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Bremer County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Bremer County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Bremer County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, Bremer County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 415 East Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677 |
| Mailing address | Mail to the clerk of the district court at 415 East Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677. No separate post office box is published for the clerk. |
| Phone | 319-352-5661, extension 101 |
| Fax | 319-352-1054. Fax is not a substitute for filing through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| [email protected]. Email is an office contact, not a filing channel. | |
| Hours | The courthouse publishes weekday building hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a note that hours may vary by department or office. Call before traveling to confirm the clerk counter schedule. |
| Judicial district | Iowa's Second Judicial District. A Bremer County probate case is still filed in Waverly. |
| Filing fee | Iowa uses the Iowa Code 633.31 probate cost structure, including 0.2% of the value of probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. The clerk can tell you how costs are collected in your filing. |
| Local forms | No Bremer County local probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. |
| E-filing | EDMS is required statewide for attorneys and self-represented filers, with exceptions available under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| Case search | Iowa Courts Online provides free public docket search without registration. The docket is an index; public case documents are viewed at a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
| Remote appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party asks for remote appearance by motion, and the judge applies Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | Bremer County's government site is bremercounty.iowa.gov. Court contact information is published by the Iowa Judicial Branch. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Bremer County, build a complete picture of the assets, debts, beneficiaries, real estate and account titles. Iowa court costs and filing choices depend on probate assets, so the first estate settlement task is understanding what is actually in the estate and what may pass outside probate.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets before the Waverly filing decision is made. That asset discovery can show whether you need a court case, what questions to ask the clerk, and when a probate attorney should be involved.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The clerk of the district court at the Bremer County Courthouse in Waverly serves Bremer County probate filings. The published court contact is 415 East Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677, with the clerk reached at 319-352-5661, extension 101.
Venue follows Iowa Code 633.12. The district court of the county administers estates of people who were residents of that county at death. For a nonresident of Iowa, venue can be in the county where the person had property, left property subject to administration, or where property is later brought.
Bremer County is part of Iowa's Second Judicial District, but the district number does not move the filing counter. File a Bremer County probate matter with the clerk of the district court in Waverly.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, account information, real estate information, debts and family contact information before starting the Bremer County estate settlement.
- If someone is holding the will, that person must deliver it to the court that has jurisdiction after learning of the testator's death (Iowa Code 633.285).
- Decide which Iowa route fits the estate: the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit for qualifying personal property with no court filing, small estate administration under Iowa Code 635.1, probate of a will without administration, or full administration under Iowa Code 633.
- Register for EDMS before filing, or ask the Bremer County clerk how to request an exception if electronic filing is not reasonably available to you (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302).
- E-file the petition and supporting documents with the clerk of the district court for Bremer County. The original will is scanned and e-filed, and after e-filing it may be submitted to the clerk for nonelectronic preservation (Iowa Ct. R. 16.411).
- After appointment, the clerk issues the proper authority document. In a chapter 633 estate, that may be letters testamentary or letters of administration under Iowa Code 633. In a small estate, the clerk issues letters of appointment under Iowa Code 635.1.
- Complete the oath and any bond the court requires. The clerk's Waverly office can explain filing logistics, but cannot choose your route or prepare your petition.
- The personal representative gives notice as Iowa law requires, including publication once each week for two consecutive weeks and mailed notice to required people and known creditors (Iowa Code 633.230, 633.304).
- File the report and inventory within 120 days after qualification unless the court grants more time (Iowa Code 633.361). Iowa Code 633.31 costs are based on the probate assets listed in that report and inventory.
- Claims are filed with the clerk by the later of four months after the second publication or one month after mailed notice to a reasonably ascertainable creditor (Iowa Code 633.410).
- Administer the estate, pay allowed claims and taxes, sell or distribute property as authorized, and keep records for the final accounting or closing papers.
- Close the case. A small estate closes by closing statement and clerk discharge under Iowa Code 635.8. A chapter 633 estate closes through the final report and the court's order approving it and discharging the personal representative.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bremer County
Bremer County does not publish a local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. Iowa also does not provide a statewide decedent estate form packet or an interactive probate form interview, so a self-represented filer must prepare the petition, notices, report and inventory, and closing papers from Iowa law or work with a lawyer.
Before filing in Waverly, call the clerk of the district court at 319-352-5661, extension 101, to ask what the office expects with a Bremer County probate submission and how to handle any local filing logistics.
