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Johnson County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Johnson County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Johnson County |
| Filing office | Johnson County clerk of the district court |
| Courthouse address | Johnson County Courthouse, 417 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate post office box is published for the clerk. |
| Phone | 319-356-6060 |
| Fax | 319-356-6032 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Johnson County's published contact listing gives clerk counter hours as weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 319-356-6060 before making a trip. |
| Filing fee | Iowa uses the statewide probate cost formula: 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items, under Iowa Code 633.31. The clerk can tell you what will be charged in the case. |
| Local forms | No Johnson County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is published for settling a decedent's estate. |
| E-filing | EDMS is required 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 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 asks for remote appearance by motion, decided case by case under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-6/district/6/county/johnson |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing in Johnson County, make a full list of assets, debts, beneficiary designations, real estate, vehicles, accounts and any will. In Iowa, the court cost turns on the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, and the right path depends on what the estate actually contains.
Also decide how you will file. EDMS filing is the default in Johnson County under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, even without a lawyer, so a trip to 417 South Clinton Street usually matters only for a paper filing after an exception, viewing documents on the courthouse terminal, or attending a hearing. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families begin estate settlement with the account picture in front of them.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Johnson County is filed with the Johnson County clerk of the district court at the Johnson County Courthouse in Iowa City. The courthouse serves Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin and the rest of Johnson County.
Venue follows Iowa Code 633.12: the court of the county where the decedent resided at death has jurisdiction, and a nonresident estate can be administered in the Iowa county where property is located. Johnson County is in Iowa's Sixth Judicial District with Benton, Iowa, Jones, Linn and Tama Counties, but that district grouping does not merge filing counters. A Johnson County estate is filed in Iowa City.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the will if there is one, and a first list of assets and debts. Anyone holding the will must deliver it to the court after learning of the death (Iowa Code 633.285).
- Choose the Iowa route before filing: the affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 when it fits, small estate administration under chapter 635, probate of a will without administration, or full administration under chapter 633.
- Register for EDMS, or file a written request with the Johnson County clerk of court asking to be excused from electronic filing for good cause (Iowa Ct. R. 16.302).
- E-file the petition with the Johnson County clerk of the district court. If the court has allowed a paper filing, bring the papers to the clerk's counter at 417 South Clinton Street in Iowa City while the office is open.
- Scan and e-file the original will. After electronic filing, the paper original may be given to the clerk for non-electronic preservation (Iowa Ct. R. 16.411).
- File the oath and any required bond. The clerk issues letters testamentary or letters of administration in a chapter 633 estate, and letters of appointment in a chapter 635 small estate (Iowa Code 633.178, 635.1).
- Publish notice once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Johnson County, and mail the required notices to the surviving spouse, heirs, devisees and known creditors (Iowa Code 633.230, 633.304).
- File the report and inventory with the clerk within 120 days after qualification unless the court allows more time (Iowa Code 633.361).
- Pay court costs when assessed. The main probate cost is 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, and a Sixth Judicial District allowance to a referee in probate may also be taxed by the clerk as a cost.
- Handle claims 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).
- Distribute assets and close the estate. A chapter 635 small estate closes by closing statement and clerk discharge (Iowa Code 635.8); a chapter 633 estate closes through a final report and the court's order approving it and discharging the personal representative.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Johnson County
Johnson County does not publish a local probate petition, cover sheet, checklist or decedent-estate form packet. The Sixth Judicial District publishes a standing order about referees in probate and costs, but that is not a form a family fills in.
Iowa's free interactive form program does not cover decedent estate settlement. A self-represented filer drafts the petition, the report and inventory, and the notices from the statutory requirements or works with a lawyer.
Fees
Johnson County does not set a local probate filing charge. Iowa probate costs are set by statute, and the main court cost is 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, plus statutory flat items.
Johnson County is in the Sixth Judicial District. Under a standing district order, the clerk of court or the clerk's designee serves as referee in probate unless a judge appoints someone else, and an allowance to a referee in probate may be taxed and collected by the clerk as part of the estate costs. Ask the clerk what will be charged in the case.
Electronic filing adds no extra Iowa court system fee. If a person cannot afford costs, the Application to Defer Costs is filed with the clerk and decided by a judge.
