Iowa Code » Chapter 633 — PROBATE CODE
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 633.562 (2026)

Appointment and role of court visitor

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. If the court determines that the appointment of a court visitor would be in the best interest of the respondent, the court shall appoint a court visitor at the expense of the respondent or the respondent’s estate, or, if the respondent is indigent, the cost of the court visitor shall be assessed against the county in which the proceedings are pending. The court may appoint any qualified person as a court visitor in a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding.

2. The same person shall not serve both as the attorney representing the respondent and as court visitor.

3. Unless otherwise enlarged or circumscribed by the court, the duties of a court visitor with respect to the respondent shall include all of the following:

a. Conducting an initial in-person interview with the respondent.\n\nTue Dec 09 21:59:22 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 633 (154, 4) 117 PROBATE CODE, §633.563\n\n b. Explaining to the respondent the substance of the petition, the purpose and effect of the guardianship or conservatorship proceeding, the rights of the respondent at the hearing, and the general powers and duties of a guardian or conservator.

c. Determining the views of the respondent regarding the proposed guardian or conservator, the proposed guardian’s or conservator’s powers and duties, and the scope and duration of the proposed guardianship or conservatorship.

4. In addition, if directed by the court, the court visitor shall:

a. Interview the petitioner, and if the petitioner is not the proposed guardian or conservator, interview the proposed guardian or conservator.

b. Visit, to the extent feasible, the residence where it is reasonably believed that the respondent will live if the appointment of a guardian or conservator is made.

c. Make any other investigation the court directs including but not limited to interviewing any persons providing medical, mental health, educational, social, and other services to the respondent.

5. The court visitor shall submit a written report to the court that shall contain all of the following:

a. A recommendation regarding the appropriateness of a limited guardianship or conservatorship for the respondent, including whether less restrictive alternatives are available.

b. A statement of the qualifications of the guardian or conservator together with a statement of whether the respondent has expressed agreement with the appointment of the proposed guardian or conservator.

c. Any other matters the court visitor deems relevant to the petition for guardianship or conservatorship and the best interests of the respondent.

d. Any other matters the court directs.

6. The report of the court visitor shall be made part of the court record unless otherwise ordered by the court.

7. A court visitor shall be discharged from all further duties upon appointment of a guardian or conservator unless otherwise ordered by the court. The court may order a court visitor to continue to serve if the court determines continued service would be in the best interest of the protected person. If the court continues the service of the court visitor, the court may limit the direct duties of the court visitor as the court deems necessary. The court visitor shall thereafter continue to serve until discharged by the court. 2019 Acts, ch 57, §21, 43, 44; 2020 Acts, ch 1063, §351; 2024 Acts, ch 1009, §19 Referred to in §633.560, 633.563 Former §633.562 repealed effective January 1, 2020, by 2019 Acts, ch 57, §41, 43 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2021–2026 · leading case: In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Marvin M. Jorgensen (Iowa 2021).
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In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Marvin M. Jorgensen (Iowa 2021). · cites it 2× “Attorney Martin thus continues in this appeal as “court visitor” under Iowa Code section 633.562 (2020) instead of guardian ad litem.”
In re Guardianship of Hackert (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 633.562 (2023). Following interviews with Jamie, Cynthia, and seventeen other witnesses, the court visitor reported that the co-guardian framework was no longer in Acea’s best interests and recommended that Jamie be appointed as sole guardian.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Mary Zabel (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “” Mary’s attorney asserted: 2 The district court appointed a court visitor pursuant to Iowa Code section 633.562. 12 The evidence indicates that Shelly has the best ability to deal fairly with all family members as it relates to the guardianship.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Davies (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 2× “” A court visitor was appointed pursuant to Iowa Code section 633.562 (2025). After investigating and conducting interviews, the court visitor filed a written report concluding that the protected person did not require a guardian or a conservator.”
In re Guardianship of Johnson (Iowa Ct. App. 2023). “The court appointed a court visitor, see Iowa Code § 633.562 , who filed a report detailing his investigation and recommending that Dennis be appointed as Mackenzie’s guardian.”
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