Iowa Code » Chapter 631 — SMALL CLAIMS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 631.10 (2026)

Failure to appear — effect

✓ current as of July 2026
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Unless good cause to the contrary is shown, if the parties fail to appear at the time of hearing the claim shall be dismissed without prejudice by the court; if the plaintiff fails to appear but the defendant appears, the claim shall be dismissed with prejudice by the court with costs assessed to the plaintiff; and if the plaintiff appears but the defendant fails to appear, judgment may be rendered against the defendant by the court. The filing by the plaintiff of a verified account, or an instrument in writing for the payment of money with an affidavit the same is genuine, shall constitute an appearance by plaintiff for the purpose of this section. [C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §631.10]

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1956–2019 · leading case: GE Money Bank v. Morales, 773 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2009).
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GE Money Bank v. Morales, 773 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2009). · cites it 10× “Iowa Code § 631.10 (2007). It provides: Unless good cause to the contrary is shown, if the parties fail to appear at the time of hearing the claim shall be dismissed without prejudice by the court; if the plaintiff fails to appear but the defendant appears, the claim shall be…”
Whitehorn v. Lovik, 398 N.W.2d 851 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code section 631.10 (1985), the small claims counterpart to Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 230, provides that "if the plaintiff fails to appear but the defendant appears, the claim shall be dismissed with prejudice by the court with costs assessed to the plaintiff; and if the…”
Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. v. Denboer, 791 N.W.2d 264 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 631.10 ; GE Money Bank, 773 N.”
Roeder v. Nolan, 321 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 2× “Section 631.10 of the Code provides in part that “[ujnless good cause to the contrary is shown,” if the plaintiff appears for a small claim hearing but the defendant fails to appear, “judgment may be rendered against the defendant by the court.”
United States v. Campbell, 138 F. Supp. 344 (N.D. Iowa 1956). “§ 631.10 (1947); Rev.Codes of Mont. 1947, § 94-7303; Nev.”
GE Money Bank Vs. Maria Morales (Iowa 2009). · cites it 10× “Iowa Code § 631.10 (2007). It provides: Unless good cause to the contrary is shown, if the parties fail to appear at the time of hearing the claim shall be dismissed without prejudice by the court; if the plaintiff fails to appear but the defendant appears, the claim shall be…”
Robert Clauss v. Laidlaw & Co. UK Ltd. (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to Iowa Code section 631.10 (2017), judgment may be rendered [Laidlaw] by the court.”
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