Iowa Code » Chapter 679A — ARBITRATION
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 679A.1 (2026)

Validity of arbitration agreement

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A written agreement to submit to arbitration an existing controversy is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable unless grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the written agreement. 2. A provision in a written contract to submit to arbitration a future controversy arising between the parties is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable unless grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the contract. This subsection shall not apply to any of the following: a. A contract of adhesion. b. A contract between employers and employees. c. Unless otherwise provided in a separate writing executed by all parties to the contract, any claim sounding in tort whether or not involving a breach of contract. [C51, §2098, 2101; R60, §3675, 3678; C73, §3416, 3418; C97, §4385, 4387; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12695, 12697; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §679.1, 679.3; 81 Acts, ch 202, §1] C83, §679A.1 Referred to in §679A.2

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002).
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Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 16× “Secondly, they argue that the arbitration provision is unenforceable under Iowa Code section 679A.1, which provides that a written agreement to arbitrate is not valid when it is part of a contract of adhesion or a contract between an employer and an employee.”
Wesley Ret. Servs., Inc. v. Hansen Lind Meyer, Inc., 594 N.W.2d 22 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 14× “In its ruling on HLM’s motion, the court held there was no waiver, but did agree that Iowa Code section 679A.1 prevented *25 the enforcement of arbitration clauses with respect to claims sounding in tort.”
Modern Piping, Inc. v. Blackhawk Automatic Sprinklers, Inc., 581 N.W.2d 616 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 10× “On application of a party showing an agreement described in section 679A.1 and the opposing party’s refusal to arbitrate, the district court shall order the parties to proceed with arbitration.”
Larry D. Schaefer & Elaine M. Schaefer v. Dale L. Putnam, Putnam Law Off., & SMP, L.L.C., 841 N.W.2d 68 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 2× “2d 22, 29 (Iowa 1999) (ruling compelling mandatory arbitration under Iowa Code section 679A.1 is reviewed for correction of errors at law).”
Heaberlin Farms, Inc. v. IGF Ins. Co., 641 N.W.2d 816 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 6× “This case raises novel issues involving the right of an insurer to enforce an arbitration clause in an insurance policy in the face of claims by the insured that (1) the Iowa arbitration statute, Iowa Code § 679A.1 (1999), makes the arbitration clause invalid because the…”
Mary E. Roth & Michael A. Roth, Individually & as Coexecutors of the Est. of Cletus Roth, Anna M. Roth, Individually, & Bradley E. Roth, Individually v. the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Soc'y D/B/A Good Samaritan Soc'y - George, 886 N.W.2d 601 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 679A.1(1). Moreover, we are guided by the principle that we construe statutes to avoid constitutional infirmities.”
Gen. Conf. of the Evangelical Methodist Church v. Faith Evangelical Methodist Church, 809 N.W.2d 117 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 7× “EMC contends there is a valid agreement between the parties to arbitrate the disputed issues; Faith asserts there is no written contract between the parties, as required under Iowa Code section 679A.1 (2009), which would compel arbitration.”
Bartlett Grain Co., LP v. Steven Carl Sheeder & Maureen Jeanette Pace, 829 N.W.2d 18 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 679A.1(1) (stating that a writ *27 ten agreement to arbitrate shall not be enforced when “grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the written agreement”); see also id.”
Vis v. Am. Fam. Life Assur. Co. of Columbus, 778 F. Supp. 2d 971 (N.D. Iowa 2011). · cites it 10× “Count I of Vis’s Petition sought declaratory relief to the effect that the Contract is a contract of adhesion, so that its arbitration clause is unenforceable pursuant to Iowa Code § 679A.1. Count II seeks money damages for breach of contract for AFLAC’s failure to pay renewal…”
Des Moines Asphalt & Paving Co. v. Colcon Indus. Corp., 500 N.W.2d 70 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code section 679A.1(2) provides: “A provision in a written contract to submit to arbitration a future controversy arising between the parties is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable unless grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the contract.”
Reicks v. Farmers Commodities Corp., 474 N.W.2d 809 (Iowa 1991). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 679A.1(2)(c). This dispute must be resolved under arbitration principles established by our common law.”
$99 Down Payment, Inc. v. Garard, 592 N.W.2d 691 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 679A.1. Our law also indulges every reasonable presumption in favor of the legality of an arbitration award.”
