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Lee County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lee County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Lee County |
| North Lee courthouse | 701 Avenue F, Fort Madison, IA 52627 |
| South Lee courthouse | 25 North 7th Street, Suite 301, Keokuk, IA 52632 |
| Mailing | Use the courthouse address for the office handling the case, and call before mailing if you are unsure which Lee County office applies. |
| Phone | North Lee, Fort Madison: 319-372-3523. South Lee, Keokuk: 319-524-2433. |
| Fax | North Lee: 319-372-2557. South Lee: 319-524-4699. |
| North Lee: [email protected]. South Lee: [email protected]. | |
| Hours | No counter hours are posted for either Lee County office. Call the Fort Madison or Keokuk clerk before visiting. |
| Filing fee | Iowa decedent estate court costs are based on 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items, under Iowa Code 633.31. Ask the clerk how costs will be collected in your case. |
| Local forms | No Lee County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is posted for either Fort Madison or Keokuk. |
| 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 or subscription. The docket is an index. Public case documents are viewed on a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
| Remote appearance | Court proceedings are presumed in person. A party asks for remote appearance by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302, and the judge decides case by case. |
| Website | Iowa Judicial Branch contact pages for Lee North and Lee South; county government: leecounty.iowa.gov. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Lee County probate route, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, account owners, beneficiary designations and real estate. That determines whether you need a court case, whether you can use an affidavit process outside court, and whether you should call the Fort Madison or Keokuk clerk before filing.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 institutions, then organizes the information a family needs before approaching the clerk, a bank or a local attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Lee County is served by two clerk of the district court offices: North Lee at 701 Avenue F in Fort Madison and South Lee at 25 North 7th Street, Suite 301 in Keokuk. Iowa Code 602.6105(2) says that in a county with two county seats, court is held at each county seat.
Venue is still by county. Under Iowa Code 633.12, the district court of the county where the decedent resided at death administers the estate. For a nonresident, venue is the Iowa county where the property is located or later brought. Lee County sits in Iowa's Eighth Judicial District, but probate for a Lee County estate is filed with Lee County's own clerk of the district court, not with another county.
No public Lee County rule states which of the two offices handles a particular probate filing. Call the office nearer the family or the decedent's residence before filing or traveling.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, a first asset list and a debt list. Anyone holding the will after learning of the death must deliver it to the court under Iowa Code 633.285.
- Choose the Iowa route before filing. The affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 is handled outside a court case when it applies. Otherwise the family may need chapter 635 small estate administration, probate of a will without administration, or full chapter 633 administration.
- Call the Lee County clerk before filing if you are unsure whether the Fort Madison or Keokuk office should handle the case. Lee County has two county seats, and no public rule divides probate filings between them.
- Register for EDMS or ask the appropriate Lee County clerk about an exception. Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 requires EDMS filing for self-represented filers as well as attorneys, while allowing a one-time paper filing for good cause or a case-long exception by court order.
- E-file the petition with the clerk of the district court for Lee County through EDMS under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If there is an original will, scan and e-file it, keep the paper original, and after e-filing you may submit it to the clerk for non-electronic preservation under Iowa Ct. R. 16.411.
- After the court authorizes administration, file the oath and any required bond. The clerk issues letters testamentary under Iowa Code 633 when there is a will, letters of administration under Iowa Code 633 when there is no will, and letters of appointment in a chapter 635 small estate under Iowa Code 635.1.
- Give notice. The personal representative publishes notice once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Lee County and mails required notices to known creditors and the persons required by Iowa Code 633.230 or Iowa Code 633.304.
- File the report and inventory with the clerk within 120 days after qualification unless the court allows more time, as provided by Iowa Code 633.361. Iowa Code 633.31 then applies the 0.2% court cost to the probate assets listed in that report and inventory.
- Track creditor claims. Under Iowa Code 633.410, claims are filed with the clerk by the later of four months after the second publication of notice or one month after notice is mailed to a reasonably ascertainable creditor. Medicaid recovery has its own six month timing under Iowa Code 633.410.
- Distribute and close. A chapter 635 small estate closes by closing statement and clerk discharge 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.
- If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how the judge handles appearance requests. Iowa proceedings are presumed in person, and a request to appear remotely is decided by motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lee County
Lee County does not post a local probate petition packet, cover sheet or checklist for either the Fort Madison office or the Keokuk office. Iowa also does not publish a statewide probate form packet for administering a decedent's estate, and its interactive court forms do not cover probate.
A self-represented filer usually drafts the petition, report and inventory, notices and closing documents from Iowa statutory requirements, or works with an Iowa attorney. The clerk's office can answer procedural questions, but it cannot choose the probate route, draft the petition or give legal advice.
