Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 631.14 (2026)

Representation in small claims actions

✓ current as of July 2026

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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. a. 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.

b. 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. [C75, 77, 79, 81, §631.14; 82 Acts, ch 1235, §3] 87 Acts, ch 137, §5; 2006 Acts, ch 1185, §87; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §261 Referred to in §625.22 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: Iowa Supreme Court Comm'n on Unauthorized Practice of Law v. A-1 Assocs., Ltd., 623 N.W.2d 803 (Iowa 2001).

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Iowa Supreme Court Comm'n on Unauthorized Practice of Law v. A-1 Assocs., Ltd., 623 N.W.2d 803 (Iowa 2001). · cites it 10× “2, before notice of the assignment is given to the debtor in writing by the assignee.”

Conkey v. Hoak Motors, Inc., 637 N.W.2d 170 (Iowa 2001). · cites it 2× “But see Iowa Code § 631.14 (authorizing corporate party in small claims to be represented by “an officer or employee”); Iowa Supreme Ct.”

Midwest Recovery Servs. v. Cooper, 465 N.W.2d 855 (Iowa 1991). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 631.14 . Even more significant for purposes of this case, Iowa Code section 631.”

Barnes Beauty Coll. v. McCoy, 279 N.W.2d 258 (Iowa 1979). “§ 631.14. On the basis of the foregoing we think the legislature’s omission of any provision for new trial motions was deliberate.”

Locher & Davis, PLC v. Ruth F. Woller Revocable Trust (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “Absent statutory exceptions, see Iowa Code § 631.14 (2021), a corporate entity may not appear pro se and must instead retain counsel for legal proceedings.”

Eagle Rise Dev., LLC, Troy Scott Wilbur & Alexander Scott Wilbur v. Iowa Dist. Court for Clinton Cnty. (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “But see Iowa Code § 631.14 (1) (stating that in small claims “actions in which a person other than an individual is a party, that person may be represented by an officer or an employee”).”

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