Intestate Succession in Iowa
State-specific overview · Estate & Probate
Iowa gives the surviving spouse the entire estate if no children exist, or one-half if children are present.
How Iowa treats Intestate Succession
Iowa law provides that a surviving spouse inherits the entire estate when the deceased leaves no children or lineal descendants. If children exist, the spouse receives one-half of the estate and the children divide the remaining one-half equally. If there is no surviving spouse, the estate passes to children in equal shares, then to parents, then to siblings in order of kinship. Iowa recognizes adopted children and children born outside marriage as full heirs.
The general definition of Intestate Succession
The legal process of distributing a deceased person's property when they leave no valid will.
If someone dies without a will (or with an invalid will), state law determines who inherits their property. Each state has a set order of priority—usually spouse first, then children, then parents, then siblings. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate and follow these statutory rules, even if the deceased person's wishes were different.
Read the full Intestate Succession entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Iowa.