Iowa
Iowa Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 18, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 7, 2026. · 9 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Iowa sets firm filing deadlines for civil claims under Iowa Code Chapter 614. Personal injury and wrongful death suits must be filed within 2 years under section 614.1(2). Written contracts allow 10 years and fraud claims allow 5 years. Missing these deadlines bars your claim permanently.
Understanding the statute of limitations in Iowa is essential for anyone considering legal action. These deadlines determine how long you have to file a lawsuit or bring criminal charges. Missing a deadline can permanently bar your claim, no matter how strong the evidence.
This guide covers every major category of Iowa's civil and criminal statutes of limitations, with references to the specific Iowa Code sections that apply.
Hurt in Iowa? If you are still within the deadline above, you can estimate what your injury claim may be worth with our free Iowa personal injury settlement calculator. It gives an instant range based on your medical costs and Iowa's fault rule (general information, not legal advice).
Iowa Civil Statute of Limitations
Iowa's civil statute of limitations sets firm deadlines for filing lawsuits. These time limits are found primarily in Iowa Code Chapter 614. Once the deadline passes, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case, and the court will almost certainly grant that request.
The clock typically starts on the date the injury or harm occurs. In some cases, Iowa applies the "discovery rule," which delays the start date until the injured party knew or should have known about the harm.
Civil Filing Deadlines by Case Type
| Case Type | Time Limit | Iowa Code Section |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 2 years | 614.1(2) |
| Wrongful Death | 2 years from date of death | 614.1(2) |
| Libel / Slander (Defamation) | 2 years | 614.1(2) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 years from discovery; 6-year maximum from the act | 614.1(9) |
| Wages or Failure to Pay Wages | 2 years | 614.1(8) |
| Fraud | 5 years | 614.1(4) |
| Injury to Personal Property | 5 years | 614.1(4) |
| Trespass | 5 years | 614.1(4) |
| Oral Contracts | 5 years | 614.1(4) |
| Written Contracts | 10 years | 614.1(5) |
| Collection of Debt on Written Agreement | 10 years | 614.1(5) |
| Judgments (Court Not of Record) | 10 years | 614.1(5) |
| Product Liability | 15 years from date of purchase or installation | 614.1(2A) |
| Improvements to Real Property | 8 years (general); 10 years residential; 15 years nuclear/pipeline | 614.1(11) |
| Judgments (Court of Record) | 20 years | 614.1(6) |
| Child Support / Spousal Support Judgments | No limit | 614.1(6) |
| Penalties or Forfeitures Under Ordinance | 1 year | 614.1(1) |
| Against Sheriff or Public Officer | 3 years after collection | 614.1(3) |
Personal Injury (2 Years)
If you suffer a physical injury due to someone else's negligence in Iowa, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. This deadline applies to car accidents, slip-and-fall injuries, dog bites, and other situations where another party's actions cause you harm.
The two-year clock starts on the date of the incident, not the date you hire an attorney or decide to pursue the claim. Iowa Code section 614.1(2) controls this deadline.
Medical Malpractice (2 Years from Discovery, 6-Year Cap)
Medical malpractice claims in Iowa follow a modified discovery rule. You have two years from the date you knew or reasonably should have known about the injury caused by a healthcare provider's error. However, no claim can be filed more than six years after the date the malpractice occurred, regardless of when you discovered it.
There is one exception to the six-year cap: if a foreign object was unintentionally left inside a patient's body, the six-year outer limit does not apply. The patient still has the standard two-year window from the date they discover the foreign object. This is governed by Iowa Code section 614.1(9).
Wrongful Death (2 Years from Death)
A wrongful death action must be filed within two years of the date of death, not the date of the injury that eventually caused the death, under Iowa Code section 614.1(2). The personal representative of the deceased person's estate is typically the one who files this claim.
Property Damage and Fraud (5 Years)
Claims based on damage to personal or real property, fraud, trespass, and unwritten (oral) contracts must be filed within five years under Iowa Code section 614.1(4). This five-year period covers a broad range of disputes, including vehicle damage, property destruction, and deceptive business practices.
Contracts (5 or 10 Years)
The deadline depends on whether the contract was written or oral:
- Written contracts: 10 years under Iowa Code section 614.1(5)
- Oral contracts: 5 years under Iowa Code section 614.1(4)
This distinction makes it important to put agreements in writing. A written contract gives the injured party significantly more time to pursue legal action.
