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Showing posts from March, 2013

What is this "Probate Process" That You Speak of, Mr. Attorney?

A popular blog post that I had on a different site in my pre-solo days dealt with an overview of the probate process in Iowa.  As it has been a few years since that post, and I'd like to have this post under this blog "roof", I'm going to recycle it here. The probate process in Iowa can be broken down into essentially 5 general steps: Initial opening of the estate - this is the filing of the initial paperwork to get a docket number and the formal appointment of a personal representative. Notification period - legal publication in the newspaper is arranged, heirs/beneficiaries are given notice, and creditors are given notice of probate. Report and Inventory - Within 90 days of opening the estate, the personal representative is required to file a document with the court listing the decedent's assets and their values, in addition to the information on the heirs/beneficiaries. Tax Filings - The other sure thing in life, besides death, is taxes and it doesn&