Iowa Code » Chapter 677 — OFFER TO CONFESS JUDGMENT
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 677.7 (2026)

Offer to confess after action brought

✓ current as of July 2026
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The defendant in an action for the recovery of money only may, at any time after service of notice and before the trial, serve upon the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney an offer in writing to allow judgment to be taken against the defendant for a specified sum with costs. [R60, §3405; C73, §2900; C97, §3819; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12678; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §677.7]

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2022 · leading case: Umeka Lewis v. John J. Jaeger, Robert E. Boge, & the City of Dubuque, 818 N.W.2d 165 (Iowa 2012).
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Umeka Lewis v. John J. Jaeger, Robert E. Boge, & the City of Dubuque, 818 N.W.2d 165 (Iowa 2012). · cites it 6× “See Iowa Code § 677.7 . Iowa Code section 677.”
Rick v. Sprague, 706 N.W.2d 717 (Iowa 2005). · cites it 7× “Later, Sprague filed an offer to confess judgment, which stated: The defendant, Wilbur Sprague, after answer and before trial herein, offers to confess judgment pursuant to Iowa Code § 677.7 (1985) as follows: 1. In the amount of Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($5000.”
Hughes v. Burlington N. R.R., 545 N.W.2d 318 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 4× “This offer allowed “judgment to be taken against this defendant for the specified sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) together with costs accrued to the date of this offer” pursuant to Iowa Code section 677.7 (1993). The plaintiffs then served and filed a notice of…”
Weaver Constr. Co. v. Heitland, 348 N.W.2d 230 (Iowa 1984). · cites it 3× “Defendant made its offer to confess in accordance with Iowa Code sections 677.7 through 677.10, inclusive, which provide: 677.”
Coker v. Abell-Howe Co., 491 N.W.2d 143 (Iowa 1992). “The offer, made after the action was brought and before commencement of the trial, is governed by Iowa Code sections 677.7 through 677.10 (1991). See Sheer Constr.”
Harris v. Olson, 558 N.W.2d 408 (Iowa 1997). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code section 677.7 provides: The defendant in an action for the recovery of money only may, at any time after service of notice and before the trial, serve upon the plaintiff or the plaintiffs attorney an offer in writing to allow judgment to be taken against the defendant…”
Brockhouse v. State, 449 N.W.2d 380 (Iowa 1989). · cites it 4× “Section 677.7 allows the defendant in an action for the recovery of money to serve upon the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney, a written offer to confer judgment “for a specified sum with costs,” at any time after service of notice but before trial.”
Shirley v. Pothast, 508 N.W.2d 712 (Iowa 1993). “§§ 677.7, 677.10. The purpose of chapter 677 is to “encourage early settlements and discourage unnecessary and costly litigation.”
Css2 Enter., Inc., plaintiff-appellee/cross-appellant v. Farmers Coop. Co., Dows, Iowa, Steve Muhlenbruch, & New Coop., Inc., defendants-appellants/cross-appellees. (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 21× “” See Iowa Code § 677.7 (authorizing an offer “for a specified sum with costs”).”
Arrahmeen Taylor, plaintiff-appellant/cross-appellee v. Cc Recycling, L.L.C., defendant-appellee/cross-appellant. (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 10× “See Iowa Code §§ 677.7 , .9, .10. Taylor moved for a new trial.”
Dieter Alfred Schewe v. Jacob Beck & Clinton Cnty., Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 4× “Because the Defendants filed an offer to confess judgment for $10,000 under Iowa Code section 677.7 (2019),7 they requested that the full cost of the deposition used to impeach Schewe at trial be taxed against him.”
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