Product Liability (15 Years)
Iowa imposes a 15-year statute of repose for product liability claims, measured from the date of purchase, lease, or installation. Even if you discover a defect years later, you cannot file a claim more than 15 years after the product was first acquired. This limit is found in Iowa Code section 614.1(2A).
Judgments (10 or 20 Years)
If you have a court judgment, you can enforce it for 20 years if it was entered by a court of record, or 10 years for a court not of record. Judgments for child support, spousal support, or distribution of marital assets have no time limit for enforcement under Iowa Code section 614.1(6).
Tolling and Exceptions in Iowa
Iowa law provides several situations where the statute of limitations clock may be paused (tolled) or extended.
Minors and Persons with Mental Illness
Under Iowa Code section 614.8, if the injured party is a minor (under 18) or has a mental illness at the time the cause of action accrues, the statute of limitations is extended. The person has one year after the disability ends (turning 18 or regaining capacity) to file their claim.
Medical malpractice is carved out of the minor extension. Section 614.8(2) opens with the words "Except as provided in section 614.1, subsection 9," which sends a minor's malpractice claim to Iowa Code section 614.1(9)(b) instead. A minor who was under eight years old when the act, omission, or occurrence happened must sue no later than the minor's tenth birthday, or within the ordinary two-year discovery window of section 614.1(9)(a), whichever is later.
Nonresident Defendants
Under Iowa Code section 614.6, if the defendant leaves the state of Iowa after the cause of action arises, the time spent outside Iowa generally does not count toward the limitations period. This prevents defendants from running out the clock by relocating.
Discovery Rule
For certain claims, including medical malpractice and some fraud cases, the statute of limitations does not begin until the plaintiff discovers the injury or reasonably should have discovered it. This protects individuals who could not have known about the harm at the time it occurred.
Iowa Criminal Statute of Limitations
Iowa's criminal statute of limitations determines how long prosecutors have to file charges after a crime is committed. These deadlines are found in Iowa Code Chapter 802.
Criminal Filing Deadlines by Offense
| Offense Type | Time Limit | Iowa Code Section |
|---|---|---|
| Murder (1st and 2nd Degree) | No limit | 802.1 |
| Sexual Abuse (1st, 2nd, 3rd Degree) Against a Minor | No limit | 802.2(1) (as amended by SF 562, 2021) |
| Other Sexual Offenses Against a Minor | No limit | 802.2B (as amended by SF 562, 2021) |
| Sexual Abuse (1st, 2nd, 3rd Degree) Against an Adult | 10 years, or 3 years after DNA identification, whichever is later | 802.2(2) |
| Sexual Abuse (4th Degree) | No limit | 802.2E |
| Kidnapping of a Minor | 10 years after victim turns 18, or 3 years after DNA identification, whichever is later | 802.2C |
| Human Trafficking of a Minor | No limit | 802.2D (as amended by SF 562, 2021) |
| Incest with a Minor | No limit | 802.2A(1) (as amended by SF 562, 2021) |
| Sexual Exploitation by Counselor/Therapist of a Minor | No limit | 802.2A(2) (as amended by SF 562, 2021) |
| Robbery (1st Degree) | 5 years | 802.2F |
| Robbery (2nd Degree) | 5 years | 802.2G |
| Other Felonies (not excepted above) | 3 years | 802.3 |
| Aggravated Misdemeanors | 3 years | 802.3 |
| Serious Misdemeanors | 3 years | 802.3 |
| Simple Misdemeanors | 1 year | 802.4 |
| Violation of Municipal/County Ordinance | 1 year | 802.4 |
| Fraud or Breach of Fiduciary Duty | 3 years, plus 1-year extension after discovery (5-year max extension) | 802.5 |
Murder (No Time Limit)
Iowa has no statute of limitations for first-degree or second-degree murder. Prosecutors can bring charges at any time, regardless of how many years have passed since the killing occurred. This is governed by Iowa Code section 802.1.
Sexual Abuse of a Minor (No Time Limit)
In 2021, Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 562 into law, making Iowa the 14th state to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for sexual abuse of minors. Before SF 562, victims had until age 33 (15 years after turning 18) to see criminal charges filed.
Under the current law, there is no time limit to prosecute first-, second-, or third-degree sexual abuse committed against a person under 18. The law also removed the deadline for incest with a minor under Iowa Code section 802.2A(1), sexual exploitation of a minor by a counselor, therapist, or school employee under section 802.2A(2), sexual exploitation by an adult providing training or instruction, and human trafficking of a minor under section 802.2D.
