Affidavit of Service - Iowa

IOWA PROOF OF SERVICE OF ORIGINAL PROCESS

Court and Case

IN THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR [________________] COUNTY

Server

Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.302(4) permits service by any person who is neither a party nor an attorney for a party. This template does not represent that Iowa requires a private-process-server license.

Documents Served

☐ Original notice signed and sealed by the clerk

☐ Petition attached to original notice

☐ Amended petition or notice: [____________________________________________]

☐ Other document required with original process: [____________________________________________]

Person or Entity to Be Served

Service Details

Date: [__/__/____] Time: [________] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.

Place: [____________________________________________________________]

Select the actual route:

☐ Personal service under Rule 1.305. I delivered a copy to [RECIPIENT]. The applicable subsection and facts establishing authorized service are: [____________________________________________].

☐ Acknowledgment under Rule 1.305(1). The individual signed and dated an acknowledgment endorsed on the notice. Attached as [EXHIBIT].

☐ Dwelling or usual-place-of-abode service under Rule 1.305(1). I delivered a copy at [ADDRESS] to [RECIPIENT], who was at least eighteen and resided there. Additional facts showing compliance: [____________________________________________].

☐ Spouse service under Rule 1.305(1). I served [SPOUSE] at [LOCATION] and had probable cause to believe the spouse lived at the individual's dwelling or usual place of abode because: [____________________________________________].

☐ Entity or governmental service under the applicable Rule 1.305 subsection or statute. Recipient and authority: [____________________________________________].

☐ Court-ordered alternate method under Rule 1.306 or Rule 1.305(14). Order dated [__/__/____]; exact ordered method and compliance: [____________________________________________________________].

☐ Mail included under a separately identified rule, statute, or order. Authority and mailing details: [____________________________________________________________]. Rule 1.310 itself is a publication rule and is not generic certified-mail authority.

☐ Publication route. The required affidavit that personal service could not be had was filed, the action fits Rule 1.310, known-party mailing under Rule 1.311 was completed or excused by the required affidavit, publication complied with Rule 1.313, and publisher proof under Rule 1.314 is attached. Details: [____________________________________________________________].

Return Information — Rule 1.308

For personal service, state the time, manner, and place and name the person who received the copy. When the recipient was someone other than the named party under Rule 1.305(1), state the facts establishing compliance.

Complete narrative: [____________________________________________________________]

Proof was made to the court on [__/__/____]. Rule 1.308(4) requires prompt proof and, in any event, proof within the period for the served person to respond; failure to make proof does not itself invalidate service.

If service included notice by mail, attach a duplicate copy of the papers and provide the mailing affidavit required by Rule 1.308(5).

Signature Method

Select one:

☐ Officer return. I am an Iowa officer permitted by Rule 1.308(1) to make an unsworn return within the stated territorial scope.

☐ Certification under Iowa Code § 622.1. I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the State of Iowa that the preceding is true and correct.

Date: [__/__/____]

Signature: [____________________________________________]

Printed name and official capacity, if any: [____________________________________________]

☐ Sworn affidavit. The server signed before an authorized notarial officer using the current Iowa notarial certificate selected by counsel.

Notarial certificate: [____________________________________________________________]

Correction Note

Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.309 permits the court, in its discretion and on just terms, to allow amendment of process or proof of service unless material prejudice to substantial rights clearly appears. The rule does not itself state an automatic relation-back result.

Official Sources

• Iowa Court Rules ch. 1 — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CR/LINC/07-31-2026.chapter.1.pdf
• Iowa Code § 622.1 — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/622.1.pdf
• Iowa Judicial Branch court forms and filing information — https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/court-forms