How to Make a Will in Iowa (2026 Guide)

A will made in Iowa must be signed by you and by 2 witnesses to be valid. Yes (Iowa Code § 633.279(2)). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later. Below is everything the signing cover sheet in your free Iowa will covers, generated from the same rules.

Make my free Iowa will

Iowa will requirements at a glance

Witnesses required	2
Self-proving affidavit	Yes
Notary required for the will	No
Notary for the affidavit	Yes
Holographic wills recognized	No
Electronic wills recognized	No
Remote witnessing allowed	No
Community property state	No
Personal property memorandum	Yes
No-contest clause	Limited
Will execution statute	Iowa Code § 633.279
Financial POA statute	Iowa Code ch. 633B (Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act, 2014)
Healthcare directive statute	Iowa Code ch. 144B (durable power of attorney for health care) and ch. 144A (Life-Sustaining Procedures Act, living will); optional forms at §§ 144A.3, 144B.5

Witnesses

Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction and in the testator's presence), and declared by the testator to be the testator's will in the presence of two competent witnesses, who must sign in the presence of the testator and of each other (Iowa Code § 633.279(1)). A witness must be at least 16 (Iowa Code § 633.280); use adults. A gift to a subscribing witness (or the witness's spouse) is void unless the will is also attested by two other competent witnesses, although the interested witness may still take what he or she would have received by intestacy (Iowa Code § 633.281). Everyone must be together for the signing; sign in one sitting.

Do you need a notary in Iowa?

Not for the will itself. A notary is needed only to make the will self-proving through the affidavit, which is strongly recommended.

Self-proving affidavit

Yes (Iowa Code § 633.279(2)). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later. What a self-proving affidavit does.

How to sign your will in Iowa

1. Read the signing cover sheet. It is generated with your will and lists every requirement below in checklist form.
2. Gather your witnesses. You need 2 adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction and in the testator's presence), and declared by the testator to be the testator's will in the presence of two competent witnesses, who must sign in the presence of the testator and of each other (Iowa Code § 633.279(1)). A witness must be at least 16 (Iowa Code § 633.280); use adults. A gift to a subscribing witness (or the witness's spouse) is void unless the will is also attested by two other competent witnesses, although the interested witness may still take what he or she would have received by intestacy (Iowa Code § 633.281). Everyone must be together for the signing; sign in one sitting.
3. Sign in front of your witnesses. Declare that the document is your will, sign at the end, and have the witnesses sign while you are all together.
4. Complete the self-proving affidavit before a notary. Optional but strongly recommended (Iowa Code § 633.279(2)). Many people sign the will and the affidavit at the notary's office in one sitting.
5. Store the original safely. Iowa allows a testator to deposit a will with the clerk of the district court for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime; it is sealed and released only to the testator or, after death, opened and filed (Iowa Code § 633.286). If you do not deposit it: Keep the original in a safe, fireproof place your executor can access without a court order; a safe-deposit box may be sealed at death. Tell your executor where it is and give them a copy.
6. Tell your executor. Your executor needs to know the will exists and where it is. Give them the Executor Information Sheet.

Your spouse's rights

A surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited. The spouse may elect to take one-third of the real property, all exempt personal property, and one-third of all other personal property remaining after debts (Iowa Code §§ 633.236 to 633.238), and may instead choose to occupy the homestead for life (Iowa Code § 633.240). The spouse is also entitled to a support allowance (Iowa Code § 633.374).

Homestead

A surviving spouse may elect to occupy the homestead for life in lieu of the one-third share of real property, regardless of a devise to someone else (Iowa Code §§ 633.240, 561.11, 561.12). A devise of the homestead takes effect subject to that election. The homestead is exempt from most creditors (Iowa Code § 561.16).

If you die without a will in Iowa

If you die without a will in Iowa, your spouse takes everything if you leave no descendants, or if all of your descendants are also your spouse's. If you have any descendant who is not your spouse's, the spouse takes one-half of the real property, all exempt personal property, and one-half of the other personal property, but never less than $50,000 in total; your descendants take the rest (Iowa Code §§ 633.211, 633.212). With no spouse, everything passes to descendants, then parents, then their descendants. More on intestacy.

