Read the full stored bill text
STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2532, an Act relating to probate and trust matters, including time limitations
on actions, attorney fees, trust code proceedings and notice requirements, damages for
wrongful death, and filing deadlines, and including effective date and applicability
provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Kim-Reynolds kJ
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
imam :
0^ 'E g»IZE^ ir right;
WILL MA1NTA»
'niitiiw nuHi imnnniL
OiïMËÏïïËüi
EJCilt. . . huHisunir jHiuin.i
House File 2532
AN ACT
RELATING TO PROBATE AND TRUST MATTERS, INCLUDING TIME
LIMITATIONS ON ACTIONS, ATTORNEY FEES, TRUST CODE
PROCEEDINGS AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, DAMAGES FOR WRONGFUL
DEATH, AND FILING DEADLINES, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE
AND APPLICABILITY PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 614.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 2B. With respect to non testamentary
transfers . Those founded upon a decedent's title to assets,
beneficiary designations, or other nontestamentary transfers
procured in whole or in part by tortious interference with
inheritance, undue influence, fraud, or other wrongful conduct
not involving fraud, within two years of the decedent's death.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 633.163 Fees — expenses.
In a disputed judicial proceeding involving the
administration of a decedent's estate, the court, as equity
and justice may require, may award costs, attorney fees, and
other expenses to any party to be paid by another or from the
estate that is the subject of the controversy. For purposes of
this section, attorney fees do not include an attorney fee as
described in section 633.198.
Sec. 3. Section 633.336, Code 2026, is amended by striking
the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
633.336 Damages for wrongful death.
House File 2532, p. 2
1. When a wrongful act produces death, damages recovered as
a result of the wrongful act shall be disposed of as personal
property belonging to the estate of the deceased person except
to the extent that the damages are for loss of services and
support .
2. Except to the extent previously determined, the probate
court shall determine the amount belonging to the estate and
the amount belonging to the persons suffering the loss of
services and support.
3. The amount belonging to the estate shall be at least the
amount necessary to pay for all of the following:
a. Court costs and reasonable fees and further allowances
for the personal representatives and their attorneys to
administer the estate of the deceased person.
b. Department of health and human services for payments made
for medical assistance pursuant to chapter 249A, paid on behalf
of the decedent from the time of the injury which gives rise to
the decedent's death up until the date of the decedent's death.
4. The probate court shall then determine whether there
are debts and charges classified under section 633.425 related
to the wrongful death that should be paid from the remaining
portion belonging to the estate.
5. The balance of the portion belonging to the estate shall
be distributed pursuant to the decedent's will or the laws of
intestate succession.
6. Damages for loss of services and support shall be
apportioned among the persons suffering the loss of services
and support in a manner as the court may deem equitable
consistent with those losses sustained by each person.
Sec. 4. Section 633.361, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026,
is amended to read as follows:
Within nin e ty one hundred twenty days after qualification by
the personal representative, unless a longer time is granted
by the court, the personal representative shall file with the
clerk a report and inventory of the property of the decedent,
so far as the same has come to the knowledge of the personal
representative. The report and inventory shall be verified
or affirmed under penalty of perjury. It shall include the
following information:
House File 2532, p. 3
Sec. 5. NEW SECTION . 633A.6203 Nature of proceedings —
orders in trust code — notice.
1. Actions to set aside or contest trusts and for the
establishment of contested claims shall be triable in probate
as law actions, and all other matters triable under the trust
code shall be tried by the probate court as a proceeding in
equity .
2. All orders and decrees of the court sitting in probate
are final decrees as to the parties having notice and those who
have appeared without notice.
3. All orders without notice or appearance are reviewable by
the court at any time prior to the entry of an order closing or
terminating court jurisdiction.
4. Other than notice required under the rules of civil
procedure, notice and hearing of actions under section
633A.6202 shall be governed by section 633A.1109.
Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of
immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment:
The section of this Act enacting section 633A.6203.
Sec. 7. APPLICABILITY. The following apply to actions
involving decedents dying on or after July 1, 2026:
1. The section of this Act enacting section 614.1,
subsection 2B.
2. The section of this Act enacting section 633.163.
PAT GRASSL'
Speaker of the House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2532, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Governor