Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 610A.1 (2026)

Actions or appeals brought by inmates or prisoners

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Notwithstanding section 610.1 or 822.5, if the person bringing a civil action or appeal is an inmate of an institution or facility under the control of the department of corrections or a prisoner of a county or municipal jail or detention facility, the inmate or prisoner shall pay in full all fees and costs associated with the action or appeal.

a. Upon filing of the action or appeal, the court shall order the inmate or prisoner to pay a minimum of twenty percent of the required filing fee before the court will take any further action on the inmate’s or prisoner’s action or appeal and shall also order the inmate or prisoner to make monthly payments of ten percent of all outstanding fees and costs associated with the inmate’s or prisoner’s action or appeal.

b. If the inmate has an inmate account under section 904.702, the department of corrections shall withdraw moneys maintained in the account for the payment of fees and costs associated with the inmate’s action or appeal in accordance with the court’s order until the required fees and costs are paid in full. The inmate shall file a certified copy of the inmate’s account balance with the court at the time the action or appeal is filed.

c. An inmate may authorize the department of corrections to make or the inmate may make an initial or subsequent payment beyond that required by this section.

d. The court may dismiss any civil action or appeal in which the inmate or prisoner has previously failed to pay fees and costs in accordance with this section.

e. If the inmate has unsuccessfully prosecuted three or more frivolous actions in the preceding five-year period, the court may stay the proceeding in accordance with section 617.16.

f. If the inmate has had three or more actions dismissed pursuant to section 610A.2, the inmate shall not be permitted to file an action pursuant to chapter 610.

2. The court may make the authorization provided for in section 610.1 if it finds that the inmate does not have sufficient moneys in the inmate’s account or sufficient moneys flowing into the account to make the payments required in this section or, in the case of a prisoner of a county or municipal jail or detention facility, that the prisoner otherwise meets the requirements of section 610.1.

3. In any civil case filed by a petitioner who is an inmate or prisoner, the respondent may review the petition and, if applicable, file a pre-answer motion asserting, in addition to any other defense that must be asserted in such a motion under the rules of civil procedure, that the action or any portion of the action should be dismissed pursuant to this chapter because the action or any portion of the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or is otherwise subject to dismissal under section 610A.2. 95 Acts, ch 167, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1079, §17; 98 Acts, ch 1147, §2, 3, 6 Referred to in §904.702 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2000–2026 · leading case: Goodrich v. State, 608 N.W.2d 774 (Iowa 2000).
Goodrich v. State, 608 N.W.2d 774 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 8× “In addition, the court assessed costs against him pursuant to Iowa Code section 610A.1. The court further ordered that Goodrich pay court costs of $320.”
Michael Lee Gordon v. State of Iowa, LaDonna Wilcox, Randy Coffman & John Martinez (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 10× “[Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)]. Once [Gordon] pays the 20%, he must then pay 10% each month toward the outstanding filing fee and costs.”
State of Iowa v. Jack Losee, 895 N.W.2d 482 (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 610A.1(1). While the supreme court has described petitions filed under section 910.”
Michael Alexander Lajeunesse v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 6× “See Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). It denied his motion to reconsider the ruling.”
State of Iowa v. David Hering, 918 N.W.2d 503 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 4× “The director shall also deduct from any remaining account balance an amount sufficient to pay all or part of any judgment against the inmate, including but not limited to judgments for taxes and child support, and court costs and fees assessed either as a result of the inmate's…”
Eddie Risdal v. John Mathes, 340 F.3d 508 (8th Cir. 2003). “More importantly, if Risdal had attempted exhaustion, he might have been able to avail himself of Iowa Code § 610A.1(2)(2001), which permits costs to be waived if an inmate has insufficient means.”
Clarence G. Bryant v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “” The district court denied the motion pursuant to Iowa Code section 610A.1(1), which states that if the person bringing a civil action or appeal is an inmate of an institution or facility under the control of the department of corrections or a prisoner of a county or municipal…”
Michael Runyan v. Jerry Burt (8th Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “00), as required by Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). The letter specifically informed Runyan he was required to pay the $16.”
In the Interest of B.G., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “§ 610A.1. 2 See Iowa Code §§ 610.2 , .3. 3 The father now appeals.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(1) — 4 cases
Goodrich v. State, 608 N.W.2d 774 (Iowa 2000). “In addition, the court assessed costs against him pursuant to Iowa Code section 610A.1. The court further ordered that Goodrich pay court costs of $320.”
State of Iowa v. Jack Losee, 895 N.W.2d 482 (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). “See Iowa Code § 610A.1(1). While the supreme court has described petitions filed under section 910.”
Michael Lee Gordon v. State of Iowa, LaDonna Wilcox, Randy Coffman & John Martinez (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “[Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)]. Once [Gordon] pays the 20%, he must then pay 10% each month toward the outstanding filing fee and costs.”
Clarence G. Bryant v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). “” The district court denied the motion pursuant to Iowa Code section 610A.1(1), which states that if the person bringing a civil action or appeal is an inmate of an institution or facility under the control of the department of corrections or a prisoner of a county or municipal…”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a) — 3 cases
Michael Alexander Lajeunesse v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). “See Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). It denied his motion to reconsider the ruling.”
Michael Lee Gordon v. State of Iowa, LaDonna Wilcox, Randy Coffman & John Martinez (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “[Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)]. Once [Gordon] pays the 20%, he must then pay 10% each month toward the outstanding filing fee and costs.”
Michael Runyan v. Jerry Burt (8th Cir. 2008). “00), as required by Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). The letter specifically informed Runyan he was required to pay the $16.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(b) — 1 case
Michael Lee Gordon v. State of Iowa, LaDonna Wilcox, Randy Coffman & John Martinez (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “[Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)]. Once [Gordon] pays the 20%, he must then pay 10% each month toward the outstanding filing fee and costs.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(d) — 1 case
Michael Lee Gordon v. State of Iowa, LaDonna Wilcox, Randy Coffman & John Martinez (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “[Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)]. Once [Gordon] pays the 20%, he must then pay 10% each month toward the outstanding filing fee and costs.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(2) — 1 case
Michael Alexander Lajeunesse v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2026). “See Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). It denied his motion to reconsider the ruling.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(2)(2001) — 1 case
Eddie Risdal v. John Mathes, 340 F.3d 508 (8th Cir. 2003). “More importantly, if Risdal had attempted exhaustion, he might have been able to avail himself of Iowa Code § 610A.1(2)(2001), which permits costs to be waived if an inmate has insufficient means.”
— Iowa Code § 610A.1(d) — 1 case
Michael Runyan v. Jerry Burt (8th Cir. 2008). “00), as required by Iowa Code § 610A.1(1)(a). The letter specifically informed Runyan he was required to pay the $16.”
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