When a person dies, settling their affairs can be difficult and complex. Amelia (Ame) Mapes works to help carry out their estate planning and testamentary wishes. She knows personal and thoughtful guidance are of the utmost importance for family members, individuals, and fiduciaries tasked with gathering and distributing the legacies built by those who have passed on.
Trust and Estate Administration
Ame is a committed problem solver who combines her background in finance with common sense solutions to counsel family members, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries through probate and trust administration, and various questions and concerns that arise along the way. In her practice, Ame assists to identify estate assets, manage the administration process, determine tax obligations and debts of the estate, and transfer assets to the appropriate beneficiaries.
Trust and Estate Litigation
Families, individuals, and professional fiduciaries often seek Ame's help as an advocate in litigation and the settlement or resolution of such matters, including trust divisions and modifications. Ame has tried cases to judges and juries involving claims for trust and will contests for lack of capacity and undue influence, breaches of fiduciary duties, tortious interference with inheritance, and fraud.
Business and Nonprofit Organizations
Ame advises business and nonprofit clients at all stages. At the outset, she assists with entity formation and organizational governance. Ame also counsels business and nonprofit entities alike in ongoing operational activities, including governance, compliance, and transactions, to protect their goals and missions.
Honors and Accomplishments
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
- Trusts and Estates
- Litigation and Controversy-Tax
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Commercial Litigation
- Nonprofit/Charities Law
- Corporate Law
Heart of America Fellowship Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2023 – 2024 Class)
Publications and Presentations
Presenter, "Estate Administration of Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency," 2022 ISBA Annual Meeting, June 21, 2022
Co-Presenter with Christopher Jessen, "Privileges Among Internal and External Corporate Counsel," 2022 Annual Corporate Counsel Forum, May 20, 2022
Presenter, "Weighing the Benefits: Taxation and Other Considerations Related to Employee Benefits," Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 6, 2019
Presenter, "Taxation of Employment Settlements and Judgements," Iowa State Bar Association Labor and Employment Seminar, November 16, 2018
Presenter, "Taxation of Employment Settlements and Judgements," Labor and Employment Law in Iowa Seminar, September 24, 2018
Community and professional organizations
Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Mock Trial Committee (Co-Chair, 2020-present)
America's Cultivation Corridor (Advisory Council, 2018-present)
American Bar Association (Member, 2017-present; Real Property, Trust & Estate Section, 2017-present)
Iowa State Bar Association (Member, 2017-present; Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Section, 2017-present; Taxation Section, 2017-present)