Power of Attorney Explained: Why Every Adult Needs One
Power of attorney lets someone manage your finances if you can\
Search probate guides, practical articles, and estate settlement resources.1148 in-depth guides • 96 blog posts
Power of attorney lets someone manage your finances if you can\
A 401(k) passes to the named beneficiary outside probate. A spouse can roll it over; most other heirs must empty it within 10 years. Here is how it works.
The funeral home usually notifies Social Security. The benefit for the month of death must be returned, and survivors may qualify for benefits and a $255 payment.
Stocks pass by a beneficiary or TOD registration, or through the estate. The cost basis steps up to the date-of-death value. Here is how the transfer works.

How to plan for and access a deceased person's digital assets in Iowa under Chapter 638: online tools, will and POA language, crypto, and executor access.

Iowa has no estate tax, and the Iowa inheritance tax is repealed for deaths on or after January 1, 2025. Only the federal estate tax can reach an Iowa estate.

How to avoid probate in Iowa: joint tenancy, POD accounts, transfer-on-death securities, beneficiary designations, revocable trusts, and the small estate paths.

Iowa ancillary probate when a nonresident owned Iowa real estate: admit a foreign will, record a muniment of title, or appoint a foreign administrator.

How Iowa creditor claims work: publish notice to creditors, the four-month claim bar under Iowa Code 633.410, and how to pay or disallow a claim safely.

When an Iowa estate cannot pay every debt, Iowa Code 633.425 sets the order of payment. Learn the ten classes, the pro-rata rule, and executor liability.
Take our free assessment to understand your probate options and get personalized guidance.