Iowa

At a Glance

Iowa death certificate filing rules.

In Iowa, a death certificate must be filed with the state registrar within three days after the death and prior to final disposition. The county registrar registers the certificate if it's completed and filed correctly. The certificate must include the deceased's social security number (if provided) and all information, including the certifying physician's, physician assistant's, or advanced registered nurse practitioner's name, must be typewritten.

Who can order copies.

Certified copies of death certificates can be obtained from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records office. Requests can be made by telephone, in-person, or by mail. All applications must include a valid, current government-issued photo I.D. (legible photocopy if applying by mail) and applicants must satisfactorily prove entitlement.

• –Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/vital-records
• –Cost: approximately $15 per certified copy
• –Restricted access for 50 years after death to those with direct and tangible interest.

How do I get a death certificate in Iowa?

Order certified copies from Iowa's vital records office; this section's source link is the official process. The funeral home or cremation provider usually orders the first copies for you. Order at least 10: banks, insurers, and agencies each want their own certified copy.

How much does a death certificate cost in Iowa?

$15 per certified copy in Iowa, as shown above. Additional-copy pricing varies; the official source linked in this section has the current fee schedule.

At a Glance

When probate is required.

In Iowa, probate is generally required for estates with assets exceeding certain thresholds. A small estate affidavit can be used if the gross value of the decedent's personal property is $50,000 or less and there is no real estate to transfer. For estates with gross value of probate assets $200,000 or less, a simplified small estate administration can be used. Otherwise, regular probate is required.

If you die without a will.

If an Iowa resident dies without a valid will, their assets are distributed according to Iowa's intestate succession laws (Iowa Code 633.212). The distribution depends on the surviving family members.

• –Surviving spouse and no children/parents: Spouse inherits everything.
• –Surviving spouse and children (all of whom are also children of the spouse): Spouse inherits everything.
• –Surviving spouse and children (some of whom are not children of the spouse): Spouse inherits half of the estate, and children inherit the other half.
• –No surviving spouse: Children inherit everything.
• –No surviving spouse or children: Parents inherit everything.
• –No surviving spouse, children, or parents: Siblings inherit everything.
• –No relatives: The estate escheats to the state.

Avoiding probate.

To avoid probate in Iowa, common strategies include establishing a revocable living trust, designating beneficiaries on accounts (e.g., bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies), and holding property in joint tenancy with right of survivorship. These methods allow assets to pass directly to beneficiaries outside of the probate process.

How long does probate take in Iowa?

A straightforward Iowa probate typically runs less than one year, as shown in this section. Contested wills, missing heirs, or real property in other states stretch it well past that.

What is the small-estate limit in Iowa?

$200,000. Estates under that figure can use the simplified process or affidavit covered above instead of full probate.

Do I need a probate attorney in Iowa?

Not always. If the estate qualifies for the simplified process covered above, many people handle it without a lawyer. Hire one for full probate, a contested will, or property in more than one state. Before you hire anyone, know the fee structures: hourly, flat, and (in a few states) statutory percentages. Our probate attorney cost guide covers what each should run you.

Does Iowa allow transfer-on-death deeds?

No. Iowa has no transfer-on-death deed statute. An Iowa court has voided one that was tried. A living trust or joint ownership with survivorship does the same job here; uniform-act bills keep stalling in the legislature.

Source: legislative record ↗

Die without a will in Iowa and this law picks your heirs.

If you die intestate (without a valid will) in Iowa, Iowa Code §§ 633.210–633.219 decides who inherits everything a will would have covered. The shares depend on exactly who survives you: spouse, children, parents, siblings. What you told people you wanted does not matter. Only a signed will changes these defaults.

What your spouse gets.

What your spouse inherits depends on who else survives you. The four common family shapes:

• –Spouse only (no descendants or parents): the spouse takes the entire estate.
• –Spouse + parents (no descendants): parents change nothing, the spouse still takes everything.
• –Spouse + joint descendants: the spouse still takes the entire estate; joint children inherit nothing while the spouse lives.
• –Spouse + blended family: the spouse takes half the real property, all exempt personal property, and half the other personal property, with a $50,000 minimum; the decedent's issue split the rest.
• –Source: Iowa Code §§ 633.210–633.219

Children's shares.

With no spouse, the issue take everything per stirpes.

No spouse, no children: the line of succession.

After issue come parents equally (the survivor taking a deceased parent's share), then the parents' issue split half to the mother's line and half to the father's line, then grandparents and their issue, then great-grandparents and their issue, then the issue of the decedent's deceased spouse: and only then does the estate escheat to the state of Iowa (§ 633.219(7)).

