How to Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in Iowa (2025)

You were having a good day. Then a knock on the door changed everything. An unfamiliar face handed you an envelope full of court documents. You’re being sued for debt.

You’re panicking and losing sleep. You don’t need to panic anymore. This guide provides the information you need to respond to a debt lawsuit in Iowa. You’ll learn how to answer a summons, protect your rights, and fight back effectively.

You have options. You have rights. You can handle this.

You Have 20 Days to Respond in Iowa

Iowa gives you 20 calendar days to respond to a debt collection lawsuit. The clock starts ticking from the date you were served.

Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.303(1) is clear on this deadline. You must file your Answer within 20 days after service of the original notice and petition.

There’s one important exception to know about. If the petition was served by the secretary of state or department of transportation, you get 60 days to respond instead of 20.

Missing the deadline has serious consequences. The court can enter a default judgment against you. Once that happens, the creditor can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.

You can file a motion to set aside a default judgment. Courts may grant this if the judgment was entered by mistake, you were never properly served, or fraud was involved.

Filed your Answer a few days late? Submit it immediately. Courts sometimes accept late filings if no default judgment has been entered yet.

Iowa Answer Forms Make Responding Easier

You have several options for filing your Answer in Iowa. The easiest way is using our partner Solo to draft your response. The software asks simple questions about your case and generates a properly formatted Answer.

You can also handle the paperwork yourself. Download Iowa’s official Appearance and Answer of Defendant(s) form from the Iowa Courts website.

File your Answer electronically using the Iowa Judicial Branch Electronic Document Management System (EDMS). Electronic filing is required in most cases.

Want to file in person instead? You’ll need court permission first. The court may grant an exemption if you lack computer or internet access.

Follow These Three Steps to Respond

Responding to a debt lawsuit in Iowa requires three clear steps. Each step protects your rights and gives you the best chance at a favorable outcome.

Step 1: Answer Each Claim in the Complaint

The complaint lists every claim against you. You must respond to each one individually and in order.

You have three response options for each claim:

• Admit the claim is true
• Deny the claim is true
• Deny due to lack of knowledge

Don’t admit to anything you’re unsure about. The creditor has the burden of proof. They must provide evidence that you owe the debt.

You can admit some allegations and deny others. For example, you might admit you had an account with the creditor but deny you owe the amount claimed.

Address every single allegation in the complaint. If the claims are numbered, respond to each number separately. Say something like, “I deny the allegations in paragraph 10.”

Step 2: Assert Your Affirmative Defenses

Affirmative defenses explain why the creditor shouldn’t win the case. Iowa law requires you to list all defenses in your Answer.

Fail to list a defense? You might lose the right to use it at trial.

Here are common defenses in Iowa debt collection cases:

• Improper service: The creditor didn’t follow proper procedures when serving you the lawsuit papers.
• Statute of limitations expired: The creditor waited too long to sue you. The deadline has passed.
• Debt already paid: You don’t owe the money because you already paid all or part of it.
• Bankruptcy discharge: The debt was discharged in bankruptcy. The creditor cannot collect it.
• Unconscionable debt: The amount claimed is excessive compared to the original debt amount.
• Unjust enrichment: Paying the amount would give the creditor an unfair windfall.

Not every defense applies to every case. Review your specific situation carefully. Consider consulting with an attorney about which defenses fit your case.

Step 3: File Your Answer and Serve the Plaintiff

You must file your Answer electronically through Iowa’s EDMS system. The system automatically serves your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney.

Filing in person requires court permission first. If the court approves manual filing, you must serve the plaintiff’s lawyer yourself.

Our partner Solo can file your Answer electronically in all 50 states. The service handles the technical details for you.

After filing, the court sends you a notice. This notice includes information about your first hearing and next steps.

You can file additional documents along with your Answer:

• A Counterclaim if the plaintiff owes you money
• A Cross-Claim if another defendant owes you money
• A Petition against someone not named who’s responsible for the claim
• An Affidavit of Property Exempt from Execution to protect your assets

Check Iowa’s Statute of Limitations on Your Debt

Iowa law sets deadlines for how long creditors can sue you for debt. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations.

The statute of limitations for credit card debt in Iowa is five years. Credit cards are considered unwritten contracts under Iowa law.

Written contracts have a longer deadline. Creditors have ten years to sue on written contracts like promissory notes.

Can’t the creditor produce a written agreement? The statute of limitations drops to five years based on an oral contract.

Here’s a breakdown of Iowa’s statute of limitations by debt type:

The statute of limitations is a powerful defense. If the deadline has passed, the creditor loses the right to sue you forever.

Settling Debt Before Court Often Makes Sense

Are you being sued for debt you definitely don’t owe? Identity theft debt or completely fraudulent charges? Fight the lawsuit all the way through court.

Otherwise, settling is usually your best option. Settling means you and the creditor agree on a lower amount. You pay that amount, and they drop the lawsuit.

Why would a creditor accept less money? Litigation is expensive. Attorney fees add up quickly. The longer a lawsuit continues, the more it costs.

Cutting a lawsuit short makes financial sense for many creditors. They save on legal fees and get paid faster.

Debt collectors especially like settlements. Collection agencies often buy debts for pennies on the dollar. Even a reduced settlement brings them a solid profit.

Start by Filing Your Answer on Time

Want to settle your case? You still need to file an Answer by the deadline. Creditors take you more seriously when you respond properly to the lawsuit.

Filing your Answer protects your rights while you negotiate. You maintain leverage in settlement discussions.

