Disclaimer and Renunciation of Interest (Qualified Disclaimer) — Iowa

Iowa Estate Planning & Wills Updated August 23, 2026 Free Word and PDF

TIMING — IRC § 2518 (9-MONTH FEDERAL DEADLINE): Iowa's UDPIA (Iowa Code ch. 633E) imposes no fixed statutory deadline to disclaim, but the right is barred once the interest is accepted. To qualify as a federal "qualified disclaimer," this writing must nonetheless be signed and delivered within nine (9) months after the date of the decedent's death or other transfer (or within 9 months after the disclaimant turns 21), with no acceptance of the interest or its benefits. Verify the deadline with counsel before signing.

DISCLAIMER AND RENUNCIATION OF INTEREST (QUALIFIED DISCLAIMER)

STATE OF IOWA


TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Disclaimant Information
  2. Identification of the Transfer and Interest Disclaimed
  3. Statutory Authority
  4. The Disclaimer
  5. Qualified-Disclaimer Representations
  6. Effect and Passing of the Disclaimed Interest
  7. Irrevocability and Binding Effect
  8. Delivery, Filing, and Recording
  9. Signature, Acknowledgment, and Notarization
  10. Verification / Declaration
  11. Certificate of Delivery / Service
  12. Attachments Checklist

1. DISCLAIMANT INFORMATION

Field Detail
Full Legal Name of Disclaimant [________________________________]
Mailing Address [________________________________]
City / State / ZIP [____________], Iowa [__________]
Telephone [________________________________]
Email [________________________________]
Relationship to Decedent / Transferor [________________________________]
Date of Birth (for age-21 determination) [__/__/____]

The undersigned (the "Disclaimant") is the person to whom a disclaimed interest or power would have passed had the disclaimer not been made (Iowa Code § 633E.2(1)), namely a(n): ☐ heir ☐ devisee ☐ beneficiary under a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument ☐ surviving holder of jointly held property ☐ beneficiary under a beneficiary designation ☐ appointee / object / taker in default under a power of appointment ☐ fiduciary ☐ other: [____________________].


2. IDENTIFICATION OF THE TRANSFER AND INTEREST DISCLAIMED

Source of the interest (check all that apply):
☐ Last Will and Testament of the Decedent
☐ Intestate succession (Iowa Code ch. 633)
☐ Revocable or testamentary trust
☐ Beneficiary designation (life insurance, annuity, POD account, security registered in beneficiary form, or pension/retirement/employment-related benefit plan — Iowa Code § 633E.12(1))
☐ Jointly held property with right of survivorship
☐ Power of appointment
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Field Detail
Name of Decedent / Transferor [________________________________]
Decedent's Date of Death / Effective Date of Transfer [__/__/____]
County of Domicile / Administration [____________] County, Iowa
District Court (Probate) Case / Estate No. (if any) [________________________________]
Name of Personal Representative / Trustee / Transferor [________________________________]
Describe the specific property or interest disclaimed [________________________________]

Extent of the disclaimer:
☐ Full disclaimer — the Disclaimant disclaims the entire interest described above.
☐ Partial disclaimer — the Disclaimant disclaims only the following, expressed (per Iowa Code § 633E.5(4)) as a fraction, percentage, monetary amount, term of years, limitation of a power, or other interest or estate: [____________________] (e.g., an undivided ____% interest, or the sum of $[____________]).

Legal description of any real property disclaimed (or see attached Exhibit A): [________________________________]


3. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This Disclaimer is made under the Iowa Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interest Act, Iowa Code ch. 633E, and is intended to constitute a qualified disclaimer under 26 U.S.C. § 2518 and Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2.

  • Iowa Code § 633E.5(1) authorizes a person to disclaim, in whole or in part, any interest in or power over property, whenever and however acquired, even if its creator imposed a spendthrift provision or similar restriction.
  • Iowa Code § 633E.5(3) requires that, to be effective, a disclaimer be in a writing or other record, declare the disclaimer, describe the interest or power disclaimed, be signed by the person making the disclaimer, and be delivered or filed in the manner provided in Iowa Code § 633E.12.
  • Iowa Code § 633E.4 preserves the ability to make a disclaimer that meets the requirements of a tax-qualified (federal) disclaimer under 26 U.S.C. § 2518.

