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Dallas County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Dallas County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Dallas County |
| Filing office | Dallas County clerk of the district court |
| Courthouse address | Dallas County Courthouse, 801 Court Street, Adel, IA 50003 |
| Mailing address | The clerk posts the courthouse address and does not post a separate mailing address or post office box. Use 801 Court Street, Adel, IA 50003, and call before mailing anything time-sensitive. |
| Phone | 515-993-7018 |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | No fax number is posted for the Dallas County clerk of the district court. |
| Hours | The clerk's counter hours are not posted online. Call 515-993-7018 before travelling to Adel, especially if you have permission to bring a paper filing. |
| Filing fee | Iowa uses the Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost formula for decedent estates: 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. Ask the clerk how the cost will be collected in your case. |
| Local forms | Dallas County does not post a local probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. |
| E-filing | EDMS is required for attorneys and self-represented filers under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, unless the clerk or court grants an exception. |
| Case search | Iowa Courts Online is the statewide free public docket search. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings. Public case documents are viewed on a courthouse public access terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
| Video appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party asks for a remote appearance by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302, and the judge decides case by case. |
| Website | https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/district/5/county/dallas |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Start estate settlement by making a full asset and debt list before opening anything with the Dallas County clerk of the district court. In Iowa, the court cost is tied to the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, so knowing the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts and beneficiary designations first matters. Sunset's search can help families look across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets that might otherwise be missed.
Gather the death certificate and the original will before you prepare a filing. For a death record held by Dallas County, certified copies come from the Dallas County Recorder at 800 Court Street, Suite 130, in Adel, in writing, with photo identification, from someone entitled to the record. The court filing itself belongs across the street at the courthouse, 801 Court Street, with the clerk of the district court.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Dallas County is filed with the Dallas County clerk of the district court at the Dallas County Courthouse, 801 Court Street, Adel. Dallas County is part of Iowa's Fifth Judicial District, an administrative grouping of judges, but that does not move a Dallas County estate to Polk County or to Des Moines.
Iowa venue is county-based. The district court of the county where the decedent resided at death has original and exclusive jurisdiction to administer the estate. For a nonresident who left property in Iowa, the county where the property is located, or is later brought, is the proper county (Iowa Code 633.12).
Dallas County communities include Adel, Bouton, Clive, Dallas Center, Dawson, De Soto, Dexter, Granger, Grimes, Linden, Minburn, Perry, Redfield, Urbandale, Van Meter, Waukee, West Des Moines and Woodward. If the person who died lived on the Dallas County side of a metro-area city line, estate settlement is routed to Adel.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will and a first list of assets and debts. Certified copies of Dallas County death records are requested from the Dallas County Recorder at 800 Court Street, Suite 130, in Adel.
- Deliver the will to the court if you have custody of it and have learned of the death (Iowa Code 633.285).
- Decide the Iowa route before filing. The affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 has its own rules and is not filed as a court case. Small estate administration under chapter 635, probate of a will without administration and full administration are court routes.
- Register to file through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, or ask the Dallas County clerk about a one-time paper-filing exception or a case-long electronic-filing excuse if you cannot reasonably use the system.
- E-file the petition with the Dallas County clerk of the district court for the Iowa District Court for Dallas County. If paper filing is allowed, call 515-993-7018 first because the clerk's counter hours are not posted online and the courthouse is under interior renovation.
- Scan and e-file the original will. After electronic filing, the paper original may be submitted to the clerk for nonelectronic preservation under Iowa Ct. R. 16.411.
- Complete the oath and any bond the court requires. After the required oath or certification and any required bond, the clerk issues letters 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 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. Testate estates also require notice to the surviving spouse, heirs and devisees whose identities are reasonably ascertainable (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). The clerk charges court costs of 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, and a Fifth Judicial District referee in probate allowance may also be taxed as a cost of the estate.
- Manage claims filed with the clerk. Claims are barred unless filed within the later of four months after the second publication or one month after mailed notice to a reasonably ascertainable creditor, with the Medicaid rule handled separately in the same statute (Iowa Code 633.410).