Make a Reasonable Settlement Offer

Start negotiations by offering 60% of the debt amount. Many creditors will accept this as a starting point.

You might get away with offering less in certain situations:

• You have very few assets the creditor could seize
• Your income is very low or exempt from garnishment
• Your wages are already being garnished by another creditor
• Multiple creditors are suing you at the same time
• The debt is close to the statute of limitations
• The collector violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Creditors prefer lump sum payments over installment plans. You’re more likely to settle successfully with a one-time payment.

Offer slightly less than you can actually pay. Leave yourself room to negotiate higher if needed.

Negotiate and Get Everything in Writing

Negotiating with creditors can feel stressful. Take a deep breath before you start. Remember that negotiation isn’t a fight.

You’re working toward a solution that benefits both sides. Stay polite and respectful throughout the process.

Expect the creditor to counter your initial offer. Some back-and-forth is normal. Stay patient and professional.

Always get your settlement agreement in writing. Some creditors will settle and then sue you again for the remaining balance. Protect yourself with a written contract.

Your settlement agreement should include:

• The exact settlement amount
• When you’ll pay it
• How you’ll pay it
• A clause stating the creditor won’t pursue the remaining debt

Iowa Debt Collection Laws Protect You

Creditors and collection agencies can be relentless. They often cross the line into harassment when trying to collect.

Both Iowa and federal law protect you from abusive collection practices. The Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act and the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act give you important rights.

Debt collectors in Iowa cannot:

• Threaten violence against you or your family
• Contact family or friends to discuss your debt
• Pretend they work for law enforcement or the government
• Lie about how much you owe
• Call you in the middle of the night
• Contact you after you hire an attorney
• Contact you after you send written notice to stop

Iowa law adds another important protection. Collectors cannot threaten legal action unless they actually plan to sue you.

Think a collector has broken the law? You have options. Contact an attorney or file a complaint with:

Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
Hoover State Office Building
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-5926
www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
Washington, DC 20508
1-877-382-4357
www.ftc.gov

Get Free Legal Help in Iowa

Can’t afford a lawyer? You might qualify for free or low-cost legal services.

Iowa Legal Aid helps eligible residents with civil legal matters. Contact them to see if you qualify:

Iowa Legal Aid Society
1111 Ninth Street, Suite 230
Des Moines, IA 50314
1-800-532-1275
www.iowalegalaid.org

Find Debt Relief Programs in Iowa

Struggling with debt makes every part of life harder. Iowa offers programs to help residents in financial distress.

You might qualify for these Iowa programs:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Helps with heating costs
• Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki): Provides health insurance for kids whose parents don’t qualify for Medicaid
• SafeNetRx Program: Helps fund prescriptions and medical supplies for low-income residents

Don’t qualify for government programs? Consider these debt relief options:

• Negotiate payment plans directly with creditors
• Take out a debt consolidation loan
• Settle debts for less than you owe
• File for bankruptcy as a last resort

Chapter 7 bankruptcy might make sense if you have low income and few assets. Most of your debts can be discharged. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for about seven years. But you get a fresh financial start.

Stop Wage Garnishment in Iowa

Iowa’s wage garnishment laws are more complex than most states. Understanding these rules helps you protect your income.

The maximum weekly garnishment is the lesser of:

• Your disposable earnings over 40 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25), or
• 25% of your disposable earnings

Disposable earnings means what’s left after taxes. Not what’s left after paying bills.

Iowa sets additional limits based on annual income. These protect people facing multiple garnishments:

• Less than $12,000: Maximum $250 per year
• $12,000-$15,999: Maximum $400 per year
• $16,000-$23,999: Maximum $800 per year
• $24,000-$34,999: Maximum $1,500 per year
• $35,000-$49,999: Maximum $2,000 per year
• $50,000 or more: No more than 10% of wages

Some types of income are completely exempt from garnishment:

• Social Security benefits
• Veterans’ benefits
• Disability benefits
• Child support payments
• Alimony payments

Receive exempt income? File an Affidavit of Property Exempt from Execution. This form stops garnishments before they start.

Stopping a garnishment after it begins is very difficult. Act quickly to protect your exempt income.

Check Your Iowa Court Case Status Online

Winning a debt case requires staying on top of deadlines. Miss one important date and you could lose by default.

You must track your case carefully. Know when hearings are scheduled. Understand what the court requires at each step.

Iowa makes checking your case status simple. Visit the Iowa Courts online portal and search by case number. Don’t have your case number? Search by your name instead.

Can’t find your records online? Call or visit your county courthouse. The clerk can help you locate your records and make copies. Expect to pay a small fee for printed copies.

Filing in Iowa Small Claims Court

Someone owes you money? Small claims court might be your answer. Iowa small claims court handles cases up to $6,500.

Small claims court works well for straightforward cases. You can represent yourself without an attorney.

Common small claims cases include:

• Small personal injury claims
• Wrongfully withheld security deposits
• Minor property damage caused by contractors
• Unpaid debts under $6,500

The Iowa court system provides free forms and instructions. Here’s how the process works:

• Complete a court-approved petition form
• Have the defendant properly served with notice
• Wait for the defendant to file an Answer
• If no Answer is filed, you may win by default
• If an Answer is filed, attend your hearing with evidence

Representing yourself? Follow these tips for better results:

• Arrive early to your hearing
• Know and follow Iowa Court System rules
• Dress professionally and respectfully
• Bring all evidence (contracts, receipts, witnesses)
• Remember the judge controls the courtroom

Always have your damages clearly identified. If the defendant doesn’t show up, the judge can issue a default judgment. Clear damage amounts help the judge award you what you deserve.