Routine
$125
First attempt within 3 business days.
Each additional defendant at the same address: $80.
Process Serving · Iowa
Iowa Process Server for Law Firms
Have summonses, complaints and other court papers served anywhere in Iowa, ordered and tracked from one account. Below: who can serve papers in Iowa, how service is made, the deadlines, the proof of service form and our prices.
Process serving through Legal Hub Group is for law firms, attorneys and their staff. Representing yourself? Our sister company Famous Legal Services handles serves for individuals.
How it is done
How papers are served in Iowa
- Personal service
Serving the individual personally, or taking the individual's signed, dated acknowledgment of service endorsed on the notice. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305(1) ↗
- Leaving papers at the home
Serving any person at least 18 who lives at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode; the rule adds limits for rooming houses, hotels, clubs and apartment buildings. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305(1) ↗
Who
Who can serve papers in Iowa
Original notices may be served by any person who is neither a party nor the attorney for a party to the action. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.302(4) ↗
Timelines
How fast, and the court's deadline
Our first-attempt promises:
- Routine: First attempt within 3 business days.
- Rush: First attempt within 24 hours.
- Same-day: for papers that cannot wait.
Every attempt shows in your account as soon as the server logs it.
The court's deadline for service: If the original notice is not served within 90 days after the petition is filed, the court dismisses the action without prejudice as to that defendant or directs another time or manner of service; it must extend the time if good cause is shown. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.302(5) ↗
Proof
The proof of service in Iowa
Return of service. Sheriffs, deputies and certain other officers may make unsworn returns for service in their territory. All other returns, with limited exceptions, are proved by the server's affidavit. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.308(1) ↗
Your server's proof is built from the field record of the serve.
Price
What a Iowa serve costs
Per person served, shown before you submit. Subscription plans take up to 20% off every serve.
Rush
$175
First attempt within 24 hours.
Same-day
$225
For papers that cannot wait.
Questions
Serving papers in Iowa: questions
Who can serve papers in Iowa?
Any person who is neither a party nor a party's attorney (Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.302(4)).
How long do you have to serve in Iowa?
90 days after the petition is filed; the court then dismisses without prejudice or sets another time or manner of service, and must extend for good cause (Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.302(5)).
Who can receive papers at the home in Iowa?
Any person at least 18 who lives at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode (Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305(1)).
Keep reading
Guides to serving papers
- Who Can Accept Served Papers?
- How to Serve Someone Court Papers Without an Address
- Can You Serve Someone Yourself?
- What Happens If You Are Not Properly Served?
- Can Court Papers Be Served by Mail?
- What Does a Process Server Do?
- How Much Does a Process Server Cost?
- What Is a Return of Service?
- What Is a Declaration of Non-Service?
- What Is Insufficient Service of Process?
Serving in another state? See process serving in every state.
General information, not legal advice. The rules above are the ones in force when we checked them (October 2026); the court and the cited rules control.
Serve papers in Iowa today.
Create your free firm account, upload the papers and choose routine, rush or same-day.