Estate Planning Lawyer in Des Moines

Des Moines Estate Planning Lawyer: Protecting Your Assets & Your Family

Here at Herting Law, we understand that planning is about more than property. To start, your estate plan should outline exactly how you wish to protect and care for your children. If you have any particular wishes for your burial or cremation, or for your funeral, we can help ensure that those wishes are honored. We can also help you make financial and medical decisions for yourself now, in the event that you cannot make them for yourself in the future.
While estate planning isn't a comfortable topic to consider, the effort you put forth to brave those uncomfortable conversations will make your family have fewer obstacles to jump when they are coping with your loss. Our attorneys are patient, compassionate, and respectful of you and your family. Our job is to help make these difficult conversations slightly easier. We can begin the process of protecting your family's future today.

Does Iowa Have an Inheritance Tax?

No. Iowa fully repealed its inheritance tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2025, under Senate File 619, and Iowa has never had a state estate tax. No state death tax applies, regardless of the size of the estate or the beneficiary's relationship to you.

The federal estate tax still exists, but the exemption is $15 million per individual for 2026 and is portable between spouses. Most Iowa estates owe no federal estate tax.

This does not make planning unnecessary. Probate avoidance, privacy, incapacity planning, and control over how assets pass remain why most Iowa families create a plan.

Our Legal Services

Our firm handles a wide array of estate planning matters, some of which are as follows:

Power of Attorney: Everyone should establish one or more powers of attorney at some point during their life. The two most common types of powers of attorney are healthcare powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney. When you give someone power of attorney, it essentially means that you are officially appointing them to make certain critical life decisions on your behalf, should you ever be unable to make those decisions on your own. It is critical that you choose wisely and ensure you draft your power of attorney properly. Our firm can help.
Trusts: Trusts are among the best ways to preserve your assets. There are a variety of reasons why an individual would create a trust, and there are also several types of trusts available. For most Iowa families, the primary benefits are avoiding probate, keeping your affairs private, controlling how and when beneficiaries receive assets, and planning for incapacity. To learn more about what type of trust is best for you, speak with an experienced Des Moines estate planning lawyer today.
Wills: A last will and testament is perhaps the most common estate planning document, and for good reason. You can outline what you want to happen with your assets, who you want to distribute your assets to, appoint guardians for any minor children you may have, and more. It is never too soon to draft your will. If you're ready to get started, feel free to give us a call today. We will happily walk you through every step of the process ahead.

Estate Planning FAQ

Do my heirs owe Iowa inheritance tax?

No. Iowa repealed the tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2025. No class of beneficiary owes it.

Contact a Des Moines Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate planning is the final step in protecting all the efforts you have made throughout your life, and plans should be reviewed as your personal circumstances change. Do not put any estate-related matters to chance by hiring just any lawyer; hire a lawyer who cares about you, your family, and your future. Contact Herting Law, PLLC today so we can hear your goals and make them a reality.