Rule 1.101 Applicability; statutes affected

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

These rules set the basic playbook for how civil court cases work in Iowa. They apply to every court in the state unless a rule specifically says otherwise.

There are some exceptions. If a different law covers a specific type of case or a specific court, and that law was not changed by these rules, then that other law takes priority instead. So while these rules are the general standard, some cases may follow different procedures if another law specifically requires it.

In short, this rule tells you these procedures are the default for civil cases in Iowa, but you should always check whether a special law applies to your specific situation first.