Iowa Statutes of Limitations
Learn about your state's laws by using the links below.
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.
All state (and federal) courts impose time limits, or "statutes of limitation," for either filing a civil complaint or formal criminal charges. The statutes of limitations are meant to ensure the integrity of evidence as well as to discourage individuals from threatening lawsuits indefinitely. The statutes of limitations typically differ by type of civil claim or criminal charge, although there are no time limits in most states for the most serious crimes, including first- and second-degree murder in Iowa. Time limits for most types of civil cases in Iowa range from two to five years, while most serious misdemeanors have a three-year statute of limitations.