Iowa R. Elec. P. 16.315

16.315(1) Electronic service of documents filed by registered filers.

a. Completing the registration process, see rule 16.304(1), constitutes a request for, and

consent to, electronic service of court-generated documents and documents other parties file

electronically.

b. When a document is electronically filed, EDMS serves the document on all parties who are

registered filers. See rule 16.201(11) (definition of “electronic service”). Service occurs by the

posting of a notice of electronic filing or presentation into the filer’s EDMS account along with a

link to the document or documents presented or filed. The posting of the notice of electronic

filing or presentation constitutes service of the document for purposes of the Iowa Court Rules.

No other service on those parties is required.

c. Notice of electronic filing or presentation will only be provided to registered filers and

registered case parties who have filed an entry of appearance or filed an answer, filed a notice of

case association, or filed an appearance as a court-approved intervenor.

d. Notices of electronic filing or presentation will continue to be provided to a registered filer

until the filer has filed a withdrawal from the case and, if applicable, obtained an order allowing

the withdrawal.

e. Electronic service is not effective if the filer learns the notice of electronic filing or

presentation was not transmitted to a party.

f. EDMS may or may not provide notices of electronic filing or presentation for documents

filed pursuant to rule 16.702 or 16.802 and will not provide notices of electronic filing or

presentation for documents filed pursuant to rule 16.405(4) or 16.703 or on documents that

require personal service to confer jurisdiction. The filer is responsible for service of documents

that must be personally served to confer jurisdiction in accordance with rule 16.315(2) on service

to nonregistered filers.

COMMENT:

Rule 16.315(1)(e). Subject to the exceptions in rule 16.315(1)(f), when EDMS receives a filing covered by this rule,

EDMS will automatically generate a notice of electronic filing or presentation, which contains a list of the parties who were

served electronically and a list of the parties who must be served by other means. It is the responsibility of the filer to review

the notice of electronic filing or presentation to ensure that all parties that require service have received it. If the filer learns of

a delivery failure, the filer must provide service to that person by other means. A notice of electronic filing or presentation will

not be generated on case initiation, on applications for warrants, on emergency applications (such as emergency removals or

emergency detention in juvenile cases), or on documents proposed for restricted access or filed under an order restricting

access.

16.315(2) Service of paper copies on parties. Parties must serve a paper copy of any filed

document on a party who is not a registered filer in a manner authorized by the Iowa Code or the

Iowa Court Rules, unless the parties agree to another method of service. When serving paper

copies of electronically filed documents in cases with multiple nonregistered filers other than

criminal defendants, the filer must include a copy of the notice of electronic filing or

presentation. The clerk of court will provide a copy of the notice of electronic filing or

presentation upon a nonregistered filer’s request.

16.315(3) Service of documents that nonregistered filers file or present.

a. Service on registered filers of documents that nonregistered filers file or present will be

made by the clerk electronically through EDMS, except for service of restricted access

documents filed under rule 16.405. See rule 16.201(11) (definition of “electronic service”).

b. When a nonregistered filer submits a document to the clerk of court, the clerk will process

the filing or presentation with reasonable promptness during regular weekday business hours

before the filing is served electronically on all registered filers. In such event, the date and time

on the file stamp are considered the official date and time of service for purposes of computing

all relevant deadlines.

c. Nonregistered filers must serve a paper copy of documents they file with or present to the

court on all persons entitled to service who are nonregistered filers in the manner the Iowa Rules

of Civil Procedure or the Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure require.

d. If a party receives a one-time exception to electronic filing pursuant to rule 16.302(2)(a),

the procedures and requirements of rule 16.315(3) apply.