Sexual Abuse of an Adult (10 Years)
For sexual abuse in the first, second, or third degree committed against an adult victim, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the date of the offense under Iowa Code section 802.2, subsection 2. If the suspect is identified through a DNA profile, the state has three years from that identification or the balance of the 10-year period, whichever is later.
Sexual abuse in the fourth degree is treated differently. Under Iowa Code section 802.2E, added in 2022, a fourth-degree sexual abuse charge may be commenced at any time after the offense.
Felonies, Aggravated and Serious Misdemeanors (3 Years)
Most felonies, aggravated misdemeanors, and serious misdemeanors must be charged within three years of the date the crime was committed. This three-year window is set by Iowa Code section 802.3.
Common examples of offenses in this category include theft, burglary, assault causing injury, and drug offenses.
Section 802.3 reaches only offenses it does not expressly except, and its exception list names sections 802.1, 802.2, 802.2A, 802.2B, 802.2C, 802.2D, 802.2E, 802.2F, 802.2G, and 802.10. Robbery is one of those carve-outs. Robbery in the first degree under Iowa Code section 802.2F and robbery in the second degree under section 802.2G must each be charged within five years, a change made by 2024 Iowa Acts chapter 1029.
Simple Misdemeanors (1 Year)
A prosecution for a simple misdemeanor or a violation of a municipal or county ordinance must begin within one year of the offense under Iowa Code section 802.4.
Fraud Extension
If the standard limitations period has expired, prosecutors may still bring charges for any offense that includes fraud or breach of fiduciary duty as a material element. The state has one year after discovery of the crime to file charges, with a maximum extension of five years beyond the original deadline. This provision is found in Iowa Code section 802.5.
Tolling for Criminal Cases
Under Iowa Code section 802.6, the criminal statute of limitations does not run during any period when the accused is not a public resident of the state. If a suspect flees Iowa or moves out of state, the clock pauses until they return.
DNA Evidence Exception
Iowa Code section 802.10 lets prosecutors file an indictment or information containing only a DNA profile. Doing so tolls the limitation period that section 802.3 would otherwise impose, and charges must then be found within three years of the date the suspect is identified by that DNA profile.
That three-year rule is the residual one, not a ceiling on the most serious offenses. Section 802.10(3) routes sexual abuse, other sexual offenses, kidnapping, human trafficking, and fraud in assisted reproduction back to sections 802.2, 802.2B, 802.2C, 802.2D, or 802.2E, which are more generous rather than less. Sections 802.2(2) and 802.2C give the state the base period or three years after DNA identification, whichever is later, and sections 802.2B, 802.2D, and 802.2E impose no limitation at all. Robbery in the first or second degree is routed instead to section 802.2F or 802.2G.
More Iowa Laws
- Iowa Car Accident Laws
- Iowa Dog Bite Laws
- Iowa Expungement Laws
- Iowa Slip and Fall Laws
- Iowa Workers Compensation Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Iowa?
Iowa gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This applies to car accidents, slip-and-fall cases, and other negligence claims. The deadline is set by Iowa Code section 614.1(2).
Is there a statute of limitations on murder in Iowa?
No. Iowa has no statute of limitations for first-degree or [second-degree murder](/difference-between-first-degree-second-and-third-degree). Prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of how many years have passed since the crime occurred.
How long do I have to sue for breach of contract in Iowa?
For written contracts, you have 10 years to file a lawsuit. For oral contracts, the deadline is 5 years. These time limits are found in Iowa Code sections 614.1(5) and 614.1(4).
Does Iowa toll the statute of limitations for minors?
Yes, with one significant exception. Under Iowa Code section 614.8, if the injured person is under 18 when the cause of action arises, the statute of limitations is extended and the minor has one year after turning 18 to file. Medical malpractice is excluded: section 614.8(2) defers to section 614.1(9), so a minor who was under eight years old when the alleged malpractice occurred must sue by the minor's tenth birthday or within the ordinary two-year discovery window, whichever is later.
What changed about Iowa's statute of limitations for child sexual abuse?
In 2021, Iowa eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for sexual abuse of minors by signing Senate File 562 into law. Previously, victims had until age 33 to see charges filed. Now there is no time limit for prosecuting these offenses. On the civil side, Iowa Code section 614.8A gives a survivor whose abuse was not discovered until after reaching adulthood four years from the date they discover both the injury and its causal connection to the abuse to file a civil damages claim.