- Record any document affecting Dallas County real estate with the Dallas County Recorder at 800 Court Street, Suite 130, in Adel. That office records real estate documents, but the probate case remains with the clerk of the district court at 801 Court Street.
- Distribute and close the estate. A chapter 635 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 Dallas County
Dallas County does not post a local probate packet, cover sheet, checklist or local probate rule. Iowa also does not provide a statewide probate form packet for opening and administering a decedent estate, and the Iowa interactive court-form program does not cover probate.
That means a self-represented filer must draft the petition, notices, report and inventory and closing documents from the Iowa statutes, or work with a lawyer. Dallas County filings are made through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 unless an exception is granted.
Fees
Dallas County does not set a local probate filing charge. Decedent estate court costs are set by Iowa law, including the Iowa Code 633.31 formula of 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus the statutory flat items. The clerk can tell you how that cost is handled in the Dallas County case.
One additional district-level cost layer may matter in Dallas County. In Iowa's Fifth Judicial District, the clerk in each county is appointed referee in probate unless a district judge has made a different appointment for that county. A referee in probate allowance may be taxed and collected as a cost of the estate under Iowa Code 633.20 and Iowa Code 633.21. Ask the Dallas County clerk what allowance applies to the estate, because the district publishes a graduated schedule and the amount depends on the estate.
If the family cannot afford court costs, a written Application to Defer Costs can be filed with the clerk and decided by a judge. Iowa's free interactive court-form program includes that fee-waiver interview, even though it does not include probate forms.
Local nuance
Dallas County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 801 Court Street is the courthouse | The Iowa District Court for Dallas County and the clerk of the district court are at 801 Court Street in Adel. That is where a probate case is filed and heard. |
| 800 Court Street is a different building | The Dallas County Administration Building is across the street at 800 Court Street. The Dallas County Recorder is there in Suite 130, which matters for death certificates and real estate recording, but it is not the probate filing counter. |
| One estate court location | Dallas County has one court location for estate matters, the courthouse in Adel. The Fifth Judicial District is not a shared filing counter. |
| Courthouse renovation | The courthouse has been under phased interior renovation since September 2025, with county materials showing work scheduled through the end of 2026. Call the clerk before travelling to Adel. |
| Security screening | People entering the Dallas County Courthouse pass through X-ray baggage screening and walk-through metal detection at the front security post. |
| Referee in probate | The Fifth Judicial District has a referee in probate cost layer that may be taxed as a cost of the estate under Iowa Code 633.20 and Iowa Code 633.21. |
| Metro-area addresses | A person with a West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Grimes or Waukee address can still be a Dallas County resident. If the decedent lived on the Dallas County side of the line, the estate is filed in Adel. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Dallas County Courthouse renovation | The courthouse in Adel has been under phased interior renovation since September 2025, with courthouse interior work scheduled for completion at the end of 2026. Call the clerk before making a trip to the courthouse. |
| Iowa affidavit update | The affidavit ceiling under Iowa Code 633.356 rose to $100,000 effective July 1, 2026. The affidavit route is separate from a Dallas County probate filing. |
| Report and inventory timing | The report and inventory is due within 120 days after qualification under Iowa Code 633.361, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Iowa inheritance tax repeal | Iowa imposes no inheritance tax on the estate of a person who died on or after January 1, 2025 (Iowa Code 450.98). |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Dallas County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titles for the Adel, Waukee or West Des Moines property. Jointly held property may be outside the Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost base, but any needed court file is opened with the Dallas County clerk of the district court in Adel through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. | Sunset helps find accounts, policies and titled assets first, so the spouse can see what actually needs court involvement before starting estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Dallas County filings are electronic through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, so many filing steps can be handled without travelling to Adel. If the child needs to serve as personal representative from outside Iowa, the court-order qualification issue should be reviewed with a lawyer. | Sunset helps assemble the asset picture, generate an organized probate packet and coordinate the estate settlement work remotely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home means a real court file with the Dallas County clerk in Adel and likely later recording work at the Dallas County Recorder's office at 800 Court Street. Court cost is based on the Iowa Code 633.31 percentage formula, not a flat opening charge, and a referee in probate allowance may also be taxed. | Sunset helps identify accounts and debts, prepare the filing packet and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when real estate has to be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Dallas County clerk of the district court | Call 515-993-7018 or email [email protected] for filing logistics, case-specific docket questions and how to request an electronic-filing exception. Staff cannot choose the probate route or draft the petition for you. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for income-eligible Iowans statewide. Apply by phone at 1-800-532-1275 on weekdays. Help depends on eligibility and case priorities. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | At iowa.freelegalanswers.org, income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Iowa attorney to answer. |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | The Iowa State Bar Association offers a lawyer directory searchable by practice area, county and city. Participating lawyers offer a reduced-fee initial consultation of up to thirty minutes. |
| Application to Defer Costs | If court costs are unaffordable, file a written Application to Defer Costs with the clerk. A judge decides whether to postpone payment, and Iowa's free interactive court-form program includes a guided interview for this application. |
When to hire an attorney
Probate counsel makes sense in Dallas County when the estate includes real estate, a business, a disputed claim, an out-of-state personal representative, unclear heirs, tax questions for an older death, or any family disagreement. It also helps because neither Iowa nor Dallas County posts a probate form packet, so the petition, notices, report and inventory and closing documents must be drafted correctly before they are filed through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. Sunset connects families with a vetted local attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search for accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before filing in Dallas County, so estate settlement starts with a clearer inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for review, including the details a lawyer or personal representative needs before filing with the Dallas County clerk of the district court.
Find a local probate attorney. When real estate, disputes, out-of-state service or missing information makes the case harder, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands Iowa practice and Dallas County routing.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement process, find assets and get attorney options without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Dallas County, Iowa?
File with the Dallas County clerk of the district court at the Dallas County Courthouse, 801 Court Street, Adel, IA 50003. Dallas County is in Iowa's Fifth Judicial District, but a Dallas County estate is filed in Adel.
Do I have to e-file in Dallas County, or can I bring paper to Adel?
EDMS is required for attorneys and self-represented filers under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If you cannot reasonably file electronically, ask the clerk about a one-time paper filing or the court process for a longer exception. Call 515-993-7018 before bringing paper because the clerk's counter hours are not posted online.
What is the filing fee for probate in Dallas County?
Dallas County does not set a local probate filing charge. Iowa uses the Iowa Code 633.31 formula, including 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. A Fifth Judicial District referee in probate allowance may also be taxed as a cost of the estate.
How do I look up a Dallas County probate case?
Use Iowa Courts Online for the public docket. The search is free and does not require registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings, while public case documents are viewed on a courthouse public access terminal in the county where the case was filed.
Does Dallas County have its own probate forms?
No. Dallas County does not post a local probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. Iowa also does not provide an interactive probate form set, so most families draft the filing documents from the statutory requirements or work with an attorney.
Will there be a hearing, and can I attend it by video?
Most Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers filed with the clerk, but a hearing can happen if someone objects, the court orders one or a contested matter arises. A party asks for a remote appearance by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302, and the judge decides case by case.
I live out of state. Do I have to travel to Adel?
Often not for filing, because EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 is the filing system for Dallas County. You may still need local help if the court requires an appearance, if real estate must be handled, or if you need court approval to serve as personal representative from outside Iowa.
The courthouse is being renovated. Is the clerk's office still open?
The county has published a phased interior renovation for the Dallas County Courthouse that began in September 2025 and is scheduled to continue through the end of 2026. The public materials do not post a clerk counter move or a public entrance instruction, so call 515-993-7018 before going to Adel.
Is the court at 800 Court Street or 801 Court Street?
The court and clerk of the district court are at 801 Court Street. The Dallas County Administration Building is at 800 Court Street, where the Dallas County Recorder is located. Probate filings go to the courthouse, not the Administration Building.
I have a West Des Moines address. Do I file in Dallas County or Polk County?
Use the county where the person who died resided at death. If the decedent lived on the Dallas County side of West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Grimes or Waukee, the estate is filed with the Dallas County clerk of the district court in Adel under Iowa Code 633.12.
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.