Show all 24 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 679A.1(1) — 6 cases
Mary E. Roth & Michael A. Roth, Individually & as Coexecutors of the Est. of Cletus Roth, Anna M. Roth, Individually, & Bradley E. Roth, Individually v. the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Soc'y D/B/A Good Samaritan Soc'y - George, 886 N.W.2d 601 (Iowa 2016). “See Iowa Code § 679A.1(1). Moreover, we are guided by the principle that we construe statutes to avoid constitutional infirmities.”
Bartlett Grain Co., LP v. Steven Carl Sheeder & Maureen Jeanette Pace, 829 N.W.2d 18 (Iowa 2013). “See Iowa Code § 679A.1(1) (stating that a writ *27 ten agreement to arbitrate shall not be enforced when “grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the written agreement”); see also id.”
Mut. Serv. Cas. Ins. Co. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Woodbury Cnty., 372 N.W.2d 261 (Iowa 1985).
Amended December 30, 2016 Mary E. Roth & Michael A. Roth, Individually & as Coexecutors of the Est. of Cletus Roth, Anna M. Roth, Individually, & Bradley E. Roth, Individually v. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Soc'y D/B/A Good Samaritan Soc'y - George (Iowa 2016).
Roy Karon & Peddler LLC v. Elliott Aviation, James Mitchell, Wynn Elliott, Elliott Aviation Aircraft Sales, Inc., & Elliott Jets (Iowa 2020).
— Iowa Code § 679A.1(2) — 12 cases
Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002). “Secondly, they argue that the arbitration provision is unenforceable under Iowa Code section 679A.1, which provides that a written agreement to arbitrate is not valid when it is part of a contract of adhesion or a contract between an employer and an employee.”
Wesley Ret. Servs., Inc. v. Hansen Lind Meyer, Inc., 594 N.W.2d 22 (Iowa 1999). “In its ruling on HLM’s motion, the court held there was no waiver, but did agree that Iowa Code section 679A.1 prevented *25 the enforcement of arbitration clauses with respect to claims sounding in tort.”
Des Moines Asphalt & Paving Co. v. Colcon Indus. Corp., 500 N.W.2d 70 (Iowa 1993). “Iowa Code section 679A.1(2) provides: “A provision in a written contract to submit to arbitration a future controversy arising between the parties is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable unless grounds exist at law or in equity for the revocation of the contract.”
Modern Piping, Inc. v. Blackhawk Automatic Sprinklers, Inc., 581 N.W.2d 616 (Iowa 1998). “On application of a party showing an agreement described in section 679A.1 and the opposing party’s refusal to arbitrate, the district court shall order the parties to proceed with arbitration.”
Gen. Conf. of the Evangelical Methodist Church v. Faith Evangelical Methodist Church, 809 N.W.2d 117 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011). “EMC contends there is a valid agreement between the parties to arbitrate the disputed issues; Faith asserts there is no written contract between the parties, as required under Iowa Code section 679A.1 (2009), which would compel arbitration.”
— Iowa Code § 679A.1(2)(6) — 1 case
Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002). “Secondly, they argue that the arbitration provision is unenforceable under Iowa Code section 679A.1, which provides that a written agreement to arbitrate is not valid when it is part of a contract of adhesion or a contract between an employer and an employee.”
— Iowa Code § 679A.1(2)(a) — 4 cases
Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002). “Secondly, they argue that the arbitration provision is unenforceable under Iowa Code section 679A.1, which provides that a written agreement to arbitrate is not valid when it is part of a contract of adhesion or a contract between an employer and an employee.”
Gen. Conf. of the Evangelical Methodist Church v. Faith Evangelical Methodist Church, 809 N.W.2d 117 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011). “EMC contends there is a valid agreement between the parties to arbitrate the disputed issues; Faith asserts there is no written contract between the parties, as required under Iowa Code section 679A.1 (2009), which would compel arbitration.”
Mut. Serv. Cas. Ins. v. Iowa Dist. Court, Etc., 372 N.W.2d 261 (Iowa 1985).
Conlon Constr. Co. v. Tri-State Concrete Constr., Inc., Top Notch Plumbing Heating & Elec., Inc., & Runde Elec., LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2026).
— Iowa Code § 679A.1(2)(c) — 4 cases
Pennsylvania Life Ins. Co. v. Simoni, 641 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 2002). “Secondly, they argue that the arbitration provision is unenforceable under Iowa Code section 679A.1, which provides that a written agreement to arbitrate is not valid when it is part of a contract of adhesion or a contract between an employer and an employee.”
Reicks v. Farmers Commodities Corp., 474 N.W.2d 809 (Iowa 1991). “” Iowa Code § 679A.1(2)(c). This dispute must be resolved under arbitration principles established by our common law.”
Roy Karon & Peddler LLC v. Elliott Aviation, James Mitchell, Wynn Elliott, Elliott Aviation Aircraft Sales, Inc., & Elliott Jets (Iowa 2020).
Conlon Constr. Co. v. Tri-State Concrete Constr., Inc., Top Notch Plumbing Heating & Elec., Inc., & Runde Elec., LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2026).
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