Back to Iowa
Davis County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Davis County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Davis County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, Davis County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield, IA 52537 |
| Mailing address | 100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield, IA 52537 |
| Phone | 641-664-2011 |
| Fax | 641-664-2041 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | The general courthouse is open each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clerk of court's counter is open each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m., call 641-664-2011 before relying on walk-in access. |
| Filing fee | Iowa decedent estate court costs use the statewide Iowa Code 633.31 structure, including 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory plus statutory flat items. Ask the Bloomfield clerk how costs will be collected in the case. |
| Local forms | Davis County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. |
| E-filing | Iowa uses EDMS, and registration and electronic filing are required for attorneys and self-represented filers, with rule-based exceptions available through the clerk or by court order (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; public case documents are viewed on a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
| Remote appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party who wants to appear remotely files a motion, and the judge decides under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | Davis County government: daviscountyiowa.gov. State court information is published through the Iowa Judicial Branch for the Eighth Judicial District and Davis County. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Davis County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account locations, beneficiaries, real estate and vehicle titles. Iowa procedure depends heavily on what is actually a probate asset, whether any real estate is involved, and whether a court case is needed at all.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help you search for accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize what you find, and decide what information needs to go into the Bloomfield filing packet or to a local attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Davis County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Davis County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Square in Bloomfield. The courthouse serves Davis County communities including Bloomfield, Drakesville, Floris and Pulaski.
Under Iowa's venue rule, the district court of the county where the decedent resided at death has jurisdiction. For a nonresident, the proper county is where the Iowa property is located or later brought (Iowa Code 633.12). Davis County is in Iowa's Eighth Judicial District, but a Davis County estate is filed in Bloomfield.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if one exists, account information, deed information, debts and names of interested people. Anyone who has custody of a will after learning of the death must deliver it to the court with jurisdiction over the estate (Iowa Code 633.285).
- Choose the Iowa route before filing. Some personal-property cases use the affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356, which is presented to the property holder and not opened as a court case. Other estates use small estate administration under chapter 635, probate of a will without administration, or full chapter 633 administration.
- Register for EDMS or ask the Bloomfield clerk how to request an exception. Iowa requires attorneys and self-represented filers to register and e-file unless a rule-based exception is granted (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302).
- Prepare and e-file the petition with the clerk of the district court for Davis County. If there is an original will, scan and e-file it, keep the paper original at least until the estate concludes, and ask the clerk whether the paper will should be submitted for non-electronic preservation (Iowa Ct. R. 16.411).
- After the court grants the needed appointment and the fiduciary qualifies, the clerk issues the authority document. A will case uses letters testamentary under chapter 633, a no-will case uses letters of administration under chapter 633, and a chapter 635 case uses letters of appointment under Iowa Code 635.1.
- Publish and mail required notices. Iowa 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 known creditors receive mailed notice; 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 allows more time (Iowa Code 633.361). Court costs are then assessed under Iowa Code 633.31, including 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory.
- Track creditor claims. Claims are barred unless filed with the clerk within the later of four months after the second publication or one month after mailed notice to a reasonably ascertainable creditor, with a separate Medicaid rule in Iowa Code 633.410.
- Administer, distribute and close. A small estate closes by closing statement and clerk discharge under Iowa Code 635.8. A chapter 633 estate closes through the final report process and the court's discharge order.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Davis County
Davis County does not publish a county-specific probate form packet, cover sheet or checklist. Iowa also does not publish a statewide probate form set for decedent estates, and the free Iowa interactive court-form program does not cover probate.
A self-represented filer in Davis County generally drafts the petition, notices, report and inventory, and closing papers from the Iowa Code requirements or works with a lawyer. The Bloomfield clerk can receive filings and answer procedural questions, but court staff cannot choose the route or draft the papers for you.
