Iowa Small Claims Court Guide
Everything you need to know about filing a small claims case in Iowa.
Maximum Claim
$6,500
Filing Fee
$95
Fee waiver available
Court Name
Small Claims Court
Hearing Timeline
20–40 days from filing
Find your courthouse in Iowa
Search by city, county, or ZIP code to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
How Much Can You Sue For in Iowa?
In Iowa, individuals can file small claims cases for up to $6,500. This limit applies to both individuals and businesses.
Iowa Small Claims Court Filing Fees
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard filing fee | $95 |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Ask the court clerk for a fee waiver application when you file.
Statutes of Limitations in Iowa
You must file your claim within the time limits below, or the court will dismiss your case regardless of its merits.
10
years — written contract
5
years — oral contract
5
years — property damage
2
years — personal injury
Ready to take action in Iowa?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court. Our free guide shows you how to write one in minutes.
Read the demand letter guideWhere to File in Iowa
Small claims cases in Iowa are handled by the Small Claims Court. Iowa has 99 county District Courts (8 judicial districts).
Where to file: File in the county where the defendant lives or where the incident occurred
Not sure which court you need? Our step-by-step filing guide walks you through finding the right court for your case.
Find your specific courthouse: Search for your county courthouse below ↓ — get the address, phone number, hours, and see if e-filing is available.
How to Serve the Defendant in Iowa
After filing your claim, you must formally notify the defendant. This is called "service of process" and is required before your case can be heard.
Accepted methods: Personal service or certified mail by court clerk
Deadline: Service must be completed at least 10 days before the hearing.
Iowa Small Claims Court Procedures
Can I bring a lawyer?
Yes, attorneys are allowed to represent parties in Iowa small claims court.
Can I appeal?
Either party may appeal within 20 days to district court
Is e-filing available?
Yes, electronic filing is available in Iowa.
Are remote hearings available?
Remote hearings are available in some Iowa courts. Check with your specific court location for current policies.
Official Iowa Court Resources
Find Your Courthouse in Iowa
Select your county to get the courthouse address, phone number, hours, and filing options.
Adair County
Greenfield area
(641) 743-2445
Adams County
Corning area
(641) 322-4711
Allamakee County
Waukon area
(563) 568-6351
Appanoose County
Centerville area
(641) 856-6101
Audubon County
Audubon area
(712) 563-4275
Benton County
Vinton area
(319) 472-2766
Black Hawk County
Waterloo area
(319) 833-3331
Boone County
Boone area
(515) 433-0561
Bremer County
Waverly area
(319) 352-5661
Buchanan County
Independence area
(319) 334-2196
Buena Vista County
Storm Lake area
(712) 749-2546
Butler County
Allison area
(319) 242-3570
Calhoun County
Rockwell City area
(712) 297-8122
Carroll County
Carroll area
(712) 792-4327
Cass County
Atlantic area
(712) 243-2105
Cedar County
Tipton area
(563) 886-2101
Cerro Gordo County
Mason City area
(641) 424-6431
Cherokee County
Cherokee area
(712) 225-6744
Chickasaw County
New Hampton area
(641) 394-2106
Clarke County
Osceola area
(641) 342-6096
Clay County
Spencer area
(712) 262-4335
Clayton County
Elkader area
(563) 245-2204
Clinton County
Clinton area
(563) 243-6213
Crawford County
Denison area
(712) 263-2242
Dallas County
Adel area
(515) 993-7018
Davis County
Bloomfield area
(641) 664-2011
Decatur County
Leon area
(641) 446-4331
Delaware County
Manchester area
(563) 927-4942
Des Moines County
Burlington area
(319) 753-8262
Dickinson County
Spirit Lake area
(712) 336-1138
Dubuque County
Dubuque area
(563) 589-4418
Emmet County
Estherville area
(712) 362-3325
Fayette County
West Union area
(563) 422-5694
Floyd County
Charles City area
(641) 228-7777
Franklin County
Hampton area
(641) 456-5626
Fremont County
Sidney area
(712) 374-2232
Greene County
Jefferson area
(515) 386-2516
Grundy County
Grundy Center area
(319) 824-5229
Guthrie County
Guthrie Center area
(641) 747-3415
Hamilton County
Webster City area
(515) 832-9600
Hancock County
Garner area
(641) 923-2532
Hardin County
Eldora area
(641) 858-2328
Harrison County
Logan area
(712) 644-2665
Henry County
Mount Pleasant area
(319) 385-2632
Howard County
Cresco area
(563) 547-9206
Humboldt County
Dakota City area
(515) 332-1806
Ida County
Ida Grove area
(712) 364-2628
Iowa County
Marengo area
(319) 642-3914
Jackson County
Maquoketa area
(563) 652-4946
Jasper County
Newton area
(641) 792-3255
Jefferson County
Fairfield area
(641) 472-3454
Johnson County
Iowa City area
(319) 356-6060
Jones County
Anamosa area
(319) 462-4341
Keokuk County
Sigourney area
(641) 622-2210
Kossuth County
Algona area
(515) 295-3240
Lee County
Fort Madison area
(319) 372-3523
Linn County
Cedar Rapids area
(319) 398-3411
Louisa County
Wapello area
(319) 523-4211
Lucas County
Chariton area
(641) 774-4421
Lyon County
Rock Rapids area
(712) 472-8530
Madison County
Winterset area
(515) 462-4451
Mahaska County
Oskaloosa area
(641) 673-7786
Marion County
Knoxville area
(641) 828-2207
Marshall County
Marshalltown area
(641) 754-1603
Mills County
Glenwood area
(712) 527-4880
Mitchell County
Osage area
(641) 732-3726
Monona County
Onawa area
(712) 433-2491
Monroe County
Albia area
(641) 932-5212
Montgomery County
Red Oak area
(712) 623-4986
Muscatine County
Muscatine area
(563) 263-6511
O Brien County
Primghar area
(712) 957-3255
O'Brien County
area
(712) 957-5860
Osceola County
Sibley area
(712) 754-3595
Page County
Clarinda area
(712) 542-3214
Palo Alto County
Emmetsburg area
(712) 852-3603
Plymouth County
Le Mars area
(712) 546-4215
Pocahontas County
Pocahontas area
(712) 335-4208
Polk County
Des Moines area
(515) 286-3772
Pottawattamie County
Council Bluffs area
(712) 328-5604
Poweshiek County
Montezuma area
(641) 212-4232
Ringgold County
Mount Ayr area
(641) 464-3234
Sac County
Sac City area
(712) 662-7791
Scott County
Davenport area
(563) 326-8785
Shelby County
Harlan area
(712) 755-5543
Sioux County
Orange City area
(712) 737-2286
Story County
Nevada area
(515) 382-7410
Tama County
Toledo area
(641) 484-3721
Taylor County
Bedford area
(712) 523-2095
Union County
Creston area
(641) 782-7315
Van Buren County
Keosauqua area
(319) 528-5009
Wapello County
Ottumwa area
(641) 683-0060
Warren County
Indianola area
(515) 690-9268
Washington County
Washington area
(319) 653-7741
Wayne County
Corydon area
(641) 632-2040
Webster County
Fort Dodge area
(515) 576-7115
Winnebago County
Forest City area
(641) 251-6009
Winneshiek County
Decorah area
(563) 382-2469
Woodbury County
Sioux City area
(712) 279-6611
Worth County
Northwood area
(641) 324-6800
Wright County
Clarion area
(515) 532-3113
Don't see your county? Let us know here!
Ready to take action in Iowa?
A demand letter often resolves disputes before court — our free guide shows you how to write one.
Read the demand letter guide