Service of Process in Iowa
Many different sections of the Iowa code designate the Secretary of State as agent for service of process. The prescribed duties of the Secretary vary depending on the section under which the Secretary is served.
Below is the majority of Code provisions under which the Secretary acts as the agent for service of process. Please indicate the Code section under which you are designating the Secretary of State as agent when submitting your paperwork. If the appropriate section is not listed, please indicate "other" in a cover letter and provide to our office the Code section.
If the filing fee is listed as $5, there is a requirement that you submit three (3) total copies to our office. If the filing fee listed is $10, the requirement is two (2) full copies. If there is no fee listed, you will need to refer to that code section to see if there are any amounts specified, otherwise one will be sufficient.
(NOTE: For the service upon Non-resident Vehicle Operators and Unauthorized Insurers, we ask that you provide us with three copies of the notice as it is distributed to other parties).
Code Sections
Business Opportunity
I.C. § 551A.7
Cooperative Associations - $5
I.C. § 499.69
I.C. § 501.812
I.C. § 501A.222
Corporations - $5
Foreign Corporations - $5
I.C. § 490.1511
Foreign Corp/Non-resident - $10
I.C. § 617.3
Foreign L.L.P.- $5
I.C. § 486A.906
I.C. § 486A.1103
I.C. § 486A.1213
Foreign Non-Profit Corporation - $5
I.C. § 504.1510
I.C. § 504.1521
I.C. § 504.1532
Foreign Limited Partnerships - $5
I.C. § 488.117
I.C. § 488.907
I.C. § 488.1105
Limited Partnerships - $5
I.C. § 488.117
Limited Liability Partnership - $5
I.C. § 486A.906
Mobile Home Park-Landlord/Tenant
I.C. § 562B.6
Non-Profit Corporation - $5
I.C. § 504.1106
I.C. § 504.1422
Non-Resident Employer
I.C. § 85.3
I.C. § 85A.18
I.C. § 85B.10
Non-Resident Employing - $4
I.C. § 96.14
Non-Resident Pesticide Applicator
I.C. § 206.6
Non-Resident Person or Corp - $10
I.C. § 537.1203
Operation of Watercraft
I.C. § 461B.4
Small Claim - $10
I.C. § 631.4
Transient Merchant
I.C. § 9C.4