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Floyd County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Floyd County |
| Judicial district | Iowa's Second Judicial District. File Floyd County matters in Charles City. |
| Courthouse address | 101 S Main Street, Suite 403, Charles City, IA 50616 |
| Mailing address | No separate post office box is published for the clerk. Address mail to the clerk of the district court at the courthouse address, and call before mailing an original paper. |
| Phone | 641-228-7777 |
| Fax | 641-228-7772 |
| [email protected]. Email is not a filing channel. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. No lunch closure or filing cutoff is published. |
| Filing fee | Statewide court costs under Iowa Code 633.31: 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. Ask the clerk how costs are collected in the case. |
| Local forms | Floyd County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. |
| 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 with no 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. |
| Remote appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party asks for remote appearance by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | Floyd County's government site is floydco.iowa.gov. The clerk's department page lists the Charles City contact information. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Floyd County, make a practical inventory of the estate. List the home, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, debts, funeral expenses, possible Medicaid recovery issues and any will you can locate. The right estate settlement path depends on the asset picture before a petition is filed with the clerk in Charles City.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families look for accounts and assets before they choose a route, prepare questions for the clerk, or speak with an Iowa probate attorney. That early work can prevent an unnecessary filing and can make estate settlement less fragmented.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Floyd County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Floyd County Courthouse, 101 S Main Street, Suite 403, Charles City, IA 50616. The Iowa District Court for Floyd County sits in Iowa's Second Judicial District, but the Second Judicial District is an administrative grouping. A Floyd County estate is filed in Charles City.
Iowa venue is tied to the county. The district court of each county has original and exclusive jurisdiction to administer the estates of people who were residents of that county at death, and for nonresidents with property in Iowa, the county where the property is located or later brought into the county (Iowa Code 633.12).
The Floyd County courthouse in Charles City serves the county, including Charles City, Colwell, Floyd, Marble Rock, Nora Springs and Rudd.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of assets and debts, and contact information for heirs, devisees and known creditors. A person who has custody of the 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 estates use the affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 with no court case. Others need chapter 635 small estate administration, probate of a will without administration, or full administration under chapter 633. If the route is unclear, ask an attorney before submitting a petition.
- Register for EDMS or ask how to request an exception. Iowa requires electronic filing through EDMS for attorneys and self-represented filers, with one-time and case-long exceptions available in the rule (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302).
- E-file the petition with the clerk of the district court for Floyd County in Charles City. If there is an original will, scan and e-file it, keep the paper original as required, and ask the clerk whether to submit it for non-electronic preservation under Iowa Ct. R. 16.411.
- After the required oath and any bond, authority issues through the clerk. In a chapter 633 estate, the clerk issues 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.
- Give notice. After letters issue, the personal representative publishes notice once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the estate is pending and mails required notice to known creditors and other required recipients (Iowa Code 633.230, 633.304, 635.13).
- File the report and inventory within 120 days after qualification unless the court grants more time (Iowa Code 633.361). The court cost is then calculated under Iowa Code 633.31 using the probate assets listed in the report and inventory.
- Track creditor claims. Claims are filed with the clerk and are barred unless filed by the later of four months after the second publication of the notice to creditors or one month after mailed notice to a reasonably ascertainable creditor (Iowa Code 633.410).
- Handle any objections or contested issues. Most Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers filed with the clerk. If a hearing is set, a request for remote appearance is made by motion and decided under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
- Distribute and close. A chapter 635 small estate closes by closing statement and clerk action under Iowa Code 635.8. A chapter 633 estate closes through a final report and the court's order approving the report and discharging the personal representative.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Floyd County
Floyd County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist for decedent estates. The clerk's department page gives the office address, phone, fax and hours, but it does not provide a local packet for opening or closing an estate.
Iowa also does not provide a statewide fill-in probate packet for decedent estate administration. A self-represented filer usually drafts the petition, report and inventory, notices and closing papers from the statutory requirements or works with a lawyer. Call the Floyd County clerk of the district court at 641-228-7777 before filing to ask what the office wants included with a submission.
If the original will cannot be found, call the clerk in Charles City and ask whether a will is on deposit. Iowa clerks maintain a safekeeping file for wills deposited by living testators and for wills of deceased testators deposited without a probate petition (Iowa Code 633.286).
