2009 Iowa Code
Title 15 - Judicial Branch and Judicial Procedures
Subtitle 3 - Civil Procedure
CHAPTER 631 - SMALL CLAIMS
631.1 - SMALL CLAIMS.

        631.1  SMALL CLAIMS.
         1.  The following actions or claims are small claims and shall be
      commenced, heard and determined as provided in this chapter:
         A civil action for a money judgment where the amount in
      controversy is four thousand dollars or less for actions commenced
      before July 1, 2002, and five thousand dollars or less for actions
      commenced on or after July 1, 2002, exclusive of interest and costs.

         2.  The district court sitting in small claims shall have
      concurrent jurisdiction of an action for forcible entry and detainer
      which is based on those grounds set forth in section 648.1,
      subsections 1, 2, 3 and 5.  When commenced under this chapter, the
      action shall be a small claim for the purposes of this chapter.
         3.  The district court sitting in small claims has concurrent
      jurisdiction of an action of replevin if the value of the property
      claimed is four thousand dollars or less for actions commenced before
      July 1, 2002, and five thousand dollars or less for actions commenced
      on or after July 1, 2002.  When commenced under this chapter, the
      action is a small claim for the purposes of this chapter.
         4.  The district court sitting in small claims has concurrent
      jurisdiction of motions and orders relating to executions against
      personal property, including garnishments, where the value of the
      property or garnisheed money involved is four thousand dollars or
      less for actions commenced before July 1, 2002, and five thousand
      dollars or less for actions commenced on or after July 1, 2002.
         5.  The district court sitting in small claims has concurrent
      jurisdiction of an action for abandonment of a manufactured or mobile
      home or personal property pursuant to section 555B.3, if no money
      judgment in excess of four thousand dollars is sought for actions
      commenced before July 1, 2002, and five thousand dollars or less for
      actions commenced on or after July 1, 2002.  If commenced under this
      chapter, the action is a small claim for the purposes of this
      chapter.
         6.  The district court sitting in small claims has concurrent
      jurisdiction of an action to challenge a mechanic's lien pursuant to
      sections 572.24 and 572.32.
         7.  The district court sitting in small claims has concurrent
      jurisdiction of an action for the collection of taxes brought by a
      county treasurer pursuant to sections 445.3 and 445.4 where the
      amount in controversy is five thousand dollars or less for actions
      commenced on or after July 1, 2003, exclusive of interest and costs.
      

         Section History: Early Form

         [C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 631.1] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         83 Acts, ch 63, § 1, 5; 86 Acts, ch 1077, § 1; 90 Acts, ch 1038, §
      1; 93 Acts, ch 154, §18; 94 Acts, ch 1117, §1; 95 Acts, ch 49, §23;
      99 Acts, ch 79, §5; 2001 Acts, ch 153, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §80;
      2002 Acts, ch 1087, §1, 2; 2003 Acts, ch 178, §20
         Referred to in § 331.307, 364.22
         Jurisdictional amount to revert to $4,000 if a proper court
      declares the $5,000 amount unconstitutional; 2002 Acts, ch 1087, §3
         Jurisdictional amount to revert to $2,000 if a proper court
      declares the previous $3,000 or $4,000 jurisdictional amounts
      unconstitutional; 94 Acts, ch 1117, §2; 95 Acts, ch 49, §28