CONTACT INFORMATION
309 Court Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50309
(515) 875-4884
tom@thomastarboxlaw.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Trust
Estate Planning
Wills
Probate
Real Estate
Elder Law
RECOGNITION
Best Lawyers in America, Elder Law (2008-13)
Superlawyers, Elder Law (2013)
BAR ADMISSIONS
Iowa (1979)
U.S. Northern District of Iowa (1981)
U.S. District Southern District of Iowa (1985)
LEGAL EDUCATION
University of Iowa (1979)
MEMBERSHIPS/ASSOCIATIONS
Iowa State Bar Association
Polk County Bar Association
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA)
SEMINARS PRESENTED
Annual Meeting Iowa State Bar Association
Guardianships (2012)
Powers of Attorney (2009)
Lecturer, Drake University Law School
University of Iowa Probate, Continuing Education Seminar
CHARITABLE & CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS
Friends of Drake Art
Cathedral Church of St. Paul
Des Moines Leadership Institute
Iowa Department of Aging Working Group
Iowa Depart of Cultural Affairs, Artist Workshop on Legal Issues
Thomas T. Tarbox was raised in a large family in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where his parents were civically active residents. Mr. Tarbox graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, majoring in political science and business. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 1979 from the University of Iowa College of Law and began his legal career.
Initially, he was a law clerk for the district court judges of the Second Judicial District of Iowa. In 1982 he joined the well- established Bennett Law Firm, and soon became a partner. During his tenure with the then Bennett, Wilke & Tarbox, Law Firm, Mr. Tarbox expanded his legal practice.
Mr. Tarbox’s wide expertise in Bankruptcy developed during his service as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
In 1987 he moved to Des Moines. Mr. Tarbox was a shareholder in a major Des Moines law firm where he practiced in the areas of real estate, probate, estate planning, bankruptcy and elder law. In 2010 he formed a solo practice which is now the Law Office of Thomas T. Tarbox, P.C. As a solo practitioner he has continued to focus on the areas of probate, estate planning, elder law and bankruptcy.
Mr. Tarbox is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association where he is active in the Probate and Trust Law Committee; and the Polk County Bar Association. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, which is a national organization of attorneys interested in the legal matters of elderly clients. He is also a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, which is a national organization focusing on consumer bankruptcy. Mr. Tarbox also is a past member of the Des Moines Estate and Financial Planners, a professional group of attorneys, accountants, financial planners and insurance representatives.
He has gained prominence in the state, speaking at the annual meetings of the Iowa State Bar Association; and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America and Superlawyers in the area of Elder Law.
Mr. Tarbox has lectured at numerous professional seminars and conferences: Drake University Law School, the University of Iowa Probate Law Seminar, the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Arts Council, and the Iowa Museum Association. Mr. Tarbox is involved in area arts organizations including Friends of Drake Arts. He was a member of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute in the class of 1994-95.