Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 633.637 (2026)

Powers of protected person

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A protected person for whom a conservator has been appointed shall not have the power to convey, encumber, or dispose of property in any manner, other than by will if the protected person possesses the requisite testamentary capacity, unless the court determines that the protected person has a limited ability to handle the protected person’s own funds. If the court makes such a finding, the court shall specify to what extent the protected person may possess and use the protected person’s own funds.

2. Any modification of the powers of the protected person that would be more restrictive of the protected person’s control over the protected person’s financial affairs shall be based upon clear and convincing evidence and the burden of persuasion is on the conservator. Any modification that would be less restrictive of the protected person’s control over the protected person’s financial affairs shall be based upon proof in accordance with the requirements of section 633.675. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §633.637] 97 Acts, ch 178, §15; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §88; 2024 Acts, ch 1009, §68 Referred to in §633.551, 633.596, 633.638 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1971–2026 · leading case: Matter of Conservatorship of Rininger, 500 N.W.2d 47 (Iowa 1993).
Matter of Conservatorship of Rininger, 500 N.W.2d 47 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 10× “Iowa Code § 633.637 (emphasis added). Prichard urges that, notwithstanding lack of prior court approval, these transactions should be viewed in retrospect and a finding made that Darrell was able to manage his own funds.”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Richard J. Murphy, 800 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 2011). “§ 633.637. Moreover, self-dealing by a conservator is specifically prohibited except by court order.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatoship of Vernon D. Radda (Iowa 2021). · cites it 44× “On our review, we hold that neither section 633.637 nor other provisions of the Probate Code permit a challenge to the validity of a will executed by a testator who is still living.”
Union Trust & Sav. Bank v. State Bank, 188 N.W.2d 300 (Iowa 1971). · cites it 2× “See also The Code 1966, Sections 633.638, 633.”
Suplee v. Stonebraker, 195 N.W.2d 678 (Iowa 1972). “After the appointment the ward cannot dispose of property except by will, and then only if he has the requisite testamentary capacity (§ 633.637). All contracts, transfers and gifts made by the ward after filing of the petition for conservatorship are presumed fraudulent (§ 633.”
Linda I. Peterson as Tr. of the Linda I. Peterson Revocable Trust, Mark Peterson & Linda Peterson v. Kay Dorothy Pohren Adam (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code section 633.637 (2013) provides: A ward for whom a conservator has been appointed shall not have the power to convey, encumber, or dispose of property in any manner, other than by will if the ward possesses the requisite testamentary capacity, unless the court…”
State of Iowa v. Tiffani Marie Finch (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 3× “§ 633.637. The district court also found Finch knew Blankenship’s conservator had full authority over his affairs.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Stanley Wayne Worthington (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 3× “See Iowa Code § 633.637 (1) (requiring a determination as “to what extent the protected person may possess and use [their] own funds”).”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Diana Hanken (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 633.637 (emphasis added). 4 Hanken overcame the presumption of impaired testamentary capacity.”
Winslow v. Poole (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “Although allowing challenges to wills under section 633.637 during the ward’s life may avoid some post-death will contests, it might generate unnecessary challenges to wills that are never probated.”
Comm'r, 2006 T.C. Memo. 76 (1970). “Given the district court's order and the foregoing terms of the 1995 FSA, we are persuaded that decedent and the conservator were legally bound to avoid transfer of the FABG stock without consent during decedent's lifetime, and that the Rod Amlie Family had an enforceable right…”
— Iowa Code § 633.637(1) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Tiffani Marie Finch (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “§ 633.637. The district court also found Finch knew Blankenship’s conservator had full authority over his affairs.”
In the Matter of the Guardianship & Conservatorship of Stanley Wayne Worthington (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). “See Iowa Code § 633.637 (1) (requiring a determination as “to what extent the protected person may possess and use [their] own funds”).”
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