Iowa Code § 633.31 · checked 2026-10-20
Probate court fees in Iowa
Iowa charges court costs of two-tenths of one percent of the value of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory — $200 on a $100,000 estate.
- 1$100,000 estate $200
- 2Fee basis Percent of assets
- 3Small-estate fee Not listed
- 4Schedule Iowa Code § 633.31
Fee to open an estate, by value
| Estate value | Fee | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $50 | 0.2% of $25,000 |
| $50,000 | $100 | 0.2% of $50,000 |
| $100,000 | $200 | 0.2% of $100,000 |
| $250,000 | $500 | 0.2% of $250,000 |
| $500,000 | $1,000 | 0.2% of $500,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,000 | 0.2% of $1,000,000 |
Across these six example values the fee runs from $50 to $2,000. At $100,000, 4 of the 12 fee schedules on this site charge less and 6 charge more.
Other charges in the schedule
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Probate of will without administration | $15 |
| Taking and approving a bond | $20 |
| Certifying change of title | $20 |
| Entering a rule or order | $10 |
Source: Iowa Code § 633.31 (clerk's fees in probate), last checked 2026-10-20. Courts can add copy, certification and publication costs that are not in this schedule.
The small-estate route and its cost
Iowa's simplified procedure is the small estate affidavit (distribution of personal property) (Iowa Code § 633.356), for estates within $50,000. It is not filed with the court, so there is no court filing fee for the affidavit itself. Check the Iowa limit or see how long probate takes there.
What the court fee does not cover
The schedule above is only the court's own charge. Publishing notice to creditors in a newspaper, certified copies of letters, a fiduciary bond where the court requires one, appraisals and recording fees for real estate are billed separately by whoever provides them. Those notices also start Iowa's creditor claim period of 4 months (Iowa Code § 633.410(1)), which usually decides how soon the estate can close. Most courts can waive or defer fees for a petitioner who cannot pay; the clerk's office has the request form.
Related: probate court fees compared · what probate is · all fee schedules.
Court fees only, read from the official schedule on 2026-10-20. Not legal advice; Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers. Fee waivers are usually available to people who cannot pay — ask the court clerk.