4. THE DISCLAIMER

The Disclaimant, intending to be legally bound, hereby IRREVOCABLY and UNQUALIFIEDLY DISCLAIMS and RENOUNCES all (or, where a partial disclaimer is elected in Section 2, the stated fraction, percentage, monetary amount, term of years, or limitation of power of all) right, title, claim, and interest of every kind — whether vested or contingent, present or future, legal or equitable — in and to the property and interest described in Section 2 above.

This Disclaimer is made freely, voluntarily, and with full knowledge of its legal and tax consequences.


5. QUALIFIED-DISCLAIMER REPRESENTATIONS

The Disclaimant represents and certifies that:

☐ This Disclaimer is in a writing or record, declares the disclaimer, describes the interest, and is signed by the Disclaimant, as required by Iowa Code § 633E.5(3) and Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2(b).

☐ This Disclaimer is being delivered and/or filed within nine (9) months after the later of (a) the date of the Decedent's death or the date the transfer creating the interest became irrevocable, or (b) the date the Disclaimant attained age 21 (26 U.S.C. § 2518(b)(2)).

☐ The Disclaimant has NOT accepted the disclaimed interest or any of its benefits, and the right to disclaim is not barred under Iowa Code § 633E.13 (Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2(d)).

☐ The disclaimed interest passes without any direction on the part of the Disclaimant (26 U.S.C. § 2518(b)(4); Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2(e)).

☐ As a result of this Disclaimer, the interest passes as if the Disclaimant had died immediately before the time of distribution (or as the governing instrument otherwise directs), as provided by Iowa Code § 633E.6.

☐ This Disclaimer is intended as a qualified disclaimer under 26 U.S.C. § 2518 (see Iowa Code § 633E.4).


6. EFFECT AND PASSING OF THE DISCLAIMED INTEREST

Under Iowa Code § 633E.6, if the instrument creating the disclaimed interest provides for the disposition of a disclaimed interest (or concerns disclaimed interests generally), the disclaimed interest passes according to that provision. Otherwise, if the Disclaimant is an individual, the disclaimed interest passes as if the Disclaimant had died immediately before the time of distribution; where the Disclaimant's descendants would share by representation, the interest passes only to the descendants who survive at the time of distribution. A disclaimer relates back to the applicable determinative date for all purposes.

The Disclaimant does not direct to whom the disclaimed interest passes; it passes solely by operation of the governing instrument and Iowa law.


7. IRREVOCABILITY AND BINDING EFFECT

Under Iowa Code § 633E.5(5), this Disclaimer becomes irrevocable when it is delivered or filed pursuant to Iowa Code § 633E.12 (or when it becomes effective under §§ 633E.6 through 633E.11, whichever occurs later). Once irrevocable, this Disclaimer may not be modified, withdrawn, or rescinded, and is binding upon the Disclaimant and all persons claiming through or under the Disclaimant.


8. DELIVERY, FILING, AND RECORDING

Pursuant to Iowa Code § 633E.12, the Disclaimant shall (check all that apply):

☐ Deliver this Disclaimer to the personal representative of the Decedent's estate, for an interest created by intestate succession or by will (other than an interest in a testamentary trust) (Iowa Code § 633E.12(3)(a)).

☐ File this Disclaimer with the District Court (Probate) of [____________] County, Iowa, having jurisdiction to appoint the personal representative, if no personal representative is then serving (Iowa Code § 633E.12(3)(b)).

☐ Deliver this Disclaimer to the trustee then serving (for an interest in a testamentary or inter vivos trust) or to the person obligated to distribute the interest (for a beneficiary designation), as applicable under Iowa Code § 633E.12(4)–(7).

☐ File a copy of this Disclaimer in the Office of the County Recorder of [____________] County, Iowa, where the real estate is located, if this Disclaimer affects real estate (Iowa Code § 633E.12(13)(a)).

☐ File a copy of this Disclaimer with the Clerk of the District Court of the county in which proceedings for administration have been commenced (Iowa Code § 633E.12(13)(b)).


