Back to Iowa
Crawford County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Crawford County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Crawford County |
| Judicial district | Iowa's Third Judicial District. File Crawford County probate matters in Denison. |
| Courthouse address | Crawford County Courthouse, 1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, Denison, IA 51442 |
| Mailing address | No separate post office box is published for the clerk of the district court. Address mail to the clerk at the courthouse address and call before mailing original documents. |
| Phone | 712-263-2242 |
| Fax | 712-263-5753 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | The courthouse posts 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with department hours noted to vary. The clerk's own counter hours, lunch closures and filing cutoffs are not separately posted, so call before travelling. |
| Filing fee | Iowa Code 633.31 uses 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items listed in that section. The clerk can tell you how costs are collected in your filing. |
| Local forms | Crawford County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. |
| E-filing | EDMS e-filing is required in Iowa, including for self-represented filers, unless an exception is granted under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| Case search | Iowa Courts Online provides free public docket search with no registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings, not the court documents. |
| Remote appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party requests remote appearance by motion, and the judge decides under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | Crawford County government site: https://www.crawfordcounty.iowa.gov. Court contact information is published by the Iowa Judicial Branch. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you start a Crawford County probate filing, identify what the decedent owned, what passed outside probate, what debts may exist, and whether the original will is available. That asset picture controls whether estate settlement can stay outside a court case or must be opened with the clerk of the district court in Denison.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assemble a practical estate settlement picture before forms, notices and court costs start to drive the process.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Crawford County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Crawford County Courthouse, 1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, in Denison. The Iowa District Court for Crawford County sits in Iowa's Third Judicial District, but that district is an administrative grouping of courts. A Crawford County estate is filed in Denison.
Iowa Code 633.12 gives the court of each county jurisdiction over estates of people who were residents of that county at death. For a nonresident, the proper Iowa county is the county where the Iowa property is located or later brought. Crawford County communities include Arion, Aspinwall, Buck Grove, Charter Oak, Deloit, Denison, Dow City, Kiron, Manilla, Ricketts, Schleswig, Vail and Westside.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of probate and non-probate assets, known debts, and contact information for heirs, devisees and creditors. Anyone holding the will after learning of the death must deliver it to the court with jurisdiction under Iowa Code 633.285.
- Choose the Iowa route before opening a case. An affidavit under Iowa Code 633.356 is presented to the holder of personal property rather than opening a Crawford County court case. If a court case is needed, the route may be chapter 635 small estate administration, probate of a will without administration, or full administration under chapter 633.
- Register for EDMS before filing, unless you need to ask for an exception. Iowa requires EDMS e-filing for self-represented filers as well as attorneys, with one-time and case-long exceptions available under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302.
- E-file the petition with the clerk of the district court for Crawford County. If there is an original will, scan and e-file it, keep the paper original until the estate concludes or the court asks for it, and ask the Denison clerk whether the paper original should also be submitted for non-electronic preservation under Iowa Ct. R. 16.411.
- After the court authorizes administration and the oath and any required bond are handled, the clerk issues the authority document. In a chapter 633 estate, that may be letters testamentary or letters of administration under Iowa Code 633.178. In a chapter 635 small estate, the clerk issues letters of appointment under Iowa Code 635.1.
- Publish and mail the required notices. In an Iowa estate, notice is published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the estate is pending, and notice is mailed to known creditors and other required recipients under Iowa Code 633.230 or Iowa Code 633.304.
- File the report and inventory within 120 days after qualification unless the court allows more time, as provided by Iowa Code 633.361. The main probate court cost is then calculated under Iowa Code 633.31 as 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items listed in that section.
- Track creditor claims. Under Iowa Code 633.410, claims are barred unless filed with the clerk within the later of four months after the second publication of notice or one month after notice is mailed to a reasonably ascertainable creditor, with a separate Medicaid-recovery rule in that section.
- Distribute and close the estate. A chapter 635 small estate closes with a 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.
- Ask the clerk how any Crawford County hearing is set if an objection, court order or contested matter requires one. Most Iowa probate administration is handled on the papers, but a hearing can be required, and any request for remote appearance is decided under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Crawford County
Crawford County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist for decedent estates. The clerk's office in Denison receives probate filings, but it does not publish a downloadable local packet for opening or closing an estate.
Iowa's free interactive court-form program does not cover decedent-estate probate. A self-represented filer must prepare the petition, notices, report and inventory, and closing papers from Iowa's probate statutes or work with a lawyer. Before filing, call the Crawford County clerk at 712-263-2242 and ask what the office wants submitted with the EDMS filing.
Local nuance
Crawford County-specific considerations
- Crawford County probate is filed at one local filing counter: the clerk of the district court at the Crawford County Courthouse, 1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, in Denison.
- The clerk's phone number for probate filings is 712-263-2242. The office also publishes fax 712-263-5753 and email [email protected], but Iowa probate filings still go through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302.
- The courthouse posts 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with department hours noted to vary. Because the clerk's own counter hours, lunch closures and filing cutoffs are not separately posted, call before travelling to Denison.
