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Iowa Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

Iowa PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Benton County: Key information about your local probate court (District Court in Iowa) for Benton County.
How Probate Works in Iowa: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Benton County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
  - Iowa Probate Forms and the
  - Iowa State Probate Court Website.
Small Estates Procedures in Iowa: Learn how to use Iowa's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
- In Iowa, you can use an Affidavit if the value of the estate is $50,000 or less, and there is no real property. There is a 40-day waiting period.
  
  Iowa Code 633.356.
  
  You can use a summary probate procedure if the gross value of the property subject to probate does not exceed $100,000. (This excludes the value of all joint tenancy property and other assets that pass by beneficiary designation, such as life insurance and transfer on death accounts.)
  
  Iowa Code 635.1.
Iowa Estate Taxes:
- Iowa, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.
Avoiding Probate in Iowa. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Bankruptcy & Debt

MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for Benton County, Iowa (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
Iowa BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Iowa law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Iowa?:
  - No. Iowa Code § 627.10.
- Iowa Homestead Exemption
  - Real property or an apartment to an unlimited value; property cannot exceed 1/2 acre in town or city, 40 acres elsewhere (husband & wife may not double)
- Iowa Vehicle Exemption
  - $7,000
Iowa BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

Iowa Unemployment Benefits

Benefit Amounts in Iowa: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $82 per week
- Maximum:
  - $582 per week
- Duration:
  - Iowa changed its benefit duration in July of 2022. Those who file their initial claim for unemployment on or after July 3, 2022 will be eligible for only 16 weeks of unemployment benefits. However, if you applied before that date, you will be eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits.
Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Iowa.
- Iowa Workforce Development
  - 866-239-0843
Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
Iowa Wage & Hour Law
- Iowa Minimum Wage:
  - The minimum wage in Iowa is the same as the federal minimum wage: $7.25 an hour.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Iowa and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Iowa.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Iowa.
  - In Iowa, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $4.35 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.