The following documents are amendments to the Iowa Court Rules or new court rules recently approved by the Iowa Supreme Court.


In the Matter of New Rule of Civil Procedure (December 6, 2012)

The Iowa Supreme Court has approved the addition of rule 1.1702 to the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure providing a uniform process for interstate depositions and discovery.

Order (183 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to the Iowa Court Rules (November 8, 2012)

Forms Regarding Appointment of Counsel
Temporarily adopting the attached forms, effective immediately. Forms permanently take effect January 7, 2013.

Order and Forms Regarding Appointment of Counsel (294 kb)



In the Matter of Iowa Court Rule 31.16 (Sept. 13, 2012)

Registration of House Counsel
Effective immediately

Order (49 kb)


Chapter 31 (272 kb)



In the Matter of Standard Forms of Pleadings for Small Claims Actions (Sept. 13, 2012)

Chapter 3 of the Iowa Court Rules -- Form 3.27:Verification of Account
Effective immediately

Order (90 kb)


Chapter 3, Form 3.27 (45 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to the Iowa Court Rules Governing Lawyer Advertising (August 28, 2012)

Effective January 1, 2013

Order and Chapter 32 (1114 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rules 35.17 and 42.1 (August 24, 2012)

Effective immediately

Order, Rule 35.17 and 42.1 (66 kb)



In the Matter of Amendment of Iowa Court Rule 35.1 (August 24, 2012)

Effective immediately

Order, Rule 35.1 (56 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rules Regulating Admission to the Bar (July 13, 2012)

Effective immediately

Order, Rule 31.11(3), and OPR change to rule 31.12 (119 kb)



In the Matter of Chapter 13 of the Iowa Court Rules (July 5, 2012)

Supervisory Order, Chapter 13 (516 kb)



In the Matter of Chapter 13 of the Iowa Court Rules (June 29, 2012)

Order, Chapter 13 and Forms (1418 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Rules of Appellate Procedure (May 21, 2012)

6.1005 Regarding Frivolous Appeals and Withdrawal of Counsel (Including Related Changes to Other Rules)
Effective immediately

Order (147 kb)


Rule 6.1005 (194 kb)



In the Matter of Standard Forms of Pleadings for Small Claims Actions (May 7, 2012)

Chapter 3 of the Iowa Court Rules is rescinded effective July 1, 2012, and revised Chapter 3 is adopted. Until July 1, 2012, parties may use either the current pleadings forms or the new pleadings forms.

Order (129 kb)


Chapter 3 -- Small Claims forms (711 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rules Regulating the Practice of Law (May 2, 2012)

Amendments concerning the attorney disciplinary process, client trust account reconciliation and record retention procedures, continuing legal education, and the bar exam.
Amended effective immediately

Nunc Pro Tunc (59 kb)


OPR Rules Revisions (Strikethrough version) (4618 kb)


OPR Rules Revisions (Final version) (396 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rule 32:7.4 (March 12, 2012)

The Court adds Veterans Law to the list of fields of practice and specialization.

Order (80 kb)



Iowa Courts Rules

The Chief Justice has signed a supplemental order specifying the effective date of the amendment to Rule 41.3(2)

Supplemental Order (35 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (February 20, 2012)

Amendments concerning the attorney disciplinary process, client trust account reconciliation and record retention procedures, continuing legal education, and the bar exam.
Amended effective immediately

Order (183 kb)


Amendments (10043 kb)


Summary of Amendments (87 kb)



In the Matter of Amendment to Chapter 11 (December 30, 2011)

New Standards of Conduct for Mediators is based on the 2005 Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators. Prior to publication of the new standards, the Iowa Code Editor's office has revised the numbering format of the new standards. In addition, the court has made punctuation and grammatical changes to the new standards.

Nunc Pro Tunc (361 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rules Chapter 46.13(4) (December 12, 2011)

Causes for disciplinary action.

Order and Amendment (338 kb)



In the Matter of Amendments to Iowa Court Rules Chapter 12 (November 14, 2011)

Earlier this year, the General Assembly approved statutory changes that prohibit the possession, receipt, and shipment of firearms and ammunition by a person found by a court to be mentally ill. To comply with this legislation, the court amended two forms used for civil commitments pursuant to Chapter 229 of the Iowa Code.