Local nuance
Bremer County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Bremer County filing |
|---|---|
| One filing counter in Waverly | The Bremer County Courthouse at 415 East Bremer Avenue is the published location for the clerk of the district court. No second Bremer County probate filing location is published. |
| Published clerk contacts | The clerk's main line is 319-352-5661, extension 101. The office also publishes fax 319-352-1054 and [email protected], but EDMS remains the filing system under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| County site routing | Bremer County's own site points Clerk of Court visitors to the Iowa Judicial Branch rather than hosting a county-run probate page. |
| No local probate packet | No Bremer County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. Call the Waverly clerk before filing if you are preparing papers without counsel. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit | The ceiling for the affidavit route is $100,000, effective July 1, 2026, and the estate must consist only of personal property with no interest in real estate (Iowa Code 633.356). |
| Report and inventory timing | The report and inventory deadline is 120 days after qualification, effective July 1, 2026 (Iowa Code 633.361). Iowa Code 633.356 is the same 2026 update cycle for the affidavit change. |
| Iowa inheritance tax repeal | Iowa imposes no inheritance tax on estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025 (Iowa Code 450.98). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Page last reviewed: August 2026.Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and account titles. Joint tenancy property is outside the Iowa Code 633.31 probate cost base, but any Bremer County probate filing is made through EDMS with the clerk in Waverly. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title issues and likely probate assets before the spouse chooses an estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit fits, it is presented to the holder of property rather than filed with the clerk. If real estate is involved or a court case is needed, the Bremer County filing is in Waverly. A nonresident personal representative qualifies by court order under Iowa Code 633.64. | Sunset lets the child organize account information from anywhere, prepare questions for the Waverly clerk, and avoid guessing which assets require a court case. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route does not handle a home. The estate will need a Bremer County court case, authority from the clerk, and attention to Iowa Code 633.31 costs based on the report and inventory. | Sunset helps assemble the asset picture, generate the probate packet with Waverly court details, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, Bremer County | Receives filings, issues letters, collects court costs and answers filing logistics. The clerk cannot give legal advice, choose the probate route or complete a petition. | Bremer County Courthouse, 415 East Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677. 319-352-5661, extension 101. Fax 319-352-1054. [email protected]. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. | 1-800-532-1275, weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Iowa attorney to answer. This is not representation. | iowa.freelegalanswers.org |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | Iowa State Bar Association lawyer referral search by practice area, county and city, with a reduced fee for up to thirty minutes of initial consultation. | iowabar.org |
| Application to Defer Costs | If you cannot afford court costs, file a written Application to Defer Costs with the Bremer County clerk and a judge decides whether costs can be postponed. | Ask the clerk in Waverly about filing the application. A free Iowa Interactive Court Forms interview is available for this fee-waiver request. |
| Iowa Courts Online | Free public docket search with no registration. The docket is an index; public case documents are viewed at a courthouse terminal. | https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame. Technical help desk: 1-800-831-1396. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, benefits and other assets. A clearer asset list makes the Bremer County estate settlement more accurate before anything is filed in Waverly.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the petition, notices, report and inventory, and closing papers, with the Bremer County courthouse details built into the packet.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has real estate, disputes, an out-of-state personal representative or uncertain filing choices, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney who works with Iowa estates.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, find assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bremer County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Bremer County Courthouse, 415 East Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677. The court is the Iowa District Court for Bremer County.
Does Bremer County require e-filing for probate?
Yes. Iowa requires EDMS filing for attorneys and self-represented filers (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302). If electronic filing is not reasonably available to you, ask the Bremer County clerk how to request an exception under the rule.
What hours should I use for the Bremer County courthouse?
The courthouse publishes weekday building hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a note that hours may vary by department or office. Call 319-352-5661, extension 101, before traveling to confirm the clerk counter schedule.
Does Bremer County have local probate forms?
No Bremer County local probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published. Iowa also does not provide a statewide decedent estate form packet, so many families ask a probate attorney to prepare the filing.
How much does probate cost in Bremer County?
Iowa decedent-estate court costs are set by state law, not by Bremer County. Iowa Code 633.31 uses 0.2% of the value of probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. The clerk can explain collection logistics for your filing.
Will there be a probate hearing in Bremer County?
Most Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers filed with the clerk. A hearing may be set if someone objects, if the court orders one, or if a contested matter arises. Ask the Waverly clerk how a matter is set if your case needs court time.
Can I appear remotely for a Bremer County probate hearing?
Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party who wants remote appearance files a motion, and the judge decides under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
Can I look up a Bremer County probate case online?
Yes. Iowa Courts Online provides free public docket search without registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings; public case documents are viewed at a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed.
What if I have the original will?
After learning of the testator's death, a person holding the will must deliver it to the court that has jurisdiction (Iowa Code 633.285). For an EDMS filing, the will is scanned and e-filed, and after e-filing it may be submitted to the clerk for nonelectronic preservation (Iowa Ct. R. 16.411).
Do I have to travel to Waverly to start estate settlement?
Because EDMS filing is required under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, many filing steps can be handled electronically. If a hearing is set, remote appearance is decided by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302, so ask the clerk and any attorney helping you what the judge has ordered in your case.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.