Iowa Code ch. 631 § 631.4
Service — time for appearance
Operative Text
The manner of service of original notice and the times for appearance shall be as provided in this section. 1Actions for money judgment or replevin. In an action for money judgment or an action of replevin the clerk shall cause service to be obtained as follows, and the defendant is required to appear within the period of time specified: a. If the defendant is a resident of this state, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service under this paragraph, and upon receipt of the prescribed costs the clerk shall mail to the defendant by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt to the clerk requested, a copy of the original notice together with a conforming copy of an answer form. However, if the defendant is a corporation, partnership, or association, the clerk shall mail to the defendant by certified mail, return receipt to the clerk requested, a copy of the original notice with a conforming copy of an answer form. The defendant is required to appear within twenty days following the date service is made. b. If the defendant is a resident of this state, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service under this paragraph, and upon receipt of the prescribed costs the clerk shall cause a copy of the original notice and a conforming copy of an answer form to be delivered to a peace officer or other person for personal service as provided in rule of civil procedure 1.302(5), 1.305, or 1.306. The defendant is required to appear within twenty days following the date service is made. c. If the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service in any other manner that is approved by the court as provided in that rule, and the defendant is required to appear within sixty days after the date of service. d. If the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under section 617.3, the plaintiff may elect that service be made as provided in that section. The clerk shall collect the prescribed fees and costs, and shall cause duplicate copies of the original notice to be filed with the secretary of state and shall cause a copy of the original notice and a conforming copy of an answer form to be mailed to the defendant in the manner prescribed in section 617.3. The defendant is required to appear within sixty days from the date of filing with the secretary of state. 2Actions for forcible entry and detainer. The manner of service of original notice and the times for appearance for an action for forcible entry and detainer shall be governed by the requirements of chapter 648. 3Actions for abandonment of manufactured or mobile homes or personal property pursuant to chapter 555B. a. In an action for abandonment of a manufactured or mobile home or personal property, the clerk shall set a date, time, and place for hearing, and shall cause service to be made as provided in this subsection. b. Original notice shall be served personally on each defendant as provided in section 555B.4.
Iowa Code ch. 631 § 631.4 establishes the procedural rules governing how defendants must be formally notified of a lawsuit and how long they have to respond, depending on the type of case and the defendant's residency status. For money judgment or replevin actions, service may be made by certified mail or personal delivery, with a 20-day response window for in-state defendants and a 60-day window for certain out-of-state defendants. Forcible entry and detainer actions (evictions) follow the separate procedures set out in Iowa Code chapter 648, while cases involving abandoned manufactured homes or personal property under chapter 555B require personal service with a court-scheduled hearing date.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers pursuing legal action in Iowa — whether for unpaid rent, recovery of property, or eviction — should be aware that Iowa Code ch. 631 § 631.4 sets distinct service and appearance requirements depending on the nature of the claim. For a forcible entry and detainer action, the procedural requirements of chapter 648 govern rather than the general rules in this section. Operators generally ensure that the correct form of notice is used and that service is completed through the court clerk in the manner specified for the particular type of action being filed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 631 § 631.4 directly affects tenants who are served with legal notices in housing-related court proceedings, including eviction (forcible entry and detainer) actions. The section specifies how much time a defendant has to respond after being served — typically 20 days for in-state residents served by certified mail or personal service in money judgment cases, with eviction cases governed by chapter 648's own timeline. Tenants who receive any court notice should note the appearance deadline on the document and may wish to contact a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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