Order (1202 kb)


Forms - Rule 12.36 - Form 3 and Form 13 (762 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (November 10, 2011)

Amendment to chapter 11 of the Iowa Court Rules? Adoption of Standards of Conduct for Mediators Summary?At the recommendation of the Iowa State Bar Association, the American Academy of Alternate Dispute Resolution Attorneys, and others, the court replaces chapter 11 of the Iowa Court Rules, "Rules Governing Standards of Practice for Lawyer Mediators in Family Disputes," with new standards of conduct for mediators. The current standards have changed little since their adoption in 1987. The new standards mirror the 2005 Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators with one exception. The court added a provision concerning the scope of the rules. This provision provides that the "standards apply to mediators who are lawyers licensed to practice law in Iowa, mediators who participate in any mediation program approved by a court of this state, and mediators in any matter required to be mediated by an Iowa court order or rule." The standards for mediators in the prior version of chapter 11 applied to lawyer mediators in family disputes only. The new standards take effect January 1, 2012.

Order and Amended Rule (352 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure (November 30, 2010)

Amendment to Rules of Civil Procedure 1.909 -- The supreme court amends Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.909, setting the fee for late settlement of jury trials, to include a party's waiver of jury trial within the rule's time frame.
Temporarily amended, effective immediately
Permanently effective January 28, 2011

Order and amended rule (479 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (November 24, 2010)

Amendment to Rule 41.12 requires all lawyers newly admitted by examination to complete a basic skills course on Iowa law within one year after admission to the Iowa bar. The supreme court amends the rule to permit new lawyers to take the basic skills course during the time between completion of the bar examination and admission to practice.
Effective immediately

Order and amended rule (565 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure (August 3, 2010)

Amendments to Rules of Civil Procedure 1.1007 and 1.1008--Time to file certain post-ruling motions
These amendments increase the amount of time that a party has to file certain post-ruling motions. The court increased the time to file such motions from ten days after the filing of a verdict to fifteen days after the filing of a verdict. This additional time is intended to address case processing delays that cut into the time parties have to file such motions. These delays are the on-going consequence of the severe cuts in the judicial branch budget over the past decade.
Efffective August 9, 2010

Amendment (483 kb)


Supervisory Order (638 kb)



Amendment to Code of Judicial Conduct (June 23, 2010)

Amendment to Application Section
Summary ? This amendment is a technical correction.
Effective immediately

Amendment (342 kb)



Amendment to Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.19(4) (June 17, 2010)

Amendment to Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.19(4) Reporting Opening Statements and Closing Arguments?This amendment requires the reporting of opening statements and final arguments in a criminal trial. The former version of the rule required reporting of these remarks only upon request of a party. The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that a complete record of all aspects of a trial exists to enable a complete review of a case on appeal. Under the former rule, the absence of a record of opening statements and closing arguments frequently hampered appellate review, particularly with regard to questions of error preservation and prejudice.
Effective August 16, 2010

Order and Rule (239 kb)



Rule 22.28 Report Form (May 27, 2010)

Amended form for filing transcript income and expense reports.

Supervisory Order (589 kb)



Amendment to Rule of Judicial Administration (May 27, 2010)

Amendments to Rule 22.28(7) ?Court Reporter Transcript Income and Expense Reports
Summary?In response to feedback from court reporters regarding the work involved in producing these reports and confusion about certain reporting requirements, the court amended the rule to require only one report a year (May 1) rather than two reports a year.
Effective immediately

Order and rule (271 kb)



Rules for Expanded Media Coverage (May 27, 2010)

Amendment to Rule 25.3?Witness Objection to Request for Media Coverage
Summary?At the request of the Clerks' Manual Committee, the court amended this rule to provide that a witness is entitled to assistance from the clerk of court in providing copies of the witness's objection to EMC coverage to attorneys, parties, the presiding judge, the district court administrator, and the media coordinator.
Effective immediately

Order and rule (394 kb)



Rule of Appellate Procedure (May 27, 2010)

