Iowa Code
Iowa Code § 602.10116 (2026)
Attorney’s lien — notice
✓ current as of July 2026
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An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon: 1. Any papers belonging to a client which have come into the attorney’s hands in the course of professional employment. 2. Money in the attorney’s hands belonging to a client. 3. Money due a client in the hands of the adverse party, or attorney of such party, in an action or proceeding in which the attorney claiming the lien was employed, from the time of giving notice in writing to such adverse party, or attorney of such party, if the money is in the possession or under the control of such attorney, which notice shall state the amount claimed, and, in general terms, for what services. 4. After judgment in any court of record, such notice may be given, and the lien made effective against the judgment debtor, by entering the same in the judgment or combination docket, opposite the entry of the judgment. [C51, §1618; R60, §2708; C73, §215; C97, §321; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10924; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §610.18] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2) CS83, §602.10116 Attorney as surety; §621.7, 636.5
\nNotes of Decisions
Cited in 28
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1989–2025 · leading case: Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. David A. Morse, 887 N.W.2d 131 (Iowa 2016).
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. David A. Morse, 887 N.W.2d 131 (Iowa 2016). “In addition, pursuant to Iowa Code § 602.10116 , Attorney has certain lien rights for a general balance of compensation upon: .”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Seth Eugene Baldwin, 857 N.W.2d 195 (Iowa 2014). “Baldwin argues that he had a valid retaining lien against the files and records pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.10116. 8 According to Baldwin, he was justified in refusing to relinquish the files and records because Candace owed him fees for services rendered in his…”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Powell, 726 N.W.2d 397 (Iowa 2007). “Iowa Code § 602.10116 . Although section 602.”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Eric Kenyatta Parrish, 925 N.W.2d 163 (Iowa 2019). “In support of his action, the attorney relied upon Iowa Code section 602.10116(2) (1987), which provided that “[a]n attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon .”
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code section 602.10116 provides: An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon: 1.”
Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. Nadler, 445 N.W.2d 358 (Iowa 1989). “” Iowa Code § 602.10116 (2). We have had no previous occasion to consider the full import of the attorney’s lien statute in this context.”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Kenneth F. Dolezal, 841 N.W.2d 114 (Iowa 2013). “”); Iowa Code § 602.10116 (1) (2011) (“An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon .”
Tri City Equip. Co. v. Modern Real Est. Investments, Ltd., 460 N.W.2d 464 (Iowa 1990). “The attorney claims priority in the funds through his attorney’s lien under Iowa Code section 602.10116 (1987). The client’s judgment creditor, on the other hand, claimed priority through its judgment and succeeding levy.”
In Re Iowa Coal Min. Co., Inc., 242 B.R. 661 (Bankr. S.D. Iowa 1999). “Notice was given that these attorneys claimed a hen on any judgment and any and all sums of money due Iowa Coal and Star Coal from Monroe County in Iowa Coal I.”
In Re Miglia, 345 B.R. 919 (Bankr. D. Iowa 2006). “Iowa Code § 602.10116 (3). This type of lien, providing an equitable right for an attorney to have fees for services related to a particular lawsuit to be “secured by the judgment or recovery in such suit,” is a charging lien.”
Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. McCullough, 465 N.W.2d 878 (Iowa 1991). “See Iowa Code § 602.10116 (grants attorney lien for general balance of compensation).”
Thomas A. Foster & Assocs., Ltd. v. Paulson, 699 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005). “We note that in those jurisdictions that permit legal malpractice to be raised as a defense to establishment of an attorney lien, the governing statutes do not expressly provide for a summary proceeding.”
— Iowa Code § 602.10116(1) — 1 case
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code section 602.10116 provides: An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon: 1.”
— Iowa Code § 602.10116(2) — 5 cases
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. David A. Morse, 887 N.W.2d 131 (Iowa 2016). “In addition, pursuant to Iowa Code § 602.10116 , Attorney has certain lien rights for a general balance of compensation upon: .”
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. Eric Kenyatta Parrish, 925 N.W.2d 163 (Iowa 2019). “In support of his action, the attorney relied upon Iowa Code section 602.10116(2) (1987), which provided that “[a]n attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon .”
Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. Nadler, 445 N.W.2d 358 (Iowa 1989). “” Iowa Code § 602.10116 (2). We have had no previous occasion to consider the full import of the attorney’s lien statute in this context.”
Amended January 23, 2017 Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. v. David A. Morse (Iowa 2016).
— Iowa Code § 602.10116(3) — 4 cases
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code section 602.10116 provides: An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon: 1.”
In Re Iowa Coal Min. Co., Inc., 242 B.R. 661 (Bankr. S.D. Iowa 1999). “Notice was given that these attorneys claimed a hen on any judgment and any and all sums of money due Iowa Coal and Star Coal from Monroe County in Iowa Coal I.”
In re Est. of Clegg (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
In re Marriage of Majors (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
— Iowa Code § 602.10116(4) — 2 cases
Iowa Supreme Court Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. McKittrick, 683 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code section 602.10116 provides: An attorney has a lien for a general balance of compensation upon: 1.”
In Re Iowa Coal Min. Co., Inc., 242 B.R. 661 (Bankr. S.D. Iowa 1999). “Notice was given that these attorneys claimed a hen on any judgment and any and all sums of money due Iowa Coal and Star Coal from Monroe County in Iowa Coal I.”
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