2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 631 - SMALL CLAIMS › Section 631.4 - Service — time for appearance.

631.4 Service — time for appearance.
The manner of service of original notice and the times for appearance shall be as provided in this section.
1. Actions 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.
2. Actions 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.
3. Actions 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.
[C73, §631.3 – 631.5; C75, 77, 79, 81, §631.4]
84 Acts, ch 1322, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1077, §2; 93 Acts, ch 154, §19, 20; 95 Acts, ch 125, §13; 96 Acts, ch 1203, §7; 99 Acts, ch 155, §13, 14; 2001 Acts, ch 153, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §80; 2004 Acts, ch 1101, §85; 2009 Acts, ch 21, §12; 2010 Acts, ch 1017, §7, 11
Referred to in §631.3