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Iowa Rules for Involuntary Commitment or Treatment of Persons with Substance Use Disorders – 2026

The companion to chapter 12 and closely parallel to it, 31 rules, for a commitment on the grounds of a substance use disorder. Rule 13.1 again lets any person obtain the application from any district court clerk; the chapter then tracks notice, the attorney's conference and the physician's report, probable cause to injure (13.14), the hearing's location and recording, the respondent's rights, evaluation and treatment and the evaluation report, emergency detention, appointed counsel and the chemotherapy procedure. Rule 13.12 is the report of a substance use disorder evaluation and Rule 13.35 lists the chapter's fourteen forms by caption; the form documents are images and are not reproduced.

Browse all 31 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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Rule 13.1 Application Rule 13.2 Termination of proceedings — insufficient grounds Rule 13.3 Notice to respondent — requirements Rule 13.4 Notice requirement — waiver Rule 13.5 Hearings — continuance Rule 13.6 Attorney conference with respondent — location — transportation Rule 13.7 Service, other than personal Rule 13.8 Return of service Rule 13.9 Amendment of proof of service Rule 13.10 Attorney evidence and argument — predetermination Rule 13.11 Attorney evidence and argument — after confinement Rule 13.12 Examination report to attorney Rule 13.13 Physician’s report Rule 13.14 Probable cause to injure Rule 13.15 Hearing — county location Rule 13.16 Hearing — location at hospital or treatment facility Rule 13.17 Respondent’s rights explained before hearing Rule 13.18 Subpoenas Rule 13.19 Presence at hearing — exceptions Rule 13.20 Hearing — electronic recording Rule 13.21 Transfer from county of confinement Rule 13.22 Evaluation and treatment Rule 13.23 Evaluation — time extension Rule 13.24 Evaluation report Rule 13.25 Reports issued by clerk Rule 13.26 Clerk’s filing system Rule 13.27 Emergency detention — magistrate’s approval Rule 13.28 Emergency detention — attending physician absent from facility Rule 13.29 Attorney appointed Rule 13.30 Chemotherapy procedure Rule 13.35 Forms for Involuntary Commitment or Treatment of Persons with Substance Use Disorders