Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.8
Termination of life estate — farm tenancy
Operative Text
Upon the termination of a life estate, a farm tenancy granted by the life tenant shall continue until the following March 1 except that if the life estate terminates between September 1 and the following March 1 inclusively, then the farm tenancy shall continue for that year as provided by section 562.6 and continue until the holder of the successor interest serves notice of termination of the interest in the manner provided by section 562.7. However, if the lease is binding upon the holder of the successor interest by the provision of a trust or by specific commitment of the holder of the successor interest, the lease shall terminate as provided by that provision or commitment. This section does not abrogate the common law doctrine of emblements.
Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.8 governs what happens to a farm tenancy when the life estate that created it comes to an end. If the life estate terminates between March 1 and August 31, the tenancy automatically continues until the following March 1; if it terminates between September 1 and the following March 1, the tenancy continues under the rules of § 562.6 until the new interest holder properly serves a termination notice as described in § 562.7. Special rules apply when the lease is made binding on the successor by a trust provision or a specific commitment, in which case the lease ends according to those terms. The common law doctrine of emblements — which protects a tenant's right to harvest crops already planted — is preserved and not affected by this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers who hold a successor interest under Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.8 should be aware that a farm tenancy created by a prior life tenant does not automatically end when the life estate terminates. Compliant operators generally track the date the life estate ends and, if termination of the tenancy is desired, serve notice in the manner prescribed by § 562.7 within the applicable timeframe. Where a trust instrument or prior commitment binds the successor to the existing lease, operators typically honor those terms and look to that document to determine when the lease concludes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Farm tenants in Iowa benefit from the protections of Iowa Code ch. 562 § 562.8, which provides that a tenancy does not simply vanish when the life tenant who granted it dies or otherwise loses the estate. Depending on when the life estate ends, the tenancy continues either through the next March 1 or under the continuation rules of § 562.6 until proper notice is served under § 562.7, giving tenants time to plan for the upcoming crop year. Tenants who believe a successor interest holder has not followed the required notice procedures, or who have questions about their rights under an existing lease or the doctrine of emblements, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or an attorney familiar with Iowa agricultural tenancy law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation