October 2025 Recap

This month I wrote about what happens when the plan on paper does not match what someone expected. The beneficiary on an account, property outside a trust, an executor’s duties, and a promise about a house can each lead to a different dispute.

On October 6, 2025, I looked at A Divorce, an Unchanged Beneficiary, and $400,000: The Kennedy Case. A breakdown of the Kennedy case and why an unchanged beneficiary designation led to a $400,000 payment to a former spouse.

On October 13, 2025, I looked at You Signed a Trust. But Did You Put Anything in It?. What funding a living trust means, what happens to property left outside it, and how a pour-over will fits into an Iowa estate plan.

On October 20, 2025, I looked at What Happens When an Executor Misuses Estate Funds in Iowa?. What misuse of estate funds can mean for an Iowa executor, including removal, personal financial liability, and potential criminal charges.

On October 27, 2025, I looked at Mom Promised Me the House. Her Will Says Something Else.. When a promised inheritance conflicts with a will: Iowa law, agreements involving property, and the evidence behind a claim.

I want these recaps to make it easier to see how the subjects connect. The answer to one question often depends on a detail from another article, especially the way property is owned or the exact document someone signed.

Tyler ThompsonYour author