailed Answer When someone dies without a will (dies intestate) in Iowa, their property does not just disappear. Iowa law sets rules for who inherits and how assets transfer. Whether you must open a probate administration depends on what assets the decedent owned, how those assets are titled, and whether anyone can use a simplified […]
Read article →How can one close an estate bank account and obtain the required closing statement in IA?
Detailed Answer This explains the usual steps to close an estate bank account in Iowa and how to obtain the closing statement the bank and the probate court want. It describes what personal representatives (executors or administrators) typically must do, what documents banks require, and how the probate final accounting works. This is a general […]
Read article →How to properly document and file receipts for payments to heirs or service providers in an estate (IA)
Frequently Asked Question — Detailed Guide for Iowa Estate Administrators Short answer: Keep a separate estate bank account, record every transaction contemporaneously, keep original receipts and invoices, create a clear ledger tying each payment to authority (will, court order, or statute), and file a complete accounting and supporting receipts with the probate court when required. […]
Read article →How can next of kin qualify to be appointed as the estate administrator? (IA)
Detailed Answer This FAQ explains how a decedent’s next of kin can qualify to be appointed as the estate administrator in Iowa. It summarizes the usual steps, eligibility requirements, and common issues you will face when petitioning the Iowa probate (district) court. This is a general guide only and not legal advice. For the controlling […]
Read article →What documents are required to apply for probate appointment and oath? (Iowa, IA)
Detailed Answer — Documents usually required to apply for probate appointment and to take the fiduciary oath in Iowa Below is a plain-language, step-by-step explanation of what most people must bring and file when they seek appointment as a personal representative (executor or administrator) and take the required oath in Iowa. This describes common requirements […]
Read article →Which statements and financial documents are required for annual and final probate accountings? (IA)
Detailed Answer This article explains, under Iowa law, what statements and financial documents typically belong in annual (interim) and final probate accountings. It describes the materials a personal representative (executor or administrator) should prepare, how to support numbers with documentation, and how to present the accounting to the court and interested parties. What is a […]
Read article →What steps can heirs take to resolve an elective share dispute through mediation in Iowa (IA)?
Resolving an Iowa elective-share dispute through mediation — detailed guidance for heirs Detailed answer In Iowa, a surviving spouse has a statutory right to claim a minimum portion of a decedent’s estate instead of taking under the will. That right can trigger disputes between the surviving spouse, heirs, beneficiaries, and the personal representative. Mediation offers […]
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