Buchanan County Clerk of the District Court Guide

Full Administration

Option

Regular administration under Iowa Code chapter 633. The executor (with a will) or administrator (without a will) is appointed by the clerk or the court, publishes notice to creditors once each week for two consecutive weeks, files a report and inventory within 120 days of qualification (Iowa Code 633.361, as amended effective July 1, 2026), and closes the estate by final report. Iowa statutes do not require a personal representative to hire an attorney, but most Iowa estates in regular administration are handled with counsel; verify local practice with the district court.

✓ No attorney required

7 documents needed

Small Estate Administration

Option

Small estate administration under Iowa Code chapter 635 is available when the gross value of the decedent's probate assets subject to Iowa jurisdiction does not exceed $200,000 (for deaths on or after July 1, 2020; $100,000 for earlier deaths). A personal representative is still appointed and chapter 633 rules apply unless chapter 635 provides otherwise, but the estate closes by a sworn closing statement rather than a formal final report, and personal representative fees are capped at 3% of the gross probate assets unless services are itemized (Iowa Code 635.8(4)).

$200,000

7 documents needed

Collection By Affidavit

Option

Iowa's small estate affidavit lets a successor collect the decedent's personal property without letters of appointment when the probate assets consist only of personal property with no interest in real estate, the gross value of the personal property is (or has been at any time since death) $100,000 or less, at least 40 days have passed since death, and no administration is pending. H.F. 2660 (2026) raised the ceiling from $50,000 and struck the old alternative that let real property qualify when it passed to inheritance-tax-exempt joint tenants for deaths before January 1, 2025.

$100,000

2 documents needed

Will Probate Without Administration

Option

Iowa allows a will to be admitted to probate without opening administration (Iowa Code 633.31(2)(b) sets a $15 court cost for it). This proves the will of record, which can help clear title, but it does not appoint a personal representative or transfer assets by itself.