Procedure 6.1401 Form 5?TPR and CINA Expedited Appeal
Summary?The Iowa Court of Appeals recommended these changes to the CINA/TPR petition form for the purpose of obtaining more direction and information from an appellant regarding the issues being raised on appeal.
Effective immediately

Order and form (1457 kb)



Rules of Civil Procedure (May 26, 2010)

Amendment to Rule of Civil Procedure 1.1013(1) ?Fee for Petition to Vacate or Modify a Judgment
Summary?Earlier this year, the court amended this rule to require the payment of a filing fee when filing a motion or petition for vacating or modifying a judgment. Later, the court was informed of confusion among clerks of court and attorneys about the application of this rule, particularly with respect to small claims cases. Clerks of court asked for guidance. To clarify the rule, the court adopted this amendment. The amendment clarifies that a petition of this nature when filed in small claims shall require payment of the fee for filing a small claims case set forth in section 631.6(1)(a). Currently, the filing fee for small claims cases is $85.

Effective July 24, 2010

Order and rule (641 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (April 30, 2010)

Adopted effective May 3, 2010

Order (17337 kb)


Chapter 51, Code of Judicial Conduct (16861 kb)


22.12 Senior Judges (767 kb)


22.22 Gifts (661 kb)


32:1.12 Professional Conduct (237 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure (March 9, 2010)

1.431 Motion practice
1.1013 Procedure for vacating or modifying judgment
Adopted, effective May 10, 2010

Amendments (650 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (March 9, 2010)

Rule 22.30 -- Use of signature facsimile
Amended, effective immediately

Order and amended rule (568 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (January 19, 2010)

Chapter 31--Admission to the Bar
Chapter 39--Client Security Commission
Chapter 41--Continuing Legal Education
Amended, effective immediately

Order and amended rules (1599 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure (January 7, 2010)

1.431 Motion practice
1.909 Fee for late settlement of jury trial
Adopted, effective March 8, 2010

Amended rules (445 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (January 6, 2010)

Court Records
Chapter 20
Adopted, effective immediately

Order and new rules (382 kb)



Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure (December 18, 2009)

Rule 6.702 Filing fees and copies
Effective immediately

Order and rule (435 kb)



Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure (November 12, 2009)

1.442(5) Filing of pleadings or papers with the court

Supervisory Order and amended rule (468 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (November 12, 2009)

Rule 22.39 Staffing offices of clerks of court
Rule 22.40 Public business hours of offices of clerks of court

Order and Rules (365 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (November 9, 2009)

Rule 22.28 Transcripts - transcript fee and expense report
Amended, effective immediately

Order and Amended Rules 22.28 (657 kb)


Supervisory Order and Rule 22, 28 Report (578 kb)


Staff Summary (768 kb)



Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure (October 28, 2009)

State's duty to disclose witnesses
Amended, effective immediately

Rule 2.11(12) (2045 kb)


Staff Explanation (211 kb)


Nunc Pro Tunc (1670 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (October 12, 2009)

Basic skills course requirement
Effective immediately

Rule 41.12 (new) (483 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure (August 10, 2009)

Deposition subpoena 1.715
Court reporter memorandum 1.903(3)
Judgment on the pleadings 1.954
Subpoena 1.1701
Forms 12,13, 14 and 15, 1.1901
Effective October 9, 2009

New Rules and forms (4849 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (August 10, 2009)

Oral Argument, Rule 21.24
Effective immediately

Amended rule (273 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (August 10, 2009)

Admission to the Bar
Rules 31.12, 35.1, 39.14, 42.7, 47.3, and 47.5
Amended, effective immediately

Rule 47.6 adopted
Old Rules 47.6-47.12 renumbered
Effective immediately

Order and amendments (1847 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (July 27, 2009)

Rules 35.19, 35.20, 35.21
Filing Certificates of Noncompliance
Effective immediately

Amended Rules (1831 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (June 29, 2009)

Service by e-mail
Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.453
Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.34
Temporarily amended, effective immediately
Permanently effective August 28, 2009

Emancipation of minors
Rules of Juvenile Procedure 8.35
Temporarily adopted, effective immediately
Permanently effective August 28, 2009


Supervisory Order and amendments (768 kb)



Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure 6.701(7) (June 29, 2009)