Local nuance
Floyd County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| One filing counter | File Floyd County probate matters with the clerk of the district court at 101 S Main Street, Suite 403, Charles City. |
| Suite matters | The clerk's office is listed at Suite 403. Use the suite number when addressing mail or planning an in-person visit. |
| Clerk hours are office hours | The clerk's own department page lists Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. A lunch closure or filing cutoff is not published, so call before making a time-sensitive trip. |
| Email is limited | The office-level email is [email protected]. Filing still goes through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
| No local probate packet | Floyd County does not publish a probate form, cover sheet or checklist. Ask the clerk what the counter wants included, but ask a lawyer for legal advice. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Affidavit for distribution of property | The Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit reaches qualifying personal-property estates of $100,000 or less, effective July 1, 2026. |
| 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 imposes no inheritance tax on the estate of a person who died on or after January 1, 2025 (Iowa Code 450.98). |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Floyd County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the deed and account titling. Joint tenancy property is outside the Iowa Code 633.31 probate-asset cost base. If a probate estate still needs to be opened, file through EDMS with the clerk of the district court in Charles City. | Sunset helps find accounts, organize title questions and build the estate settlement picture before the family files something unnecessary. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the decedent's probate assets consist only of personal property with no interest in real estate, the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit may be available for personal property of $100,000 or less, effective July 1, 2026. If a court case is needed instead, chapter 635 small estate administration applies to qualifying estates with gross probate assets of $200,000 or less, effective July 1, 2020 (Iowa Code 635.1). A nonresident personal representative qualifies only through the Iowa court process. | Sunset helps identify accounts, prepare questions for the Charles City clerk and connect the family with Iowa counsel when the route depends on real estate or nonresident service. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit route does not move a house. A court case in Floyd County will usually be needed to obtain authority, with letters issued through the clerk and court costs calculated under Iowa Code 633.31. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, generate an estate settlement packet and connect the family with a local probate attorney for the real estate sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, Floyd County | 101 S Main Street, Suite 403, Charles City, IA 50616. Phone 641-228-7777, fax 641-228-7772, email [email protected]. The clerk receives filings, issues letters and collects court costs, but the office cannot choose the probate route or draft the petition for you. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Call 1-800-532-1275. Iowans age 60 and older may call 1-800-992-8161. |
| 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 search by practice area, county and city. Participating lawyers charge a reduced fee for up to thirty minutes of initial consultation. |
| 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 Charles City. A judge decides whether to postpone the costs. Iowa offers a free interactive interview for that application. |
| Iowa Courts Online | Search the statewide public docket for free. The docket shows an index of filings and proceedings. Public case documents are viewed at a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
When to hire an attorney
An attorney makes sense in Floyd County when the estate includes real estate to sell, the will may be contested, creditor claims are disputed, the estate may be insolvent, family members disagree, or the proposed personal representative lives outside Iowa. Iowa does not give families a fill-in probate packet for decedent estates, Floyd County adds no local packet of its own, and EDMS filing applies to self-represented filers under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before the family chooses an estate settlement path in Floyd County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the facts, documents and family information needed to prepare for EDMS filing, a lawyer consultation, or a call with the clerk of the district court in Charles City.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Floyd County estate needs counsel, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Iowa probate attorney who can advise on the correct route, notices, real estate and closing steps.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets and get connected to help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Floyd County?
File with the clerk of the district court for Floyd County at the Floyd County Courthouse, 101 S Main Street, Suite 403, Charles City, IA 50616. Floyd County is in Iowa's Second Judicial District, but the Floyd County filing counter is in Charles City.
Does Floyd County have local probate forms?
No local probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published for Floyd County decedent estates. Call the clerk at 641-228-7777 to ask what the office wants included with a filing, and ask an attorney for legal advice about what to file.
Is e-filing required for a Floyd County probate?
Yes. Iowa requires EDMS filing for attorneys and self-represented filers, with exceptions available under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If you cannot reasonably file electronically, ask the Floyd County clerk how to request an exception.
Can I appear remotely for a Floyd County probate hearing?
Iowa court proceedings are presumed in person. A party who wants remote appearance files a motion, and the judge decides case by case under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. Many 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.
How do I look up a Floyd County probate case?
Use Iowa Courts Online for free public docket search. 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.
How much does probate cost in Floyd County?
Floyd County does not set its own probate cost. Iowa Code 633.31 uses a statewide structure, including 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. Ask the clerk how those costs are collected in the case.
Do I have to travel to Charles City?
Initial filings are made through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 unless an exception is granted. If a hearing is set and travel is difficult, ask an attorney or the clerk how to make a motion for remote appearance under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
What if I cannot find the original will?
Call the clerk of the district court in Charles City and ask whether a will is on deposit. Iowa clerks maintain a safekeeping file for wills deposited by living testators and for certain wills deposited after death (Iowa Code 633.286).
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.