Other estate-planning documents in Iowa

• Durable financial power of attorney: Iowa Code ch. 633B (Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act, 2014). The power of attorney must be signed by the principal (or by another adult in the principal's conscious presence at the principal's direction) and the signature must be acknowledged before a notary public (Iowa Code § 633B.105). Witnesses are not required by statute; two adult witnesses are recommended. Record it with the county recorder before using it for real estate.
• Advance healthcare directive: Iowa Code ch. 144B (durable power of attorney for health care) and ch. 144A (Life-Sustaining Procedures Act, living will); optional forms at §§ 144A.3, 144B.5. A durable power of attorney for health care must be signed by the principal and either signed by two adult witnesses in the principal's presence or acknowledged before a notary public (Iowa Code § 144B.3). A witness may not be the attorney in fact or a health care provider or employee attending the principal, and at least one witness must be neither related to the principal nor entitled to any part of the estate (Iowa Code § 144B.3). A living will declaration has the same two-witnesses-or-notary rule (Iowa Code § 144A.3). The statutory forms are optional.
• HIPAA authorization: HIPAA authorization is governed by federal law (45 C.F.R. § 164.508); no state-specific execution formality. Sign and date it; no witnesses or notary are required, though notarization does no harm.
• Personal property memorandum: Recognized (Iowa Code § 633.276).

Iowa notes

• A surviving spouse in Iowa may elect to live in the homestead for life regardless of the will (Iowa Code § 633.240).
• Iowa does not recognize holographic (unwitnessed handwritten) wills.

Frequently asked questions

How many witnesses does a will need in Iowa?

Iowa requires 2 witnesses (Iowa Code § 633.279). Two witnesses. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another at the testator's direction and in the testator's presence), and declared by the testator to be the testator's will in the presence of two competent witnesses, who must sign in the presence of the testator and of each other (Iowa Code § 633.279(1)). A witness must be at least 16 (Iowa Code § 633.280); use adults. A gift to a subscribing witness (or the witness's spouse) is void unless the will is also attested by two other competent witnesses, although the interested witness may still take what he or she would have received by intestacy (Iowa Code § 633.281). Everyone must be together for the signing; sign in one sitting.

Does a will need to be notarized in Iowa?

Not for the will itself. A notary is needed only to make the will self-proving through the affidavit, which is strongly recommended.

Does Iowa have a self-proving affidavit?

Yes (Iowa Code § 633.279(2)). It lets the court accept the will without tracking down the witnesses later.

Are handwritten (holographic) wills valid in Iowa?

Iowa does not generally recognize unwitnessed handwritten wills. Use a typed, witnessed will.

Can I disinherit my spouse in Iowa?

A surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited. The spouse may elect to take one-third of the real property, all exempt personal property, and one-third of all other personal property remaining after debts (Iowa Code §§ 633.236 to 633.238), and may instead choose to occupy the homestead for life (Iowa Code § 633.240). The spouse is also entitled to a support allowance (Iowa Code § 633.374).

What happens if I die without a will in Iowa?

If you die without a will in Iowa, your spouse takes everything if you leave no descendants, or if all of your descendants are also your spouse's. If you have any descendant who is not your spouse's, the spouse takes one-half of the real property, all exempt personal property, and one-half of the other personal property, but never less than $50,000 in total; your descendants take the rest (Iowa Code §§ 633.211, 633.212). With no spouse, everything passes to descendants, then parents, then their descendants.

Is a no-contest clause enforceable in Iowa?

Iowa has no statute on no-contest clauses. Iowa courts have enforced them but recognize that a contest brought in good faith and with probable cause does not trigger forfeiture (see In re Estate of Cocklin, 236 Iowa 98 (1945)). Treat enforceability as uncertain.

Statutes cited are for reference and may have been amended. This page is general information, not legal advice.