Local nuance
Lee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two county seats | Lee County has a North Lee clerk's office in Fort Madison and a South Lee clerk's office in Keokuk. Iowa Code 602.6105(2) requires court to be held at each county seat in a county with two county seats. |
| Call before filing | No public Lee County rule says which office handles a particular probate matter. Call the Fort Madison office at 319-372-3523 or the Keokuk office at 319-524-2433 before filing or traveling. |
| Different contact blocks | North Lee uses 701 Avenue F, Fort Madison, fax 319-372-2557 and [email protected]. South Lee uses 25 North 7th Street, Suite 301, Keokuk, fax 319-524-4699 and [email protected]. |
| No posted local probate packet | Neither Lee County office posts a local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. Ask the clerk about procedure, not legal strategy. |
Recent updates
| Change | What changed |
|---|---|
| Affidavit ceiling | The Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit for distribution of property covers qualifying personal property estates up to $100,000, effective July 1, 2026. It does not apply when the probate assets include an interest in real estate. |
| Report and inventory timing | The report and inventory deadline is 120 days after qualification under Iowa Code 633.361, unless the court allows more time. |
| Inheritance tax repeal for new deaths | For a decedent who died on or after January 1, 2025, Iowa Code 450.98 provides that chapter 450 does not apply to that estate. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Lee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by reviewing the deed and account titles. Joint tenancy property is outside the Iowa Code 633.31 probate cost base, but a court case may still be needed for probate assets. If one is opened, call Fort Madison or Keokuk to confirm the right Lee County office before filing. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues and beneficiary designations so the spouse can see what is part of the estate settlement before filing. |
| 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 may be presented directly to the holder rather than filed with a Lee County clerk. If a court case is needed, a nonresident personal representative qualifies only by court order under Iowa Code 633.64. | Sunset helps the child work from out of state, assemble the asset picture and decide which Lee County office to call first. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | The affidavit route is not available when real estate is involved. The estate will generally need letters from the clerk, a Lee County court case and attention to Iowa Code 633.31 costs based on the report and inventory. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement file, prepares the probate packet with Fort Madison or Keokuk contact details, and connects the family with a local probate attorney for the sale and closing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, North Lee | 701 Avenue F, Fort Madison, IA 52627. Phone 319-372-3523, fax 319-372-2557, email [email protected]. Use for procedural questions about filings assigned to the Fort Madison office. |
| Clerk of the district court, South Lee | 25 North 7th Street, Suite 301, Keokuk, IA 52632. Phone 319-524-2433, fax 319-524-4699, email [email protected]. Use for procedural questions about filings assigned to the Keokuk office. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. Application line: 1-800-532-1275, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Iowans age 60 and older may call 1-800-992-8161. |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question at iowa.freelegalanswers.org and receive an answer from a volunteer Iowa attorney. |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | The Iowa State Bar Association's iowabar.org lawyer directory is searchable by practice area, county and city. Participating lawyers charge a reduced fee for up to thirty minutes of initial consultation. |
| Application to Defer Costs | A person who cannot afford court costs may file a written Application to Defer Costs with the appropriate Lee County clerk, and a judge decides. Iowa offers a free interactive form interview for that application. |
| Iowa Courts Online | Free public docket search at https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame. Technical help desk: 1-800-831-1396. |
When to hire an attorney
An Iowa attorney is especially useful in Lee County when real estate must be sold, creditors disagree, a will contest is possible, the estate may be insolvent, the proposed personal representative lives outside Iowa, or the family is unsure whether Fort Madison or Keokuk should receive the filing. The clerk has important statutory duties, but legal advice and drafting strategy belong with counsel. Sunset connects the family to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, insurers and other sources so the family can understand what exists before choosing a Lee County probate route.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the estate settlement information, drafts a filing-ready packet when a court case is needed, and includes the Lee County office details so the family can call Fort Madison or Keokuk before filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, disputes, creditor problems or an out-of-state personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with an Iowa probate attorney who understands local filing practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, collect documents and move forward without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Lee County?
File with the clerk of the district court for Lee County. Lee County has two offices: North Lee at 701 Avenue F in Fort Madison and South Lee at 25 North 7th Street, Suite 301 in Keokuk. Because no public rule divides probate filings between them, call before filing or traveling.
Is there one Lee County courthouse or two?
There are two court locations for Lee County probate filings, Fort Madison and Keokuk. Iowa Code 602.6105(2) provides that in a county with two county seats, court is held at each county seat.
Can I e-file a Lee County probate case myself?
Yes. Iowa requires EDMS filing for self-represented filers as well as attorneys under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If you cannot reasonably e-file, ask the appropriate Lee County clerk about a one-time paper filing exception or a case-long exception by court order.
Does Lee County have local probate forms?
No Lee County probate form, cover sheet or checklist is posted for either the Fort Madison office or the Keokuk office. Iowa also does not provide an interactive probate form interview for decedent estate administration.
How much are Lee County probate court costs?
Iowa uses the statewide court cost structure in Iowa Code 633.31. For decedent estates, the main court cost is 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory, plus statutory flat items. Ask the clerk when and how costs will be collected in your case.
Will I have a hearing in Lee County probate?
Most Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers filed with the clerk. A hearing can happen if someone objects, the court orders one, or a contested issue arises. Lee County does not post a regular probate hearing day for either office.
Can I appear remotely if a Lee County hearing is set?
Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party who wants to appear remotely files a motion under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302, and the judge decides case by case. Ask the clerk how to make that request in the assigned Lee County case.
Can I look up a Lee County probate case online?
Use Iowa Courts Online for free public docket search. The docket is an index of filings and events. Public case documents are viewed on a courthouse terminal in the county where the case was filed, which in Lee County may mean the Fort Madison or Keokuk courthouse.
Do I have to travel to Lee County to start probate?
Not always. EDMS filing under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302 allows electronic filing, and many uncontested probate steps are handled on the papers. If a hearing or original document issue arises, call the assigned Lee County office for instructions.
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.