Service by e-mail
Rule 6.701(7)
Effective immediately

Order and rule (201 kb)



Iowa Court Rules ( June 3, 2009)

Organization of Appellate Courts; Judicial Administration
Rules 21.24(3) and 22.30 are amended
Effective immediately

Amended rules (586 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (June 3, 2009)

Admission to the Bar
Rule 31.18 adopted
Rules 31.14 and 31.25 forms 1 and 2 are amended
Effective immediately

Chapter 31 (4765 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (April 9, 2009)

31.2 Admission to the Bar
Effective immediately

Amended Rule (336 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (April 9, 2009)

25.5 Expanded Media Coverage
Effective immediately

Amended Rule (318 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (April 9, 2009)

9.8(2) Child Support Guidelines
Correction to guidelines that take effect on July 1

Amended Rule (251 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (April 3, 2009)

Iowa Rules of Evidence
5.502 Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product
5.615 Exclusion of witnesses
5.803 Hearsay exceptions
5.804 Hearsay exceptions
5.807 Residual Exception
Effective June 1, 2009

new Rules of Evidence (1527 kb)



Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure (April 3, 2009)

Rule 2.4(6), 2.5(3) and 2.11(11)
Temporarily amended, effective immediately
Permanently effective June 1, 2009

Supervisory Order and amendments (2049 kb)



Iowa Court Rules (March 25, 2009)

Amendments to Rules of Evidence 5.803, 5.902, and 5.1101
Effective May 25, 2009

Amendments to Chapter 5 (940 kb)



Iowa Court Rule 12.36 (March 9, 2009)

Forms 32 and 33
Effective May 11, 2009

Forms (663 kb)



Iowa Court Rules Chapter 9 (March 9, 2009)

Child Support Guidelines
Effective July 1, 2009

Chapter 9, Guidelines and Worksheet (2441 kb)



Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure 2.4(6) and 2.5(3) (December 23, 2008)

Minutes of evidence--witness information
Temporarily amended, effective immediately
Effective February 23, 2009

Chapters 2.4(6) and 2.5(3) (619 kb)



Iowa Court Rules Chapter 6-Appellate Rules (October 31, 2008)
Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure 1.1010 and 1.1401 - 1.1412
Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.73
Iowa Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.21

Effective January 1, 2009

Chapter 6 and Amended Rules (30755 kb)



Iowa Court Rules Chapters 22 and 51 (October 31, 2008)

Senior judge program
Effective January 1, 2009

Chapters 22 and 51 (1610 kb)



Iowa Court Rules 31.12 and 31.13 (October 16, 2008)

Admission on motion
Effective immediately

Rules 31.12 and 31.13 (1183 kb)



Iowa Court Rules Chapters 12 and 13 (October 1, 2008)

Involuntary commitment proceedings
Effective December 15, 2008

Chapters 12 and 13 (1081 kb)



Iowa Court Rules 31.3, 31.4 and 31.5 (September 17, 2008)

Iowa Bar Examination
Effective immediately

Admission to the Bar, Chapter 31 (1228 kb)



Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.422 (July 31, 2008)

Protected information
Effective October 1, 2008 Delayed until further order

Rule 1.422 (141 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedures 1.903 and Rule 1.1901 Form 12 (July 31, 2008)

Trial of issues
Court Reporter memorandum
Effective October 1, 2008

Rule 1.1901 and Rule 1.1901 Form 12 (143 kb)



Iowa Court Rules Chapter 23 (June 27, 2008)

Time Standards for case processing, notice of civil trial-setting conference and trial scheduling order
Effective September 1, 2008

Chapter 23 (1836 kb)



Iowa Rules of Civil Procedures 1.906 (June 27, 2008)

Civil trial-setting conference
Effective September 1, 2008

Rule 1.906 (452 kb)



Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.1901 and Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.32 (June 26, 2008)

Rule of Civil Procedure 1.901 forms 8 and 9
Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.32 forms 1 and 2
Temporary adoption of amendments by supervisory order
Permanent effective date September 1, 2008

Rules 1.1901 and 2.32 (1350 kb)


Supervisory Order (198 kb)



Approved Iowa court forms for child support modification (June 16, 2008)

Order (128 kb)


Court Forms

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