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Worth County, IA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Worth County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Iowa District Court for Worth County |
| Filing office | Clerk of the district court, Worth County Courthouse |
| Courthouse address | 1000 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459 |
| Mailing address | No separate clerk post office box is published. Use the courthouse address unless the clerk tells you otherwise. |
| Phone | 641-324-6539 |
| Fax | 641-244-4792 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Each weekday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The courthouse and court are closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. No separate filing cutoff is published. |
| Judicial district | Iowa's Second Judicial District. Worth County cases are still filed in Northwood. |
| 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. Ask the clerk how costs will be collected in your filing. |
| Local forms | Worth County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. |
| E-filing | EDMS filing 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 case documents are viewed on a courthouse public terminal in the county where the case was filed. |
| Remote appearance | Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party seeking remote appearance uses the motion process in Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. |
| Website | Worth County government site: worthcountyiowa.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Worth County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, co-owners and beneficiary designations. That inventory drives the estate settlement route, the need for letters, the notice work and the court costs tied to the report and inventory.
Sunset can help search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what you find for a Worth County filing or for a conversation with a probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for Worth County is filed with the clerk of the district court at the Worth County Courthouse in Northwood. Worth County is part of Iowa's Second Judicial District, but the district is an administrative grouping. A Worth County estate is filed in Northwood, not at another county seat.
Venue follows Iowa Code 633.12. If the decedent was a Worth County resident at death, the Worth County district court is the filing county. If the decedent was not an Iowa resident, venue depends on Iowa property located in Worth County or brought into Worth County.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the death certificate, the original will if there is one, a list of probate and non-probate assets, known debts, names and addresses for heirs and devisees, and the information needed for estate settlement decisions.
- If someone has the decedent's will, that person must deliver it to the court with jurisdiction over the estate under Iowa Code 633.285. In Worth County, call the clerk at 641-324-6539 if you need local handling instructions.
- Choose the Iowa route before drafting papers. The affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 is not a court filing and applies only to qualifying personal property after forty days under Iowa Code 633.356. Chapter 635 small estate administration is a court case with letters of appointment under Iowa Code 635.1. A will can also be probated without administration under Iowa Code 633.31 and Iowa Code 633.305, or the estate can proceed through chapter 633 administration.
- Register for EDMS or ask how to request an e-filing exception. Iowa requires EDMS filing for self-represented filers as well as attorneys, with one-time and case-long exceptions addressed in Iowa Ct. R. 16.302.
- E-file the petition with the clerk of the district court for Worth County. The original will is scanned and e-filed, and after e-filing it may be submitted to the clerk for nonelectronic preservation under Iowa Ct. R. 16.411.
- After appointment and qualification, the clerk issues the authority document. A testate chapter 633 estate uses letters testamentary under Iowa Code 633. An intestate chapter 633 estate uses letters of administration under Iowa Code 633. A chapter 635 estate uses letters of appointment under Iowa Code 635.1.
- Publish and mail the required notices. Iowa notice to creditors 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. Claims are filed with the clerk by the later of four months after the second publication or one month after mailing to a reasonably ascertainable creditor under Iowa Code 633.410.
- File the report and inventory within 120 days after qualification unless the court allows more time, under Iowa Code 633.361. Iowa court costs are based on 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31.
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, paying allowed claims and expenses, handling tax requirements, and preparing distribution. If a hearing or appearance is set, remote appearance is handled by motion and judge decision under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302.
- Close the case. 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 final report and discharging the personal representative.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Worth County
Worth County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist for the Northwood filing counter. Iowa also does not publish a statewide probate form packet, and the Iowa interactive court forms program does not cover probate.
A self-represented filer should expect to draft the petition, report and inventory, notices and closing papers from Iowa probate requirements or work with a lawyer. Before submitting through EDMS, call the Worth County clerk at 641-324-6539 to ask what the Northwood office wants included with the filing.
