Court filing fees by state · Iowa
Iowa · before you file
Court filing fees in Iowa
Filing a small claims case in Iowa costs $115 ($95 filing plus $20 original-notice postage), for claims up to $6,500. Service of the defendant is extra.
Fees at each court level
- Small claims (up to $6,500)
- $115 ($95 filing plus $20 original-notice postage)
- Limited or county civil
- None: small claims docket within the district court
- General civil
- Civil petition $215 as posted by the Judicial Branch; the Code 2026 text reads $195, pending the 2026 Act
Who sets the fee
Iowa Code §631.6 and §602.8105 set the fees statewide. The Judicial Branch posts the figures as updated for 2026 legislative changes.
Sources and verification
- Schedule
- Iowa Judicial Branch, Civil Court Fees (Updated for 2026 legislative changes)
- Authority
- Iowa Code §631.6, via legis.iowa.gov
- Last confirmed
- 2026-10-23, by re-reading the schedule
- Usually changes
- July 1
What this page does not include
Last reviewed: October 2026
- Service of process: a sheriff or constable fee per defendant, or certified mail through the clerk. See the service of process cost tool.
- Jury demands, motions, subpoenas, appeals and post-judgment filings, each with its own fee.
- Fee waivers. Every court has one for filers who cannot pay; the fee waiver checker covers the usual tests.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the judiciary's schedule or the statute; confirm with the clerk before filing.
Also for Iowa: post-judgment interest rate
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Iowa?
$115 ($95 filing plus $20 original-notice postage), for claims up to $6,500. Iowa Code §631.6 and §602.8105 set the fees statewide. The Judicial Branch posts the figures as updated for 2026 legislative changes.
What does it cost to file a regular civil case in Iowa?
None: small claims docket within the district court. Civil petition $215 as posted by the Judicial Branch; the Code 2026 text reads $195, pending the 2026 Act.
Does the filing fee include serving the defendant?
Almost never. Service of process is a separate charge, a sheriff or constable fee per defendant or certified mail through the clerk, and it is not in the figures on this page. A jury demand, a motion or an appeal also carries its own fee.
Can the fee be waived?
Every state court system has a fee waiver for people who cannot afford the fee, usually by filing an affidavit of indigency or an application to proceed without payment with the clerk. The Iowa schedule linked above is where the court publishes its form, and this site's fee-waiver eligibility checker explains the usual tests.
Related tools
See exactly what it costs to file a small claims case, by state — cited to your court's own fee schedule.
Open tool →Total Cost to Sue CalculatorThe full out-of-pocket cost to sue in small claims court — filing fee plus service of process, added together and cited to each court's own fee schedule.
Open tool →Small Claims Limit CheckerSee whether your claim qualifies for small claims court and what the dollar limit is, by state and by plaintiff type — individual or business.
Open tool →Fee Waiver Eligibility CheckerSee whether you qualify to have your small claims filing fee waived for financial hardship, by state — cited to each court's own fee-waiver rule.
Open tool →Service of Process Cost CalculatorSee what it costs to serve a defendant, by state and by method — sheriff, court-arranged mail, or certified mail — cited to each state's own fee schedule.
Open tool →Small Claims Court Costs by StateFiling fees, claim limits, and service costs for every covered state, side by side.
Compare states →