Updates
Corrected the Iowa criminal statute of limitations table and the sections that repeat it: adult sexual abuse is governed by Iowa Code 802.2(2) rather than 802.2A, human trafficking of a minor has no time limit, incest and counselor exploitation sit in 802.2A, fourth-degree sexual abuse and first- and second-degree robbery were added, the DNA-profile exception was restated as a floor rather than a cap, and the minor tolling rule now carries the medical-malpractice carve-out in section 614.1(9)(b).
Removed an unsupported claim that a 2024 law tied to the Boy Scouts of America settlement lifted Iowa's civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, and replaced it with Iowa's actual civil discovery-rule provision (Iowa Code 614.8A): survivors whose abuse was not discovered until adulthood have four years from discovering both the injury and its connection to the abuse to file a civil claim.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Corrected the wrongful-death filing deadline's statutory source (614.1(2), not 633.336, which only governs how damages are apportioned) and fixed the improvement-to-real-property repose period, which is 8 years for the general case, not a flat 15 years.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Iowa Code, Chapter 614: LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS
§ 614.1Period.In forcecited in 18 of our articles
Actions may be brought within the times limited as follows, respectively, after their causes accrue, and not afterwards, except when otherwise specially declared: 1. Penalties or forfeitures under ordinance. Those to enforce the payment of a penalty or forfeiture under an ordinance, within one year. 2. Injuries to person or reputation — relative rights — statute penalty. Those founded on injuries to the person or reputation, including injuries to relative rights, whether based on contract or tort, or for a statute penalty, within two years. 2A. With respect to products. a.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 459 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Iowa courts pick the subsection by the nature of the right sued upon. Sandbulte v. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. (1984) applied the five-year unwritten-contract period of 614.1(4), not the two-year injury period, to an insurer bad-faith claim. Rathje v. Mercy Hospital (2008) read 614.1(9)(a) to run from knowledge of injury and cause.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Sandbulte v. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. (Supreme Court of Iowa 1984, 343 N.W.2d 457)✓Insureds sued their carrier for bad faith failure to defend and for failing to advise on adequate coverage; the Iowa Supreme Court held both claims rested on implied contracts, so the five-year period of section 614.1(4) applied, not the two-year period of 614.1(2).
- Miller v. Boone County Hospital (Supreme Court of Iowa 1986, 394 N.W.2d 776)✓A mother sued a county hospital nearly two years after its staff allegedly gave negligent advice about her feverish infant; the Iowa Supreme Court struck the 60-day notice rule of section 613A.5 on equal protection grounds and held chapter 614 supplies the limitation period.
- Hamm v. Allied Mutual Insurance Co. (Supreme Court of Iowa 2000, 612 N.W.2d 775)✓After settling with an underinsured driver, insureds sued their own carrier for underinsured motorist benefits; the Iowa Supreme Court held the policy set no limitation period of its own, so section 614.1(5)'s ten-year contract period ran from the insurer's denial.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights, Iowa Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do, Iowa Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim
§ 614.6Nonresident or unknown defendant.In force
1. The period of limitation specified in sections 614.1 through 614.5 shall be computed omitting any time when: a. The defendant is a nonresident of the state, or b. In those cases involving personal injuries or death resulting from a felony or indictable misdemeanor, while the identity of the defendant is unknown after diligent effort has been made to discover it. 2. The provisions of this section shall be effective January 1, 1970, and to this extent the provisions are retroactive.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1997
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Harrington v. Toshiba MacHine Co., Ltd. (Supreme Court of Iowa 1997, 562 N.W.2d 190)“…with TML’s interpretation of the word “tolls.” For example, Iowa Code section 614.6 makes it clear that, when a defendant i…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 614.8Minors and persons with mental illness.In forcecited in 3 of our articles
1. The times limited for actions in this chapter, or chapter 216, 669, or 670, except those brought for penalties and forfeitures, are extended in favor of persons with mental illness, so that they shall have one year from and after the termination of the disability within which to file a complaint pursuant to chapter 216, to make a claim pursuant to chapter 669, or to otherwise commence an action. 2. Except as provided in section 614.1, subsection 9, the times limited for actions in this chapter, or chapter 216, 659A, 669, or 670, except those brought for penalties and forfeitures, are extended in favor of minors, so that they shall have one year from and after attainment of majority within which to file a complaint pursuant to chapter 216, to make a claim pursuant to chapter 669, or to otherwise commence an action.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 40 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Harden v. State (Supreme Court of Iowa 1989, 434 N.W.2d 881)“…for minors and mentally ill persons under the provisions of Iowa Code section 614.8 (1987). The district court held the sta…”