9. SIGNATURE, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND NOTARIZATION

Executed this [____] day of [____________], 20[____].

Disclaimant Signature: ______________________________________

Printed Name: [________________________________]


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

STATE OF IOWA )
COUNTY OF [____________] )

This record was acknowledged before me on this [____] day of [____________], 20[____], by [DISCLAIMANT FULL LEGAL NAME], known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, who executed the same as his/her voluntary act and deed.

______________________________________
Notary Public in and for the State of Iowa
My commission expires: [__/__/____]

[NOTARY SEAL]


10. VERIFICATION / DECLARATION

I, [DISCLAIMANT FULL LEGAL NAME], declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Iowa that the foregoing is true and correct, that I have not accepted the disclaimed interest or any benefit thereof, and that I make this Disclaimer of my own free will.

Signature: ______________________________________
Date: [__/__/____]


11. CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY / SERVICE

I certify that on the date(s) shown below a true and correct copy of this Disclaimer was delivered (by personal delivery, first class mail, or other method likely to result in its receipt — Iowa Code § 633E.12(2)) to the following:

Recipient Capacity (PR / Trustee / Transferor / Affected Person) Address Method Date
[____________________] [____________] [____________________] [____________] [__/__/____]
[____________________] [____________] [____________________] [____________] [__/__/____]
[____________________] [____________] [____________________] [____________] [__/__/____]

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]


12. ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Copy of the Last Will and Testament, trust instrument, or beneficiary designation creating the disclaimed interest
☐ Exhibit A — legal description of any real property disclaimed
☐ Certified copy of the Decedent's Death Certificate
☐ Proof of delivery / mailing (registered or certified mail receipts)
☐ Copy of the recorded Disclaimer (County Recorder), if real property is involved
☐ File-stamped copy from the Clerk of the District Court (estate proceeding)


SOURCES AND REFERENCES

  • Iowa Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interest Act, Iowa Code ch. 633E — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633E.pdf
  • Iowa Code § 633E.5 (Power to disclaim) — https://law.justia.com/codes/iowa/title-xv/chapter-633e/section-633e-5/
  • Iowa Code § 633E.12 (Delivery or filing) — https://law.justia.com/codes/iowa/title-xv/chapter-633e/section-633e-12/
  • 26 U.S.C. § 2518 (Disclaimers) — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/2518
  • Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2 (Requirements for a qualified disclaimer) — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/25.2518-2

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About this template

Last updated
August 23, 2026
Jurisdiction
Iowa
Category
Estate Planning & Wills

Legal authority

  • Iowa Code ch. 633E (Iowa Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interest Act)
  • Iowa Code § 633E.4 (Tax qualified disclaimer)
  • Iowa Code § 633E.5 (Power to disclaim — general requirements — when irrevocable)
  • Iowa Code § 633E.6 (Effect of disclaimer of interest in property)
  • Iowa Code § 633E.12 (Delivery or filing; recording of real estate)
  • Iowa Code § 633E.13 (When disclaimer barred or limited)
  • 26 U.S.C. § 2518 (Internal Revenue Code — qualified disclaimers)
  • Treas. Reg. § 25.2518-2 (Requirements for a qualified disclaimer)

Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.

Not legal advice

This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.

Checked against the law it cites

The statutes this template relies on are listed under Legal authority.

26 U.S.C. § 2518(b)(2) (checked August 23, 2026): "such writing is received by the transferor of the interest, his legal representative, or the holder of the legal title to the property to which the interest relates not later than the date which is 9 months after the later of—(A) the day on which the transfer creating the interest in such person is made, or (B) the day on which such person attains age 21"

26 C.F.R. § 25.2518-2(c)(2) (checked August 23, 2026): "A timely mailing of a disclaimer to the person described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section is treated as a timely delivery if the mailing requirements under paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2) and (d) of § 301.7502-1 are met. Further, if the last day of the period specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section falls on Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday (as defined in paragraph (b) of § 301.7503-1), then the delivery of the writing described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall be considered timely if delivery is made on the first succeeding day which is not Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday."

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