Notice of Appearance - Iowa

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE

Iowa District Court -- Civil Docket

COURT IDENTIFICATION

Judicial District: [________________________________]

Iowa has 8 judicial districts covering 99 counties. Select the applicable district:

☐ Judicial District 1 -- Includes Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, and other northeast Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 2 -- Includes Bremer, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth, and other north-central Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 3 -- Includes Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Sioux, and other northwest Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 4 -- Includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby, and other southwest Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 5 -- Includes Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, Warren, and other central Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 6 -- Includes Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Tama, and other east-central Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 7 -- Includes Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott, and other southeast Iowa counties
☐ Judicial District 8 -- Includes Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, and Wayne counties

County: [________________________________]

SECTION 1: COURT CAPTION

IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR [________________________________] COUNTY

[________________________________],
          Plaintiff,

     v.                                        Case No. [________________________________]

[________________________________],
          Defendant.

SECTION 2: TITLE

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL FOR [________________________________]

SECTION 3: TYPE OF APPEARANCE

Select the type of appearance being entered:

☐ General Appearance -- Full representation in all aspects of this matter
☐ Limited Appearance -- Appearance for specified proceedings or issues only (see Section 9)
☐ Substitution of Counsel -- Replacement of prior counsel of record (see Section 10)
☐ Additional Counsel -- Entering as co-counsel alongside existing counsel of record

SECTION 4: ENTRY OF APPEARANCE STATEMENT

For General Appearance:

COMES NOW [________________________________], AT[________________________________] (Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Number), of the firm [________________________________], and pursuant to Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure 1.413 and 1.442 enters an appearance on behalf of [________________________________] ("Client"), the [________________________________] [Plaintiff/Defendant/Third-Party Defendant/Cross-Claimant/Counter-Claimant/Intervenor] in the above-captioned action.

Counsel requests that all further pleadings, motions, notices, orders, and other papers be served on the undersigned at the address and electronic service contact information set forth below.

For Limited Appearance:

COMES NOW [________________________________], AT[________________________________], of the firm [________________________________], and pursuant to Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure 1.413 and Iowa Court Rule 33.5(3) enters a limited appearance on behalf of [________________________________] ("Client") in the above-captioned action for the limited purpose described in Section 9 below.

This limited appearance does not constitute a general appearance for all purposes in this matter.

SECTION 5: ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Note: Iowa attorney numbers use the "AT" prefix followed by a numeric identifier (e.g., AT0001234). Include the full AT number in all filings.

Attorney Name:                    [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.:  AT[________________________________]
Firm Name:                        [________________________________]
Street Address:                   [________________________________]
                                  [________________________________]
City, State, ZIP:                 [________________________________], Iowa [____]
Telephone:                        [________________________________]
Facsimile:                        [________________________________]
Email (EDMS):                     [________________________________]

Additional Attorneys Entering Appearance (if applicable):

Attorney Name:                    [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.:  AT[________________________________]
Email (EDMS):                     [________________________________]

Attorney Name:                    [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.:  AT[________________________________]
Email (EDMS):                     [________________________________]

SECTION 6: ELECTRONIC FILING AND SERVICE -- EDMS

A. Iowa Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)

The undersigned acknowledges and consents to the following:

☐ All attorneys authorized to practice law in Iowa must register to use EDMS pursuant to Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.304(1)
☐ The undersigned is a registered EDMS user and will electronically submit all documents to be filed with the court through EDMS
☐ The undersigned consents to electronic service via EDMS at the email address indicated above
☐ Service by EDMS constitutes valid service on all registered parties

B. EDMS Service Email Address

Electronic service through EDMS should be directed to: [________________________________]

C. Service on Non-EDMS Registered Parties

Pursuant to Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.304, service by paper is required for parties not registered with EDMS. For non-registered parties, service will be made by:

☐ U.S. Mail to the party's last known address
☐ Personal service
☐ Other method as permitted by Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.442

SECTION 7: PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION

Complete this section only if counsel is not admitted in Iowa.

