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Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure – 2026

Chapter 6 of the Iowa Court Rules, governing appeals to the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals. Coverage runs from case initiation, termination-of-parental-rights and child-in-need-of-assistance appeals, certified questions and other proceedings, through stays, filing and service, the record and transcripts, briefs and oral argument, to decisions, rehearing, further review and procedendo. Timelines and forms are listed by title.

Browse all 70 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Division I: Case Initiation: Civil and Criminal; Parties and Attorneys; Protected Information; Confidential Materials Division II: Termination of Parental Rights and Child in Need of Assistance Appeals Under Iowa Code Chapter 232 Division III: Certified Questions of Law Division IV: Abortion Notification Appeals Division V: Other Proceedings Division VI: Staying District Court Judgments and Proceedings Division VII: Filing, Service, and Fees Division VIII: Record on Appeal Division IX: Briefs Division X: Writs, Motions, and Other Documents Division XI: Transfer, Submission, and Further Review Division XII: Disposition of Appeals Division XIV: Forms

Division I: Case Initiation: Civil and Criminal; Parties and Attorneys; Protected Information; Confidential Materials

Rule 6.1 Mandatory use of the Iowa Judicial Branch Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) for appellate cases Rule 6.11 Clerk of the supreme court Rule 6.101 Time for appealing final orders and judgments appealable as a matter of right Rule 6.102 Initiation of appeal from final orders or judgments Rule 6.103 Review of final orders and judgments Rule 6.104 Review of interlocutory rulings or orders Rule 6.105 Review of small claims actions Rule 6.106 Discretionary review Rule 6.107 Original certiorari proceedings Rule 6.108 Appeals authorized by statute or rule Rule 6.109 Review of expungement matters Rule 6.151 Proper form of review Rule 6.152 Parties and attorneys on appeal; caption; substitution of parties; withdrawal of counsel Rule 6.153 Protected information; confidential materials and cases; briefs not confidential

Division II: Termination of Parental Rights and Child in Need of Assistance Appeals Under Iowa Code Chapter 232

Rule 6.201 Petition on appeal in termination of parental rights and child in need of assistance proceedings under Iowa Code chapter 232 Rule 6.202 Response to petition on appeal in termination of parental rights and child in need of assistance proceedings under Iowa Code chapter 232 Rule 6.203 Reply to issues raised in cross-appeal Rule 6.204 Filing fee and transmission of the record Rule 6.205 Disposition

Division III: Certified Questions of Law

Rule 6.301 Procedure for certification of questions of law Rule 6.302 Initiation of certification proceedings Rule 6.303 Briefing Rule 6.304 Disposition Rule 6.305 State as amicus curiae

Division IV: Abortion Notification Appeals

Rule 6.401 Procedure in abortion notification appeals

Division V: Other Proceedings

Rule 6.501 Procedure in other proceedings

Division VI: Staying District Court Judgments and Proceedings

Rule 6.601 Supersedeas bond Rule 6.602 Sufficiency of bond Rule 6.603 Judgment on bond Rule 6.604 Stays involving child custody

Division VII: Filing, Service, and Fees

Rule 6.701 Filing Rule 6.702 Service Rule 6.703 Filing fees and copies

Division VIII: Record on Appeal

Rule 6.801 Composition of record on appeal Rule 6.802 Transmission of record Rule 6.803 Transcripts Rule 6.804 Combined certificate Rule 6.805 Appellee’s designation of additional parts of transcript Rule 6.806 Proceedings when the transcript is unavailable Rule 6.807 Correction or modification of the record

Division IX: Briefs

Rule 6.901 Filing and service of briefs and amendments Rule 6.902 Cases involving expedited times for filing briefs Rule 6.903 Briefs Rule 6.904 References in briefs Rule 6.905 Reserved Rule 6.906 Brief of amicus curiae Rule 6.907 Scope of review Rule 6.908 Oral and nonoral submission; notice of additional authorities

Division X: Writs, Motions, and Other Documents

Rule 6.1001 Writs and process Rule 6.1002 Motions Rule 6.1003 Motions to shorten or extend deadlines Rule 6.1004 Limited remands Rule 6.1005 Frivolous appeals; withdrawal of counsel Rule 6.1006 Motions to dismiss, affirm, or reverse Rule 6.1007 Format and contents of motions and other filings

Division XI: Transfer, Submission, and Further Review

Rule 6.1101 Transfer of cases to the court of appeals Rule 6.1102 Order of submission and transfer Rule 6.1103 Application to the supreme court for further review of a court of appeals decision

Division XII: Disposition of Appeals

Rule 6.1201 Voluntary dismissals Rule 6.1202 Failure to comply with appellate deadlines and appellate court orders; consequences and penalties Rule 6.1203 Affirmed or enforced without opinion Rule 6.1204 Petition for rehearing in the court of appeals Rule 6.1205 Petition for rehearing in the supreme court Rule 6.1206 Remands Rule 6.1207 Costs Rule 6.1208 Procedendo Rule 6.1209 Quarterly publication

Division XIV: Forms

Rule 6.1401 Forms Rule 6.1501 Appellate Procedure Timelines Rule 6.1601 Appellate Procedure Charts