Planning your estate or caring for an aging parent takes trusted counsel. Below are 14 estate & elder law attorneys serving Ames, IA — compare ratings, read reviews, and schedule a consultation. Providers listed in Ames focus on estate planning attorney. Ames sits in Story County, Iowa. Other Iowa cities covered include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Ankeny.
Tell us what you need — wills, trusts, probate, Medicaid planning — and we'll connect you with Ames attorneys for a consultation.
We currently track 14 estate planning, elder law, and probate attorneys serving Ames, IA in Story County. Across the ones with public reviews, the average customer rating is 4.4★ from 297 total reviews, and 8 hold a 4.5★ rating or higher. The Smith Law Firm, PLLC is among the most-reviewed locally, at 4.9★ across 105 reviews.
Rough planning ranges for the Ames area:
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Simple will package | $300–$1,200 |
| Revocable living trust package | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Full estate plan or probate work | $3,000–$8,000+ |
Many Ames estate attorneys quote flat fees for wills and trusts and bill hourly (often $250-$500/hr) for probate. Ask for a written fee agreement before you engage.
Many Ames listings also handle wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate administration.
Many Ames estate attorneys charge flat fees, roughly $300 to $1,200 for a simple will package and $1,500 to $4,000 for a revocable living trust. Probate work is often billed hourly. Ask for a written fee agreement up front.
It depends on your assets and goals. A will is simpler and cheaper; a living trust can avoid probate and keep matters private. A short consultation with a Ames estate attorney will tell you which fits.
Probate cost and timeline vary by estate and county. Simple Ames-area estates can take several months, while complex ones run over a year. Ask the attorney for a realistic estimate for your situation.
Estate planning focuses on wills, trusts, and passing on assets; elder law also covers long-term care, Medicaid planning, and guardianship. Many Ames firms handle both.
In the Ames area, simple wills often run $300–$1,200 and living trust packages $1,500–$4,000; probate and elder law work is commonly billed hourly at $250–$500. Most firms above offer a free or low-cost initial consultation — talk to two or three.
Estate planning covers wills, trusts, and powers of attorney while you're healthy. Elder law adds Medicaid planning, guardianship, and long-term-care protection. Probate is the court process after a death — probate attorneys guide executors through estate administration.
Many attorneys above also handle special needs planning, asset protection, beneficiary disputes, estate tax planning, and real estate transfers in the Ames area.
Wills & TrustsLiving TrustsProbatePowers of AttorneyMedicaid PlanningGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningEstate Administration
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