Guides
Iowa probate articles
- How Do You Make a Valid Will In Iowa?
2021-02-22
To make a valid will in Iowa, the will must be: In writing; Signed by the testator; Witnessed and signed by two witnesses. The basic requirements for a valid will under Iowa law can be found at Iowa Probate Code § 15-2-502 . Who Can …
- Iowa Court Recognizes Illegitimate Child As Legal Heir In Probate
2021-11-22
In Langerman v. Mohr , a November 3, 2021 opinion, the Iowa appellate court affirmed a probate court decision that an illegitimate son was the legal heir of his father because the father recognized him as his child in a general and notoriou…
- Iowa Supreme Court: Surviving Settlor Cannot Modify Irrevocable Trust Without Court Approval
2022-05-19
In Little v. Davis , a May 6, 2022 opinion from the Iowa Supreme Court, the Court concluded that a surviving settlor of an irrevocable trust cannot, even with the consent of all of the beneficiaries, modify the dispositive terms of an irrev…
- Iowa Supreme Court: Tortious Interference With An Inheritance Action Barred Unless Joined With A Timely Will Contest
2020-06-15
In Youngblut v. Youngblut , the Iowa Supreme Court considered its first tortious interference with an inheritance case in almost 30 years, overruling its prior decisions and holding that a claim alleging that a decedent’s will resulted from…
- Iowa Supreme Court: Tortious Interference With an Inheritance Requires Defendant To Have Knowledge of Plaintiff’s Expectancy Of an Inheritance
2021-06-19
In Buboltz v. Birusingh , a June 11, 2021 opinion from the Iowa Supreme Court, the Court addressed the question of whether a cause of action for tortious interference with inheritance requires the plaintiff to prove that the defendant had k…
- Iowa Supreme Court: You Can’t Adjudicate Validity Of a Will Before a Testator’s Death
2021-03-02
In In Re Guardianship and Conservatorship of Radda , the Iowa Supreme Court addressed whether a prospective heir can bring an action to determine the validity of a will before the death of the testator. The answer: no. The Facts Of In Re Gu…
- Surviving Spouse Rights Iowa
2019-11-06
When a married Iowan dies, Iowa law provides the widow important surviving spouse rights, including: Intestate Share Support Allowance Elective Share Exempt Personal Property Homestead What if My Spouse Died Without a Will (Intestacy) In Io…
- Who Are Next Of Kin In Iowa?
2020-10-02
Under Iowa law “next of kin” are generally the people entitled to take by intestate succession. Next of kin for purposes of intestate succession in Iowa are the: Surviving spouse Children Parents Siblings Grandparents Great-grandparents Iss…