Iowa Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy laws and resources vary from state to state. The following page provides Iowa bankruptcy information and resource links.
If you are not looking for information regarding Iowa, please use the links on the left to find information for your state.
- Courts - Location and Contact Information
- Bankruptcy Laws
- Approved Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Agencies
- Iowa Attorneys
- Other Bankruptcy Iowa Resources
Bankruptcy Courts - Location and Contact Information
Iowa bankruptcy courts are divided into two districts, which are further divided into several divisions. Generally, the debtor’s county of residence will determine which district and division the bankruptcy petition is filed. It may also be determined by the location of the debtor’s principal place of business or principal assets.
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
Counties of Jurisdiction:
Cedar Rapids Division - Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer,
Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque,
Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Tama and
Winneshiek Counties
Sioux City Division - Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo,
Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Hamilton,
Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Mitchell, Monona,
O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster,
Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Cedar Rapids Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 425 Second Street SE 8th Floor Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court PO Box 74890 Cedar Rapids, IA 52407 |
(319) 286-2200 |
| Sioux City Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 106 U.S. Courthouse 320 Sixth Street Sioux City, IA 51101 |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court PO Box 3857 Sioux City, IA 51102 |
(712) 233-3939 |
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
Counties of Jurisdiction : Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Boone, Cass, Clarke, Clinton, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Monroe, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Pottawattanie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Shelby, Story, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington and Wayne Counties
| DIVISION | STREET ADDRESS | MAILING ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Des Moines Division |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court 300 U.S. Courthouse Annex 110 East Court Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 |
U.S. Bankruptcy Court PO Box 9264 Des Moines, IA 50306 |
(515) 284-6230 |
Iowa Bankruptcy Laws and Exemptions
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to exempt certain property from creditor claims based on exemptions under either federal law or state law. Exemptions vary from state to state. Some states have adopted their own set of bankruptcy exemptions that are used in place of the federal exemptions. However, other states give debtors an option to choose between either state or federal exemptions.
For Iowa bankruptcy filings, state exemptions are used. Click here to look up common bankruptcy exemptions (Chapters 561 and 627) under Iowa Code.
Contact an Iowa bankruptcy lawyer for more information regarding Iowa bankruptcy exemptions.
The new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005 also require that debtors pass a means test before filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are two ways to pass the means test:
1. the debtor's annual income (calculated using the average gross income for the six month period prior to filing) must be below the state median. Census Bureau statistics for state median income by family size can be found here (for cases filed between April 1, 2013 and April 30, 2013).
2. If income exceeds the median income, individuals may still file Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on results of Form 22A: Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation. .
Iowa Credit Counseling Debtor Education Agencies
Pursuant to the new bankruptcy laws enacted in 2005, individuals who file personal bankruptcy (with limited exceptions) in Iowa must:
1. take a credit counseling course from an approved Iowa credit counseling provider within six months before filing bankruptcy; and
2. complete a debtor education course from an approved Iowa debtor education agency prior to receiving a bankruptcy discharge.
Iowa Personal Bankruptcy Attorneys
To find lawyers in your area, you may want to contact your local county bar association or the Iowa State Bar Association:
Iowa State Bar Association
521 East Locust
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 243-3179
Based on income, free bankruptcy advice and representation may also be obtained from the following organizations: See the Iowa State Bar Association's page regarding legal assistance for a list of organizations that provide legal services to low income clients in Iowa.
If you are concerned about the representation provided to you by your attorney, contact:
Iowa Suprement Court Board of
Professional Ethics and Conduct
(515) 725-8017
More Resources
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa - administrative and procedural information for Northern District of Iowa bankruptcy filings
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa - administrative and procedural information for Southern District of Iowa bankruptcy filings
Office of the U.S. Trustee for Region 12 - oversees the administration of Iowa personal bankruptcy cases and case trustees
Iowa State Bar Association - information about the Iowa bar, membership, ethics, continuing legal education, and resources for the public.