A. Pro Hac Vice Application Status

☐ An Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice pursuant to Iowa Court Rule Chapter 31 is being filed simultaneously by in-state counsel
☐ An Order granting admission pro hac vice was entered on [__/__/____]
☐ Not applicable -- all counsel are admitted in Iowa

B. Pro Hac Vice Attorney Information

Out-of-State Attorney Name:    [________________________________]
Bar Admission(s):              [________________________________] (Bar No. [____])
                               [________________________________] (Bar No. [____])
Good Standing in All Bars:     ☐ Yes

C. Iowa Pro Hac Vice Requirements (Chapter 31)

The pro hac vice applicant certifies:

☐ The application is filed by the in-state attorney who is appearing with the out-of-state attorney in the proceeding
☐ Applicant is a member in good standing of the bar of another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia
☐ Applicant agrees to be bound by Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct
☐ Applicant acknowledges that the Iowa court has discretion to grant or deny the application
☐ Applicant will complete the EDMS registration process upon court approval, as required by Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.304
☐ Applicant will enter an appearance in the case after EDMS registration is complete

D. Iowa Sponsoring Counsel (In-State Counsel)

An attorney authorized to practice in Iowa must serve as in-state counsel:

Iowa Counsel Name:              [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.: AT[________________________________]
Firm Name:                      [________________________________]
Iowa Office Address:            [________________________________]
                                [________________________________], Iowa [____]
Telephone:                      [________________________________]
Email (EDMS):                   [________________________________]

Note: The in-state attorney must file the application for pro hac vice admission. Upon court approval, the out-of-state attorney must complete the EDMS registration process on the Iowa Judicial Branch website and enter an appearance in the case.

SECTION 8: PARTY INFORMATION

A. Client Information

Client Name:                   [________________________________]
Party Designation:             [________________________________]
                               (Plaintiff / Defendant / Third-Party Defendant / Intervenor / Other)
Client Address:                [________________________________]
                               [________________________________], Iowa [____]
Client Telephone:              [________________________________]

B. Opposing Counsel (Known)

Opposing Counsel Name:         [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.: AT[________________________________]
Firm Name:                     [________________________________]
Address:                       [________________________________]
Email (EDMS):                  [________________________________]

SECTION 9: LIMITED APPEARANCE

Complete this section only if entering a limited appearance.

A. Scope of Limited Appearance

Pursuant to Iowa Court Rule 33.5(3), the undersigned enters this appearance solely for the following limited purpose(s):

☐ Specific motion: [________________________________]
☐ Specific hearing on [__/__/____] regarding: [________________________________]
☐ Discovery proceedings
☐ Mediation or alternative dispute resolution
☐ Trial proceedings only
☐ Specific legal issue: [________________________________]
☐ Other (specify): [________________________________]

B. Duration of Limited Appearance

This limited appearance shall terminate upon:

☐ Conclusion of the specified proceeding(s) identified above
☐ Specific date: [__/__/____]
☐ Entry of order resolving the specified issue(s)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

C. Written Agreement Required

Iowa Court Rule 33.5(3) requires a written agreement between the attorney and client defining the scope of limited representation:

☐ A written limited scope representation agreement has been executed between the undersigned attorney and the client
☐ The agreement specifies the particular proceedings, events, or issues for which the attorney will provide representation

D. Client Acknowledgment

☐ Client has been informed in writing of the limited nature of this representation
☐ Client understands that the undersigned attorney will not represent the client beyond the specified scope
☐ Client understands that the client is responsible for all matters not covered by this limited appearance

SECTION 10: SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL

Complete this section only if this appearance constitutes a substitution.

A. Withdrawing Counsel Information

Withdrawing Attorney Name:        [________________________________]
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No.:   AT[________________________________]
Firm Name:                         [________________________________]

B. Basis for Substitution

Pursuant to Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.413(2):

☐ Withdrawing counsel has filed a motion to withdraw simultaneously with this Notice of Appearance
☐ An Order granting withdrawal was entered on [__/__/____]
☐ The client consents to the withdrawal and substitution (consent attached)

Note: Under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.413(2), when a substitution of counsel occurs, both a notice of appearance of new counsel and a motion to withdraw for prior counsel should be filed.

