State guide
Iowa
This is general information, not legal advice. Iowa's small claims are heard by the district court sitting in small claims, under Iowa Code chapter 631. Section 631.1 says a civil action for a money judgment is a small claim when the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less for cases commenced before July 1, 2018, and $6,500 or less for cases commenced on or after that date, exclusive of interest and costs. The current line for a new case is the $6,500 figure. The same section gives the small-claims docket concurrent jurisdiction over some forcible-entry cases, replevin, certain garnishments, and a few other listed matters, at the same dollar lines. The Iowa Legislature publishes the section as a PDF.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Which court hears it
- District court sitting in small claims
- Dollar limit we could verify
- Iowa Code section 631.1 says a civil action for a money judgment is a small claim when the amount in controversy is $6,500 or less for actions commenced on or after July 1, 2018, exclusive of interest and costs.
- Statute or court page
- Official page →
- Filing or self-help page
- Official page →
Read the lettered subsections, because 'small claim' is not only a simple debt. Replevin of property valued at $6,500 or less, for a case filed on or after July 1, 2018, can be a small claim. So can some motions about execution and garnishment at that value. Forcible entry and detainer based on specified grounds in section 648.1 can be heard in small claims as well. If your case is an eviction, use the forcible-entry materials the clerk provides rather than a generic money form. The statute's point is concurrent jurisdiction: the district court can hear the matter as a small claim when you start it under chapter 631.
Interest and costs are outside the $6,500 amount in controversy. State the principal amount clearly. The PDF on the legislature's site is the enacted text, including the 2018 amendment note. Do not rely on a pre-2018 description that still says $5,000 for a case you are filing now. Clerks of court in each county take the filings. Iowa Courts Online and the judicial branch website explain e-filing for lawyers and, where available, for self-represented people. A paper filing is still a question for the local clerk if you cannot e-file.
Chapter 631 is a procedure chapter. It tells you the case is commenced, heard, and determined under that chapter. It does not, in section 631.1, set the filing fee or the number of days to appeal. Ask the clerk for the small-claims form, the fee, and the notice the court serves. Bring the contract or the photos to the hearing the notice sets. If you win, a money judgment still has to be collected, and the statute's garnishment subsection is a reminder that collection can itself be a small-claims matter when the value fits. If the amount is over $6,500, file a regular civil action in district court.
Official resources in Iowa
Statute stating the $6,500 small-claims amount for cases commenced on or after July 1, 2018.
Official code and the PDF library for chapter 631.
Court site for clerk contacts and e-filing information.
Key facts for Iowa
- Iowa small claims are heard by the district court under chapter 631.
- For cases commenced on or after July 1, 2018, the money-judgment line is $6,500, exclusive of interest and costs.
- Earlier cases used a $5,000 line, which section 631.1 still states.
- Replevin and some garnishment matters can be small claims at the same amounts.
- Some forcible-entry cases may be heard as small claims.
- The legislature publishes the section as an official PDF.
What to do next
- Use $6,500, not the pre-2018 figure, for a case you file now.
- Exclude interest and costs from the amount in controversy you write on the form.
- Use the forcible-entry process if the case is about possession of property.
- File a regular civil action if the amount is over $6,500.
Looking for your city or county in Iowa?
We haven't found official court-level pages for Iowa we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Iowa, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Iowa Judicial Branch
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Iowa page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What small claims court is
- How dollar limits work
- Who can sue and be sued
- A demand letter before you file