Civil Court Fees
Fee
List
There are
a number of fees and costs for a variety of court services in civil matters,
including the following:
·
Filing
fee for a civil petition—(including a petition for dissolution of marriage)
$185 (In counties over 98,000 in population an additional $5 publication fee
may be charged)
m Filing fee for a
foreign judgment, including all dissolution or modification of marriage decrees
under Chapter 598, is the same as filing a civil petition ($185)
m Fee for a name change
under 674 is a civil petition with a filing fee of $185 (If the name change is part of the petition
for dissolution there is only one civil filing fee of $185)
m Fee for a termination
of parental rights under 600A is a civil petition with a filing fee of $185
m Fee
for petition or application for delayed birth certificate under Iowa Code §144.17
is $185
· Filing fee for any
petition based in Chapter 598, other than a dissolution of marriage, is
$100. These petitions may include:
m
A contested
modification of a dissolution decree
m An
annulment petition
m A
separate maintenance petition
· Filing fee for a
petition to modify a dissolution decree with an agreed upon stipulation attached
is $100
·
Petition
for adoption, including multiple adoption petitions filed at the same time by
the same petitioner, is $100
· Filing of a small
claims petition or original notice, (civil case under $5000 in damages) as
described in Iowa Code § 631.1, is $85.
This includes municipal infractions under Iowa Code § 364.22(7)
· Appeal of judgment in
a small claims case—$185
· All statutory liens,
including mechanic's liens are $50
· For a lis pendens -- $50
· Entering a final
divorce decree—$50
· Motion to show cause
for contempt—$50
· For certification and
seal of court document, (except for probate)—$20; probate is $10.
· For filing and
indexing a transcript of judgment—$50
· Certifying a change
of title of real estate (except for probate)—$50; probate is $20.
· Fee for jury
trial—$100
· Penalty for late
settlement of jury trial—$500
· Court reporter fee
$40/day
· Copies—most court
offices charge $.50 per page
· Filing a praecipe under chapter 626—$25
· Filing a praecipe under chapter 654—$50
· Filing a confession
of judgment for a judgment of $5000 or less—$50
· Filing a confession
of judgment for a judgment in excess of $5000—$100
· Other fees apply
depending on the case
Waiving
Filing Fees
Courts have the inherent power to authorize
the commencement of certain legal actions without requiring a petitioner to
prepay the filing fee. Courts waive fees in the interest of justice when a
person does not have the financial resources to pay. If you cannot afford
to pay a filing fee to initiate a lawsuit, you file a written request with the
clerk of court. The clerk will forward your request to a judge, who will
decide whether or not to waive the fee.
Taxing Costs
Certain
fees will be "taxed as costs" in the case and ultimately charged to
the losing party or as otherwise ordered by the court.
Fees Benefit Taxpayers
Nearly all of the money collected from court
costs and fees is deposited into the state general fund for appropriation by
the Iowa Legislature.