Local nuance
Worth County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Noon closure | The courthouse and court are open each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan counter visits, calls and same-day filing questions around the noon to 1:00 p.m. closure. |
| Correct clerk phone | Use 641-324-6539 for the Worth County clerk of the district court. If you have an estate settlement deadline or an EDMS exception question, start with this number. |
| Fax and email | The clerk publishes fax 641-244-4792 and email [email protected]. These are contact channels, not a substitute for required EDMS filing unless the clerk or court authorizes a paper exception under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means for Worth County filings |
|---|---|
| Affidavit ceiling changed effective July 1, 2026 | The affidavit for distribution of property under Iowa Code 633.356 now reaches qualifying estates with probate assets that consist only of personal property, no interest in real estate, and $100,000 or less under Iowa Code 633.356. |
| Report and inventory deadline changed effective July 1, 2026 | The report and inventory deadline is 120 days after qualification unless the court grants more time, under Iowa Code 633.361. |
| Iowa inheritance tax ended for newer deaths | Iowa imposes no inheritance tax on estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, under Iowa Code 450.98. Iowa also has no state estate tax. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Worth County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether any asset passes outside probate. Joint tenancy property is outside the Iowa Code 633.31 court-cost base. If an estate must be opened, file through EDMS with the Worth County clerk in Northwood and avoid the noon closure for counter questions. | Sunset helps locate accounts, organize title and beneficiary information, and prepare a clean estate settlement summary for the clerk or attorney. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the probate assets consist only of personal property, there is no real estate interest, the value is $100,000 or less under Iowa Code 633.356, and forty days have passed under Iowa Code 633.356, the affidavit may go directly to the property holder. If a court case is needed under chapter 635, a nonresident personal representative needs a court order under the Iowa route referenced by that chapter. | Sunset helps separate bank accounts, beneficiary assets and debts so you can see whether a court filing in Northwood is needed. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | Because real estate is involved, the Iowa Code 633.356 affidavit is not the path. The estate usually needs a Worth County court case, letters from the clerk, publication and mailed notices, and court costs based on the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list, generate a filing packet and connect the family with Worth County probate counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the district court, Worth County | Receives Worth County filings, issues letters after qualification, answers procedural questions and can explain local counter logistics. The clerk cannot provide legal advice or choose the probate route for you. | Worth County Courthouse, 1000 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459. Phone 641-324-6539. Fax 641-244-4792. Email [email protected]. |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans, subject to eligibility and case priorities. | 1-800-532-1275 |
| Iowa Free Legal Answers | Income-eligible Iowans can post a civil legal question for a volunteer Iowa attorney to answer. | iowa.freelegalanswers.org |
| Iowa Find-A-Lawyer | Iowa State Bar Association lawyer directory with a reduced-fee initial consultation option. | iowabar.org |
| Application to Defer Costs | If you cannot afford court costs, you can file an application with the Worth County clerk and a judge decides whether to postpone costs. | File with the clerk of the district court in Northwood. |
| Iowa Courts Online | Free public docket search for Worth County and other Iowa counties. | www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across financial institutions and helps turn scattered information into an organized estate settlement inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to assemble the documents and next-step checklist for the Iowa route that fits the estate.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal judgment, real estate work or help with a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Iowa probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand the Worth County process and move the estate settlement forward without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Worth County?
File with the clerk of the district court at the Worth County Courthouse, 1000 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459. Worth County is in Iowa's Second Judicial District, but Worth County probate is filed in Northwood.
What phone number should I use for the Worth County clerk?
Use 641-324-6539 for the Worth County clerk of the district court. The clerk's office also publishes fax 641-244-4792 and email [email protected].
Is the Worth County courthouse closed at lunch?
Yes. The courthouse and court are open each weekday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan calls or counter visits around the noon to 1:00 p.m. closure.
Does Worth County have local probate forms?
Worth County publishes no local probate form, cover sheet or checklist. Iowa also does not publish a statewide probate form packet for probate, so many families use an attorney or a document-preparation service for the estate settlement paperwork.
Can I e-file a Worth County probate case?
Yes. EDMS filing is required in Iowa for attorneys and self-represented filers under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302. If you cannot reasonably e-file, ask the Worth County clerk how to request an exception under Iowa Ct. R. 16.302.
Will I have a hearing in Worth County probate?
Many Iowa probate matters are handled on the papers filed with the clerk. A hearing can occur if someone objects, the judge orders one or a contested issue arises. If a hearing is set, ask the clerk how that matter will be handled.
Can I appear remotely for a Worth County probate hearing?
Iowa proceedings are presumed in person. A party who wants remote appearance files a motion, and the judge decides under Iowa Ct. R. 15.302. Worth County does not publish a separate probate appearance practice.
How do I look up a Worth County probate case?
Use Iowa Courts Online. It provides free public docket search with no registration. The docket is an index of filings and proceedings, while public case documents are viewed on a courthouse public terminal in the county where the case was filed.
What does Worth County probate cost?
Probate court costs in Iowa use the statewide formula of 0.2% of the probate assets listed in the report and inventory under Iowa Code 633.31, plus statutory flat items. Worth County does not set a separate probate filing fee.
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.