- Crawford County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. Call the clerk before filing to ask what supporting papers the counter expects with an estate filing.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Affidavit ceiling increased | Iowa Code 633.356 now reaches qualifying personal-property estates of $100,000 or less, effective July 1, 2026. The affidavit route is not filed to open a Crawford County court case. |
| Report and inventory deadline changed | The report and inventory deadline is 120 days after qualification under Iowa Code 633.361, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Iowa inheritance tax ended for newer deaths | For deaths on or after January 1, 2025, Iowa Code 450.98 repeals Iowa inheritance tax for those estates. A family dealing with an earlier death should ask a lawyer or the Iowa Department of Revenue. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Crawford County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with title. Joint tenancy property is treated differently from probate assets for Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost purposes. If an estate still needs to be opened, file with the clerk of the district court in Denison through EDMS. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title clues so the spouse can avoid unnecessary filings and focus the estate settlement plan. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate fits Iowa Code 633.356, the affidavit is presented directly to the holder of the property and no Crawford County case is opened. If a court case is needed under chapter 635, an out-of-state personal representative should ask counsel about the court-order route under Iowa Code 633.64. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize the asset list and prepare questions for the Denison clerk before anything is filed or mailed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | An estate with a real estate interest cannot use the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit route. The family usually needs a court case in Denison, authority from the clerk, and court costs calculated under Iowa Code 633.31 from the report and inventory. | Sunset helps organize the probate packet, build the estate settlement checklist and connect the family with a local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, Crawford County | Crawford County Courthouse, 1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, Denison, IA 51442. Phone 712-263-2242, fax 712-263-5753, email [email protected]. The office receives probate filings, issues letters and collects court costs, but it cannot provide legal advice or choose a probate route for you. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. Statewide application line 1-800-532-1275. Iowans age 60 and older may call 1-800-992-8161. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | iowa.freelegalanswers.org. Income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question online for a volunteer Iowa attorney to answer. |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | iowabar.org. The Iowa State Bar Association directory is searchable by practice area, county and city, and participating lawyers offer a reduced-fee initial consultation of up to thirty minutes. |
| Application to Defer Costs | If you cannot afford court costs, file a written Application to Defer Costs with the clerk of the district court in Denison. A judge decides whether costs can be postponed, and Iowa provides a free interactive interview for that application. |
| Iowa Courts Online | https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame. Free public docket search for Iowa cases with no registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings, not the documents. |
When to hire an attorney
Counsel makes sense in Crawford County when the estate includes real estate to sell, a disputed will, a disputed claim, possible insolvency, an out-of-state personal representative, or uncertainty about whether EDMS filing is practical. Iowa does not provide a fill-in probate packet for decedent estates, and Crawford County adds no local form set of its own. The clerk has real statutory powers in Iowa probate, but the clerk cannot give legal advice or prepare your filing. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions so families can find accounts, debts and beneficiary clues before deciding whether Crawford County probate is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the death certificate, will information, asset list, contact details and court-ready next steps so the estate settlement process is easier to manage.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Crawford County estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands Iowa filings and the Denison courthouse process.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to get organized, understand the probate path and move estate settlement forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Crawford County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Crawford County Courthouse, 1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, Denison, IA 51442. Crawford County is in Iowa's Third Judicial District, but the filing counter for a Crawford County estate is in Denison.
What phone number should I call for Crawford County probate?
Call the clerk of the district court at 712-263-2242. The office also publishes fax 712-263-5753 and email [email protected].
Does Crawford County have local probate forms?
No local probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published for Crawford County decedent estates. Iowa's interactive court forms do not cover decedent-estate probate, so call the clerk before filing and consider getting legal help with the petition and notices.
Do I have to use EDMS for a Crawford County probate filing?
Yes. EDMS e-filing is required in Iowa for attorneys and self-represented filers under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, unless an exception is granted. If you cannot reasonably e-file, ask the Denison clerk how to request a one-time paper filing or a case-long exception.
Can I appear remotely for a Crawford County probate hearing?
Iowa proceedings are presumed in person, and a party who wants remote appearance must ask by motion. The judge decides case by case under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. Many probate matters are handled on papers, but if a hearing is set, call the clerk about how that judge handles requests.
How do I look up a Crawford County probate case?
Use Iowa Courts Online for free public docket search. The docket shows an index of filings and proceedings. Public court documents are viewed at a public access terminal at the courthouse where the case was filed.
What are the Crawford County courthouse hours?
The courthouse posts 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with department hours noted to vary. The clerk's own counter hours and filing cutoffs are not separately posted, so call 712-263-2242 before travelling.
What does probate cost in Crawford County?
Iowa Code 633.31 controls decedent-estate court costs. The main court cost is 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items listed in that section. Crawford County does not set a separate local probate filing price.
Do I have to travel to Denison to handle estate settlement?
Not always. Iowa probate filings are made through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, and many probate matters are handled on the papers. If a hearing is set, remote appearance is not automatic, and any request is decided under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
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.