At a Glance

What Iowa requires.

In Iowa, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC) must be in writing, dated, and either witnessed by at least two individuals (who are not the attorney-in-fact, a healthcare provider, or an employee of a healthcare provider attending the principal, and at least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage, or adoption within the third degree of consanguinity) or acknowledged before a notarial officer. The document explicitly authorizes the attorney-in-fact to make healthcare decisions.

Healthcare power of attorney.

Iowa law provides for a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC), which allows you to designate an agent (attorney-in-fact) to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. This document can be a standalone form or combined with other advance directives. The attorney-in-fact must act consistently with your stated desires.

POLST / MOLST forms.

Iowa recognizes Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST) forms. IPOST is a standardized, portable medical order form for individuals with serious illnesses. Unlike an advance directive, which is a legal document expressing future wishes, an IPOST form is a physician's order that translates a patient's preferences into actionable medical instructions, covering life-sustaining treatments. It is designed to be honored across healthcare settings.

Where do I get Iowa's advance directive form?

The controlling law is Iowa Code Chapter 144B, linked as this section's source. Most people use the free statutory form: Iowa's health department, hospital systems, and state bar publish fillable versions that match it. You do not need to buy one, and you do not need a lawyer to complete it.

Does Iowa require a notary or witnesses for an advance directive?

Iowa requires notarization and 2 adult witnesses, as shown in the requirements above. Anyone 18 or older of sound mind can make one.

At a Glance

Cremation rules in Iowa.

In Iowa, cremation requires a medical examiner permit. If the body is not embalmed, cremation must occur within 72 hours of death. If the body is refrigerated, this timeline can be extended. Authorization from the next of kin is required, and while Iowa law allows for a majority decision, some cremation establishments may require all children to agree before cremation.

Green burial and alternatives.

Iowa allows for green burial practices, which typically involve no embalming (or non-toxic embalming), no burial vault, and the use of biodegradable materials. There are natural burial grounds and hybrid cemeteries that support these practices. Human composting and alkaline hydrolysis are not explicitly addressed as widely available or regulated alternatives for disposition in Iowa, and home burial is generally permitted on private property with proper permits and adherence to local zoning and health regulations.

• –Green burial: Permitted, with options for natural burial grounds and hybrid cemeteries.
• –Home burial: Generally allowed on private land, subject to local regulations.
• –Scattering of cremains: Permitted on private property with owner's permission.

Funeral home regulations.

Funeral homes in Iowa are regulated by the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science. They must adhere to state licensing requirements and federal regulations, including the FTC Funeral Rule, which mandates price disclosure. This rule requires funeral homes to provide an itemized general price list to consumers.

At a Glance

Does Iowa have an estate tax?

Iowa does not impose a state-level estate tax. Only the federal estate tax may apply to very large estates.

Does Iowa have an inheritance tax?

Iowa has repealed its inheritance tax for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2025. For deaths occurring before this date, inheritance tax may still apply based on the relationship of the beneficiary to the decedent and the value of the inheritance. Exemptions applied to certain beneficiaries, such as spouses and lineal ascendants/descendants.

Federal estate tax.

The federal estate tax applies to estates over $15 million per person (2026), $30 million for married couples. This is separate from any state estate or inheritance tax. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) made the higher exemption permanent, so the drop to roughly $7 million once scheduled under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act never took effect.

Does Iowa have an estate tax?

No. Iowa has no state estate tax. Only the federal estate tax applies, and only to estates over $15 million per person (2026), $30 million for a married couple.

Does Iowa have an inheritance tax?

No. Iowa does not tax inheritances. Heirs owe no state tax on what they receive.

What is the federal estate tax exemption for 2026?

$15 million per person, $30 million for a married couple, indexed for inflation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) made the higher exemption permanent. Estates below the threshold owe no federal estate tax.

At a Glance

Registering as a donor in Iowa.

In Iowa, you can register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor through the Iowa Donor Network. The most common way to register is when obtaining or renewing your driver's license or state ID at the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). You can also register online through the Iowa Donor Network's website.

• –Iowa Donor Network: https://www.iowadonornetwork.org/register
• –Register at the Iowa DOT when applying for or renewing your driver's license/state ID.
• –Indicate your wishes in your advance directive.

Your family cannot override your decision.

In Iowa, as in all states, a registered organ donor decision is legally binding. Your family cannot override it. However, in practice, organ procurement organizations often consult families. Make your wishes known to your family to avoid conflict.