Don't Let Your Iowa Exhibits Get Rejected
Get the complete Iowa exhibit requirements checklist. Know exactly what Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.500(3) (pretrial disclosures) requires before your filing deadline.
- Under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.500(3)(b), pretrial disclosures of exhibits are due at least 14 days before trial unless the court orders otherwise.
- Nearly all Iowa cases begin in the district court.
- Iowa's e-filing file-size limit is commonly cited as 20 MB per submission (District Court); 150 MB per submission (Appellate), but limits change — confirm the current limit with the court or clerk before filing.
- Polk County (Des Moines): confirm local exhibit procedures with the clerk of court.
- Linn County (Cedar Rapids): confirm local exhibit procedures with the clerk of court.
- Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.500(3) governs pretrial disclosure of exhibits, including identification of each document or exhibit a party expects to offer.
- EDMS PDFs must be searchable whenever possible, but a scan may be filed as a non-searchable PDF when a searchable format is not possible.
Free Iowa Exhibit Guide
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Use the guide as a preparation checklist
- Check the instructions for your assigned court.
- Confirm labels, deadlines, and delivery method.
- Review the finished files before submitting.
Quick Reference
Source citations apply to the statement beside them, not the whole page. Check current court instructions and your case orders before filing.
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Try It FreeExhibitPrep formats documents; it does not provide legal advice or filing approval. Some guidance remains unverified. Citations support only their stated claims and scope. Review the finished files against current court instructions and case orders before filing.
Two Ways to Prepare Iowa Exhibits
Manual Stamping
- •Place each label individually
- •Keep a separate exhibit list
- •Check numbering across files
- •Review instructions and finished files
With ExhibitPrep
- •Apply chosen labels across a batch
- •Create a contents page and bookmarks
- •Review stamps before saving
- •Revise and compare saved copies
About Iowa Exhibit Requirements
Iowa is divided into eight judicial districts for administration. Nearly all Iowa cases begin in the district court, and there is one district court in every county. Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.500(3) governs pretrial disclosures, including identification of each document or exhibit a party expects to offer. Complex business disputes may be heard in the statewide Iowa Business Court.
Before you file
ExhibitPrep formats documents. It does not provide legal advice, submit filings, or determine whether evidence is admissible or a filing meets court requirements.
Some guidance has not been verified against current official sources. A citation supports only its stated claim and scope. Compare the finished PDF with current court instructions and orders in your case. Follow the filing review checklist.
What's in the Guide
- Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.500(3) pretrial disclosures govern exhibit identification
- EDMS mandatory statewide e-filing with a 20 MB per-submission limit (District Court)
- Iowa Business Court for complex business disputes
- Linn County (Cedar Rapids): confirm local exhibit procedures with the clerk of court
- Proposed exhibits are submitted through EDMS with an exhibit number and description
- Eight judicial districts for court administration
- Insurance industry headquarters generates significant litigation in Polk County
- Agricultural and grain industry cases common in rural districts
County-Specific Rules Covered
Polk County (Des Moines)
- • Confirm Polk County local procedures with the clerk of court
- • Iowa Business Court for business and complex commercial disputes Source (opens in a new tab)
Linn County (Cedar Rapids)
- • Confirm Linn County local procedures with the clerk of court
- • Confirm Linn County local procedures with the clerk of court
Scott County (Davenport)
- • Quad Cities region with cross-border Illinois cases
- • Manufacturing and logistics industry litigation
Pro Tips Included
- •Register for EDMS well before your first filing deadline
- •Prepare your exhibit identification early, separating exhibits you expect to offer from those you may offer, per Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.500(3)
- •Complex business cases may belong in the statewide Iowa Business Court; confirm its requirements
- •Bookmarks within a combined PDF help the reader navigate a long document
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1.Missing the pretrial disclosure deadline for exhibits (at least 14 days before trial unless the court modifies it)
- 2.Not identifying every exhibit in pretrial disclosures, including those you may offer if the need arises
- 3.Filing scanned PDFs that are not searchable when a searchable version is possible
- 4.Exceeding the 20 MB District Court submission limit without splitting into separate filings
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Iowa Exhibit FAQs
What exhibit marking system do Iowa courts require?
Iowa rules prescribe no party-specific marking scheme; exhibits may be identified by letter, number or other appropriate mark. Check the scheduling order or the assigned judge for the exhibit marking scheme. Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.903(2)(f) refers to identifying exhibits by letter, number or other appropriate mark.
Is e-filing mandatory in Iowa courts?
Yes, Iowa Court Rules require attorneys to register for and file through EDMS, the Iowa Judicial Branch electronic filing system. EDMS has a 20 MB per-submission limit in District Court. PDFs must be searchable whenever possible. Self-represented persons must also register to use EDMS unless Iowa Court Rules chapter 16 provides an exception.
What is the exhibit exchange deadline in Iowa?
Iowa pretrial disclosures, including identification of each document or exhibit, must be made at least 14 days before trial under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.500(3)(b). The court may modify that date by order, and the parties may stipulate to a different date but not to less than 7 days before trial. Check the scheduling order or the assigned judge's pretrial order for when exhibit indexes must be filed and exhibits exchanged. Include every exhibit you may offer in your pretrial disclosures.
How do Polk County exhibit requirements differ from other Iowa counties?
Complex business disputes may be heard in the statewide Iowa Business Court. Confirm any additional exhibit requirements with the assigned judge in complex business cases. Follow the scheduling order's exhibit deadlines in every county. Always check Polk County local rules in addition to statewide requirements.
What are the common reasons for exhibit rejection in Iowa?
Common exhibit-filing problems include submitting more than 20 MB in one District Court submission and filing non-searchable PDFs when searchable ones are possible.
See It in Action
A video walkthrough of ExhibitPrep stamping exhibits for Iowa courts.
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Nearby Jurisdictions
Practicing in multiple states? Check requirements for neighboring jurisdictions.