Iowa ยท Unpaid invoice

Unpaid invoice in Iowa small claims

Client won't pay your invoice? Collect it in small claims.

If a client or customer has not paid an invoice for work you delivered or goods you sold, small claims court is a low-cost way to collect. You do not need a lawyer. The strength of your case usually comes down to clear proof: the agreement or terms, the invoice, evidence the work or goods were delivered, and a record of your attempts to collect.

In Iowa, small-claims cases are heard in the District Court (small claims docket) and you can sue for up to $6,500.

Unpaid invoice: steps that matter

  1. Send a final written demand (a clear statement of what is owed and a payment deadline) and keep proof you sent it.
  2. Gather your contract or written terms, the invoice, delivery/completion proof, and any messages showing the other side accepted the work.
  3. Confirm you are within the statute of limitations below before you file.
  4. File in the correct court for where the defendant is or where the work happened, and keep every date and document together.

Filing your Original Notice and Petition for a Money Judgment (Form 3.1) in Iowa

  1. Complete the Original Notice and Petition (Form 3.1). Fill in the county, your name and address, each defendant's name and address, and the amount owed and the reason. Do not include the filing fee or court costs in the amount claimed.
  2. Complete a Verification of Account (Form 3.27). Complete a separate Form 3.27 for each defendant and attach an itemized statement showing how you reached the amount claimed. If suing on a promissory note, include the original note.
  3. Electronically file and pay the fee. File the forms through the Iowa Judicial Branch eFiling (EDMS) system; the $95 filing fee is collected at filing.
  4. Arrange service on each defendant. Choose service by the county sheriff or by certified restricted mail through the clerk ($20 per party). Out-of-state defendants may be served via the Secretary of State ($10).
  5. Attend the hearing. If the defendant disputes the claim, the clerk sets a hearing. Appear in person (or through a lawyer), with proof of service and your evidence.

Filing fees: The filing fee is $95, set statewide and collected at eFiling. Certified restricted-mail service adds $20 per party; sheriff fees vary by county; Secretary of State service adds $10.

Deadline that applies to your unpaid invoice

An unpaid invoice is usually a contract or account claim. If you had a signed agreement or written terms, the written-contract statute of limitations below typically applies; a purely verbal deal usually falls under the oral-contract period. That statute is the deadline to file, so do not wait too long.

Written contract: 10 years (Iowa Code 614.1(5)(a))

Answering a lawsuit: 20 days after service (60 days if served via the Secretary of State).

Serving the defendant: The clerk causes service of the Original Notice and answer form. You may elect certified restricted-delivery mail (return receipt to the clerk) or personal service by a sheriff or peace officer; proper notice is shown by the signed receipt or a return of service (Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.308).

Appeals: Any party may appeal within 20 days of judgment, by oral notice at the end of the hearing or a written Notice of Appeal (Form 3.26) plus the district court docket fee (Iowa Code 631.13). The appeal is heard on the record by a different judge.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Iowa Judicial Branch: Small Claims. Last reviewed 2026-06-24.