Iowa Civil Statute of Limitations Laws
State statutes of limitations set deadlines for plaintiffs and prosecutors to file cases. Criminal statutes set limitations periods for prosecutors to file criminal charges against defendants. This protects a defendant’s civil right to a speedy trial.
Civil statutes of limitations ensure plaintiffs bring civil cases in a reasonable amount of time. In Iowa, plaintiffs in personal injury cases have two years to file a legal claim. This keeps potential defendants from having legal action hanging over their heads. It ensures the injured party files a claim while the evidence is available and witness memories are fresh.
Criminal statutes of limitation put limits on prosecutors. They must file criminal cases within a certain period of time after the commission of a crime. A few types of crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, have no time limits.
This article provides a brief overview of the civil statutes of limitations in Iowa. If you need help filing a civil lawsuit in Iowa, hire an attorney immediately.
Iowa Statutes of Limitation
The chart below lists the details of Iowa’s civil statutes of limitations. See Time Limits to Bring a Case: The Statute of Limitations for more general information.
| Code section | Iowa Code Annotated (I.C.A.) § 614 et seq. |
|---|---|
| Two years (I.C.A. § 614.1(2)) |
|
| Five years (I.C.A. § 614.1(4)) |
|
| Six years (I.C.A. § 614.1(9)) |
Professional malpractice |
| 10 years (I.C.A. § 614.1(5)) |
|
| 20 years (I.C.A. § 614.1(6)) |
Judgments in court of record |
Note: State laws are subject to change through the passage of new legislation, court rulings (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. FindLaw strives to provide the most current information available. You should consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws before making any legal decisions.
Tolling and the Discovery Rule
In some cases, plaintiffs may not discover an injury until after the statute of limitations has run out. For instance, toxic exposure may not cause an illness or wrongful death until many years later. The discovery rule extends the statute until a plaintiff discovers the harm and can file an injury claim based on the cause.
Tolling is a suspension of the statute for those who can’t file claims on their own behalf. Iowa law tolls civil statutes for:
- People with mental illness have one year after their disability is lifted to file a claim, regardless of the expiration of the statute
- People below the age of majority. They have one year to file claims once they reach the age of 18.
Civil Statute of Limitations Laws: Related Resources
- Lawsuits: A Practical Guide
- Time Limits to Bring a Case: The Statute of Limitations
- Time Limits for Bringing Product Liability Cases: State by State
- Time Limit Considerations in Medical Malpractice Cases
- Official State Codes — Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and D.C.
Get Legal Advice From an Iowa Personal Injury Attorney
The statute of limitations is a strict deadline for filing a civil action. Get legal advice from an experienced Iowa personal injury lawyer to determine whether your cause of action meets the filing deadline.
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