SECTION 11: SIGNATURE BLOCK

Dated: [__/__/____]

                              [________________________________]
                              (Firm Name)


                              By: ________________________________________
                                  [________________________________]
                                  Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No. AT[________________________________]
                                  [________________________________]
                                  [________________________________], Iowa [____]
                                  Telephone: [________________________________]
                                  Email (EDMS): [________________________________]

                                  Attorney for [________________________________]

SECTION 12: PROOF OF SERVICE

I certify that on [__/__/____], I electronically filed the foregoing Notice of Appearance with the Clerk of Court using the EDMS system, which will send notice to all registered parties. Those parties not registered with EDMS were served by the method indicated below, pursuant to Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.442:

                              ________________________________________
                              [________________________________]
                              Iowa Supreme Court Attorney No. AT[________________________________]

SECTION 13: E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS -- IOWA EDMS

Step-by-Step Filing Procedure

1. Log in to the Iowa Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) at www.iowacourts.state.ia.us
2. Navigate to the e-filing section
3. Select the correct county and case number
4. Select the filing type: "Appearance" or "Notice of Appearance"
5. Upload the signed Notice of Appearance in PDF format
6. Verify the service list includes all counsel of record and unrepresented parties
7. EDMS will automatically send notice to all registered parties
8. Indicate any non-registered parties who require traditional service
9. Submit the filing
10. Retain the EDMS filing confirmation receipt

EDMS Registration Requirements

• All Iowa-admitted attorneys must register for EDMS
• All pro hac vice admitted attorneys must complete EDMS registration after court approval
• Self-represented persons must register unless the court permits otherwise
• Filing agents (for entities, partnerships, associations, corporations, or tribes) must register as filing agents
• Registration is completed through the electronic filing section of the Iowa Judicial Branch website

Filing Fees

• Standard appearance filing fees vary by case type; confirm with the applicable district court clerk
• Pro hac vice application fees are set by court rule; confirm current amount with the Iowa Supreme Court Clerk's Office

SECTION 14: PRACTITIONER NOTES -- IOWA-SPECIFIC

A. Iowa Court System Structure

Iowa has a unified court system:

• District Courts: Courts of general jurisdiction covering all 99 counties, organized into 8 judicial districts. District courts handle civil, criminal, juvenile, and probate matters.
• Court of Appeals: Intermediate appellate court.
• Supreme Court of Iowa: Highest appellate court.

B. Iowa Attorney Number Format

• Iowa attorney numbers use the "AT" prefix followed by a numeric identifier (e.g., AT0001234)
• The full AT number must be included on all filings
• The AT prefix is required by the Iowa Supreme Court Clerk's Office
• Verify your AT number at the Iowa Judicial Branch website

C. Appearance Requirements (Rule 1.413)

Under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.413:

• An appearance must be entered before an attorney may act in a case
• The appearance binds the attorney to continue representation until the court grants leave to withdraw
• An attorney may not simply stop representing a client without court permission

D. Mandatory EDMS E-Filing

Under Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.304:

• All attorneys must register for and use EDMS
• Electronic filing through EDMS is mandatory unless the court permits otherwise
• Electronic service through EDMS constitutes valid service on all registered parties
• Maintain EDMS delivery receipts; courts may require proof if service is contested

E. Limited Scope Representation (Rule 33.5(3))

Under Iowa Court Rule 33.5(3):

• An attorney may provide limited scope representation if a written agreement between the attorney and client defines the scope
• The limited appearance must clearly identify the specific proceedings or issues covered
• An attorney entering a limited appearance is not responsible for matters outside the stated scope
• Upon completion of the limited representation, the attorney should file a notice of completion or seek withdrawal

F. Substitution and Withdrawal (Rule 1.413(2))

• When a substitution of counsel occurs, file both the new Notice of Appearance and a motion to withdraw for prior counsel
• The court must grant leave for withdrawal before the withdrawing attorney's obligations cease
• Failure to properly withdraw may result in continued obligations and potential disciplinary consequences

G. Pro Hac Vice Special Requirements

Under Iowa Court Rule Chapter 31:

• The in-state attorney (not the out-of-state attorney) must file the application for pro hac vice admission
• Upon court approval, the out-of-state attorney must:
  1. Complete the EDMS registration process
  2. Enter an appearance in the case
• All pro hac vice attorneys must comply with EDMS requirements after admission

H. Iowa-Specific Practice Tips

• Polk County (Des Moines): High-volume jurisdiction; confirm any local administrative orders or standing rules
• Linn County (Cedar Rapids): Verify local practice requirements with the clerk
• Scott County (Davenport): Confirm any district-specific filing procedures
• Johnson County (Iowa City): Home to the University of Iowa College of Law; active legal community with specific local practices

This template is designed for use in Iowa District Courts. For the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa (federal courts), different rules and procedures apply.