Local nuance
Davis County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Davis County filing |
|---|---|
| One filing counter | File Davis County probate matters with the clerk of the district court at the Davis County Courthouse in Bloomfield. The Eighth Judicial District does not move the filing to another county seat. |
| Different clerk hours | The courthouse closes at 4:00 p.m., but the clerk of court's counter is listed to 4:30 p.m. each weekday. For the 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. window, call 641-664-2011 before going in person. |
| Published fax and email | The clerk publishes fax 641-664-2041 and email [email protected]. These are contact options, not substitutes for EDMS filing under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| No local probate packet | Davis County does not publish its own probate form packet, cover sheet or checklist. Plan to draft papers from the Iowa requirements or use legal help. |
| Des Moines name trap | Davis County shares the Eighth Judicial District with Des Moines County, whose courthouse is in Burlington. That is not the city of Des Moines, which is in Polk County. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Affidavit for distribution of property | The Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit ceiling rose to $100,000 effective July 1, 2026, and the amended test is limited to probate assets that consist only of personal property, with no interest in real estate. |
| Report and inventory deadline | The report and inventory deadline moved to 120 days after qualification effective July 1, 2026 (Iowa Code 633.361). |
| Iowa inheritance tax | Iowa's inheritance tax ended for deaths on or after January 1, 2025 (Iowa Code 450.98). For earlier deaths, ask a lawyer or the Iowa Department of Revenue. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Davis County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with title. Joint tenancy property is outside the Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost base, so the house may not drive a probate filing. If a case is still needed, it is filed through EDMS with the clerk in Bloomfield. | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize deed and beneficiary information, and separate probate assets from assets that may pass outside the estate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If probate assets are only personal property and there is no interest in real estate, the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit route may go directly to the holder after forty days from death under Iowa Code 633.356. If real estate is involved, expect a Davis County court case through chapter 635 or chapter 633. | Sunset helps collect institution information, build an asset list, and connect the family with Iowa counsel if an out-of-state personal representative needs court approval. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home prevents use of the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit route. The family usually needs letters from the Davis County case before selling estate real estate, and Iowa Code 633.31 costs are based on the report and inventory rather than a flat opening charge. | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare an organized estate settlement packet, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when real estate must be sold. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, Davis County | Davis County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield, IA 52537. Phone 641-664-2011, fax 641-664-2041, email [email protected]. The clerk receives filings, issues letters and collects court costs, but cannot give legal advice. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case-type priorities. Call 1-800-532-1275, or 1-800-992-8161 for Iowans age 60 and older. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | At iowa.freelegalanswers.org, income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Iowa attorney to answer. It is a question-and-answer service, not full representation. |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | The Iowa State Bar Association's iowabar.org directory can be searched by practice area, county and city, and participating lawyers offer a reduced-fee initial consultation. |
| Application to Defer Costs | If you cannot afford court costs, file an Application to Defer Costs with the clerk of the district court in Bloomfield. A judge decides whether costs can be postponed, and Iowa offers a free interactive form interview for this request. |
| Iowa Courts Online | Use https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame for free public docket search. The help desk number is 1-800-831-1396. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in Davis County when the estate includes real estate, the family is unsure whether an asset is probate property, an out-of-state person wants to serve, heirs disagree, creditors are active, or no local form packet exists for the papers you need. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a practical inventory for estate settlement, including accounts the family may not already know about.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Davis County probate filings, notices and attorney review, so the family is not starting from a blank page.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Iowa probate attorney who understands Davis County filing through the Bloomfield clerk's office.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, discover assets and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for Davis County, Iowa?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Davis County Courthouse, 100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield, IA 52537. Davis County is in Iowa's Eighth Judicial District, but the filing stays in Bloomfield.
What are the Davis County clerk of court hours?
The general courthouse is open each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clerk of court's counter is listed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; for the 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. window, call 641-664-2011 before going in person.
Can I e-file a Davis County probate case myself?
Yes. Iowa uses EDMS, and self-represented filers must register and e-file unless a rule-based exception is granted (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302). Ask the Davis County clerk how to request a one-time paper filing or a longer exception if you cannot reasonably use EDMS.
Does Davis County have local probate forms?
Davis County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, cover sheet or checklist. Iowa also does not publish a statewide decedent-estate probate form set, so many families use a lawyer or prepare papers directly from the Iowa Code requirements.
How much does it cost to file probate in Davis County?
Iowa decedent estate court costs are set by statewide law, not by Davis County. The main cost is 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, plus statutory flat items. Ask the Bloomfield clerk how the cost will be collected in the specific case.
Can I look up a Davis County probate case online?
Yes. Iowa Courts Online provides free public docket search with no registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings. Public case documents are viewed on a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed.
Will I have to attend a hearing in Davis County?
Many Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers, but a hearing can be set if someone objects, the court orders one, or a contested issue arises. If a hearing is set and you want to appear remotely, file a motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302 and wait for the judge's decision.
Do I have to travel to Bloomfield if I live out of state?
Not always. EDMS handles filing electronically under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, and many routine filings are paper-based. If the court sets a hearing, remote appearance is not automatic; request it by motion 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.