Relating to decedent property, including deposit accounts, small estate affidavits, and distribution of child support

Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ray Sorensen (R)

Topics:Courts & civil law

Same legislation: HF 817

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedMarch 6, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2026
Done: House committeeFebruary 17, 2026
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 9, 202690–0
Done: Senate committeeMarch 18, 2026
Done: Passes the SenateApril 7, 202645–0
Done: To the GovernorApril 16, 2026
Done: Signed into lawApril 16, 2026

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to decedent property, including deposit accounts, small estate affidavits, and distribution of child support.356 (distribution of property by affidavit) to collect and transfer a decedent’s personal property that would otherwise be distributed by will or intestate succession if the gross value of the personal property is $50,000 or less and the estate includes no real property, or if the death occurred prior to January 1, 2025, the real property passes to a person exempt from inheritance tax as joint tenants with full rights of survivorship, and at least days have elapsed since the decedent’s death.

Read the full explanation

The bill increases the maximum allowable gross value of personal property eligible for the affidavit procedure from $50,000 to $100,000. The bill also provides that the decedent’s probate assets must consist only of personal property, and eliminates the real property exception for deaths occurring prior to January 1, 2025. The requirement that days must elapse following the decedent’s death remains unchanged. As under current law, a successor may act by furnishing an affidavit and without procuring letters of appointment from the court. The bill allows a successor of a decedent who has a very small estate to access undistributed child support payments owed to the decedent held by child support services or the collection services center. The bill requires child support services to create and make available a form that allows the successor to collect the held moneys.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed

Senate subcommittee

Named March 12, 2026. On March 16, 2026 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 9, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§524.805 §633.356

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

2 for · 0 against · 5 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

91st General Assembly

HF 817Renumbered HF 2660Became lawfrom HF 817

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.