Local nuance
Johnson County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| One probate filing counter | Probate filings for Johnson County go to the Johnson County Courthouse at 417 South Clinton Street in Iowa City. The Juvenile Court Office at 855 South Dubuque Street is a separate address and is not the probate filing location. |
| Secure entrance | The Iowa Judicial Branch lists the secure entrance immediately behind the courthouse on the northwest side, with a metal detector requirement. |
| Written contact options | The clerk publishes a phone line, fax number and office email, so a procedural question can be put in writing before a trip to Iowa City. |
| Case scheduling contact | The clerk's main number includes a case scheduling extension. The published listing does not label it as probate-specific, so ask the clerk how a Johnson County probate matter is set. |
| Court sessions and motion days | The Sixth Judicial District's 2026 schedule lists Johnson County district court sessions and motion days every weekday. That is a general district court calendar fact, not a probate docket or a promise that a hearing will be set. |
| Referee in probate | Under a Sixth Judicial District order, the clerk of court or the clerk's designee is the referee in probate unless a judge appoints someone else. Any allowance to that referee may be taxed and collected by the clerk as a cost. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Johnson County 2026 calendar | The Sixth Judicial District's 2026 court and motion day schedule lists Johnson County district court sessions and motion days every weekday. This is not a separate probate docket. |
| Affidavit route | Iowa's affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 reaches $100,000 of qualifying personal property, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Report and inventory | The report and inventory deadline moved to 120 days after qualification, effective July 1, 2026 (Iowa Code 633.361). |
| Iowa inheritance tax | For deaths on or after January 1, 2025, Iowa Code 450.98 provides that Iowa's inheritance tax is not imposed. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Johnson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with how the Iowa City or Coralville home is titled. Joint tenancy property passes outside the estate and is excluded from the Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost base. If a court case is needed, file through EDMS with the Johnson County clerk of the district court. | Sunset traces accounts, policies and debts before filing, so the spouse can see which assets are in the estate and which pass outside it. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Most steps can be handled without traveling to Iowa City because EDMS filing is online and Iowa Courts Online shows the Johnson County docket. The affidavit route under Iowa Code 633.356 works only when the estate has no interest in real estate. If a personal representative who lives outside Iowa is needed, qualification depends on a court order under Iowa Code 633.64. | Sunset builds the asset picture and assembles the packet remotely, reducing trips made only to find out what the estate owns. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home means the no-court affidavit route is not the path. The case is filed in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County, and the personal representative needs letters before Johnson County real estate can be sold. The Iowa Code 633.31 cost formula and the Sixth Judicial District referee in probate allowance can both affect the estate's costs. | Sunset helps identify liens, mortgages, accounts and debts before the sale is priced and before the report and inventory is filed. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County clerk of the district court | Takes Johnson County filings, issues letters, and answers procedural questions. Court staff cannot give legal advice, choose the case type or complete forms for you. | 319-356-6060; fax 319-356-6032; [email protected]; 417 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for income-eligible Iowans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. | 1-800-532-1275, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Johnson County's public services listing also gives an Iowa City office address at 1700 South 1st Avenue. |
| Legal Hotline for Older Iowans | Free civil legal help for Iowans age 60 or older. | 1-800-992-8161, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | A virtual clinic where an income-eligible Iowan can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Iowa attorney. | https://iowa.freelegalanswers.org |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | Iowa State Bar Association directory searchable by practice area, county and city, with a reduced-fee initial consultation from participating lawyers. | https://www.iowabar.org |
| Application to Defer Costs | Written request to postpone costs when a person cannot afford them, filed with the clerk and decided by a judge. Iowa Interactive Court Forms provides a free guided interview for this request. | https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/civil-court-fees/ |
| Iowa Courts Online | Free Johnson County docket search with no registration. The docket is an index; public documents are viewed on a courthouse terminal. | https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame |
When to hire an attorney
Talk with a Johnson County probate attorney when the will is contested, an heir cannot be found, the estate may be insolvent, there is a business interest or Iowa farmland, Medicaid recovery is involved, or a home must be sold before the estate can close. Counsel also helps because neither Johnson County nor Iowa provides a fill-in packet for settling a decedent's estate, so the petition, notices and report and inventory are drafted from the statutes. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate bank accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, real estate clues and debts so the personal representative can start with a clear estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the petition, notices, inventory and closing documents, tailored to the Johnson County filing path.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Iowa probate attorney who understands Johnson County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps and decide whether attorney help is needed without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Johnson County?
File with the Johnson County clerk of the district court at the Johnson County Courthouse, 417 South Clinton Street in Iowa City, in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County. Filings are made through EDMS unless the court has excused you from electronic filing under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302.
Do I have to e-file my Johnson County probate case?
Yes, unless the court excuses you. EDMS filing is required for self-represented filers as well as attorneys under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If you need an exception, file a written request with the clerk of court for each active case and ask to be excused for good cause.
What does it cost to open a probate case in Johnson County?
There is no single flat opening amount to print. Iowa uses the 0.2% court-cost formula on the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, plus statutory flat items. In Johnson County, a Sixth Judicial District allowance to a referee in probate may also be taxed by the clerk. Electronic filing adds no extra Iowa court system fee, and an Application to Defer Costs is available if you cannot afford costs.
Does Johnson County have its own probate forms?
No. Johnson County does not publish a local probate form, cover sheet or checklist for settling a decedent's estate, and Iowa's free interactive forms do not cover decedent estate settlement. A self-represented filer drafts the required papers from the statutes or works with a lawyer.
When is the Johnson County clerk of court office open?
Johnson County's published contact listing gives clerk counter hours as weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 319-356-6060 before making a trip, especially if you have been excused from EDMS filing under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 and need to hand over a paper filing.
Can I contact the Johnson County clerk of court without going to Iowa City?
Yes. The clerk publishes 319-356-6060, fax 319-356-6032 and [email protected]. Court staff can answer procedural questions, but cannot give legal advice or complete documents for you.
Will there be a hearing, and can I attend it by video?
Most Iowa probate is handled on the papers filed with the clerk. A hearing happens if someone objects, a contested matter arises, or the court orders one. Iowa proceedings are presumed in person, and remote appearance is requested by motion and decided case by case under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. The Sixth Judicial District lists Johnson County court sessions and motion days every weekday, but that is not a probate hearing calendar.
Can I look up a Johnson County probate case online?
Yes. Iowa Courts Online provides free public docket search with no registration. It shows an index of filings and proceedings. Public case documents are viewed on a public access terminal at the Johnson County Courthouse.
Do I have to travel to Iowa City to settle an estate here?
Often, no. EDMS registration and filing are online under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302, and the Johnson County docket is searchable online. The main reasons to go to the courthouse are a paper filing after an exception, viewing public documents on the terminal, or attending a hearing the court sets.
Is probate for Iowa City filed anywhere other than Johnson County?
No. Iowa City is the Johnson County seat. An estate for a person who lived in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin or elsewhere in Johnson County is filed at the Johnson County Courthouse under the venue rule in Iowa Code 633.12. The Sixth Judicial District groups six counties for administration, but each county keeps its own filing counter.
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.