2009 Iowa Code
Title 15 - Judicial Branch and Judicial Procedures
Subtitle 3 - Civil Procedure
CHAPTER 631 - SMALL CLAIMS
631.14 - REPRESENTATION IN SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS.

        631.14  REPRESENTATION IN SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS.
         1.  Actions constituting small claims may be brought or defended
      by an individual, partnership, association, corporation, or other
      entity.  In actions in which a person other than an individual is a
      party, that person may be represented by an officer or an employee.
         2.  In actions concerning residential rental property that is
      titled in the name of one or more individuals, an employee of one or
      more of the titled owners, or an officer or employee of a property
      management entity acting on behalf of one or more of the titled
      owners, may bring or defend an action in the name of the titled
      owners, the property management entity, or the name by which the
      property is commonly known.
         Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, if the
      defendant or plaintiff has been improperly named in the petition in
      an action concerning residential rental property, the real party in
      interest shall be substituted at the time the error is identified and
      the action shall not be dismissed or delayed except to the extent
      necessary to identify and serve the real parties in interest.
         3.  A person who in the regular course of business takes
      assignments of instruments or accounts pursuant to chapter 539, which
      assignments constitute small claims, may bring an action on an
      assigned instrument or account in the person's own name and need not
      be represented by an attorney, provided that in an action brought to
      recover payment on a dishonored check or draft, as defined in section
      554.3104, the action is brought in the county of residence of the
      maker of the check or draft or in the county where the draft or check
      was first presented.  Any person, however, may be represented in a
      small claims action by an attorney.  

         Section History: Early Form

         [C75, 77, 79, 81, § 631.14; 82 Acts, ch 1235, § 3] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         87 Acts, ch 137, §5; 2006 Acts, ch 1185, §87
         Referred to in § 625.22