Estate Planning
Your estate planning needs are unique. The basic documents that comprise your estate plan should be prepared under the careful advisement of an estate planning attorney.
Probate Administration
The death of a loved one is life-changing for surviving family and friends. The emotions that follow death must give way to the practical tasks of transferring property.

Real Estate
First time and repeat homebuyers and sellers should select an Iowa City and Coralville area real estate attorney to guide them through each stage of every real estate transaction.

Business Law
The importance of having skilled legal counsel ready to advise the business owner in contract negotiations, non-compete and buy-sell agreements, and much more, should not be overlooked.
Why should I have a Will?
If you pass away without a Will, Iowa laws of intestate succession determine who, how, and when a person may receive your property. The scenarios are numerous; however, you can eliminate the uncertainty of wealth and property distribution by selecting an estate planning attorney to listen to your objectives and to advise you regarding your estate planning options. Read More
What should I do to start a business?
Whether you are contemplating starting a new business or you’ve been a business owner for some time, you will need the services of a trusted business law attorney to counsel you on funding options, such as government grants and loans, and who introduce you to established, local lenders that can help you fund your business. Read More
What do I do to list my home as For Sale By Owner?
The residential and commercial real estate buying and selling process is replete with traps for the unwary. According to the wishes of my clients and sound legal practices, I negotiate and prepare contracts for the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate, I review abstracts of title for the issuance of a title opinion or attorney issued Iowa Title Guaranty commitment, prepare deeds to real estate, and work with clients to resolve problematic contingencies that might arise in a land sale. Read More
What do I do when a loved one passes?
The probate process begins with the filing of a petition for administration along with the original Will. The Probate Code details the procedural steps that must be taken if the original Will cannot be found. I handle a range of probate issues, which may include the transfer, public or private sale of real estate, debts, the preparation of federal tax and beneficiary returns, gifts, conflict resolution in estate administration, and court trials in probate. Read More

About Melvin O. Shaw
Melvin O. Shaw established The Law Office of Melvin O. Shaw, P.L.C., in 2006, a general practice law firm that focuses on real estate, estate planning and probate, and business law, and other areas in Coralville and Iowa City, Iowa. Melvin graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2004 and an M.A. from the University of Iowa in 1997 and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Read More
“We have used Mr Shaw for 2 different real estate transactions, and he has been great to work with on both. He also looked over my wife’s contract when she graduated and joined a practice. He has always kept us up to date…”
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