- Callahan v. State (Supreme Court of Iowa 1990, 464 N.W.2d 268)“…13. We recently refused to apply the tolling provision of Iowa Code section 614.8 to the claim of a minor under section 2…”
- Kohrt Ex Rel. Kohrt v. Yetter (Supreme Court of Iowa 1984, 344 N.W.2d 245)“…tolled during the infancy of an injured person pursuant to Iowa Code section 614.8. We answer yes, concluding that…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide), Iowa Wrongful Death Laws (2026): Deadlines & Who Can Sue
§ 614.8ADamages for child sexual abuse — time limitation.In force
An action for damages for injury suffered as a result of sexual abuse which occurred when the injured person was a child, but not discovered until after the injured person is of the age of majority, shall be brought within four years from the time of discovery by the injured party of both the injury and the causal relationship between the injury and the sexual abuse.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 13 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Frideres v. Schiltz (Supreme Court of Iowa 1995, 540 N.W.2d 261)“…vely.” Id. When the legislature passed Iowa Code section 614.8A it stated in section 3, “This Act is ap…”
- Doe v. Cherwitz (Supreme Court of Iowa 1994, 518 N.W.2d 362)“…rely on 1990 Iowa Acts chapter 1241, section 3 (codified as Iowa Code section 614.8A (1993)) and the common-law “discovery r…”
- Claus v. Whyle (Supreme Court of Iowa 1994, 526 N.W.2d 519)“…ember 7, 1987. Also, like the trial court, we conclude that Iowa Code section 614.8A (1991) permitted the daughter to bring…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 802: LIMITATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIONS
§ 802.3Felony — aggravated or serious misdemeanor.In force
In all cases, except those enumerated in section 802.1, 802.2, 802.2A, 802.2B, 802.2C, 802.2D, 802.2E, 802.2F, 802.2G, or 802.10, an indictment or information for a felony or aggravated or serious misdemeanor shall be found within three years after its commission.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 23 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Iowa v. Eddie Tipton (Supreme Court of Iowa 2017)“…because the three-year statute of limitations provided in Iowa Code section 802.3 had expired. The district c…”
- State of Iowa v. Maurice Frederick Boone, Jr. (Supreme Court of Iowa 2023)“…issed. The defendant argues the State prosecuted him after Iowa Code section 802.3’s three-year-statute-of- limitations w…”
- State v. Iowa District Court for Webster County (Supreme Court of Iowa 2011, 801 N.W.2d 513)“…ins for perjury based upon his 2006 trial testimony. See Iowa Code § 802.3 (three-year statute of limitations). A…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 802.2Sexual abuse — first, second, or third degree.In force
1. An information or indictment for sexual abuse in the first, second, or third degree committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen years may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense. 2. An information or indictment for any other sexual abuse in the first, second, or third degree shall be commenced within ten years after its commission, or if the person against whom the information or indictment is sought is identified through the use of a DNA profile, an information or indictment shall be commenced within three years from the date the person is identified by the person’s DNA profile, whichever is later. 3. As used in this section, “identified” means a person’s legal name is known and the person has been determined to be the source of the DNA.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2018
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Schultzen (Supreme Court of Iowa 1994, 522 N.W.2d 833)“…ll be found within four years after its commission. Iowa Code § 802.2 (Supp.1985 & Supp.1987). The tr…”
- State of Iowa v. Daniel Logan Walden (Supreme Court of Iowa 2015)“…t erred by ruling the applicable statute of limitations is Iowa Code section 802.2 rather than 802.3. This is a question…”
- State v. Trompeter (Supreme Court of Iowa 1996, 555 N.W.2d 468)“…er the alleged victim reaches age 18. See Iowa Code § 802.2 .…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 802.2AIncest — sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction.In force
1. An information or indictment for incest under section 726.2 committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense. 2. An indictment or information for sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction, under section 709.15 committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2013
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Iowa v. Brent Michael Romer (Supreme Court of Iowa 2013, 832 N.W.2d 169)“…filing of an indictment or information for the offense. Iowa Code § 802.2A(2) (stating information or indictment f…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 802.2BOther sexual offenses.In force
An information or indictment for the following offenses committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen years may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense: 1. Lascivious acts with a child in violation of section 709.8. 2. Assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in violation of section 709.11. 3. Indecent contact with a child in violation of section 709.12. 4. Lascivious conduct with a minor in violation of section 709.14. 5. Sexual misconduct with a juvenile in violation of section 709.16, subsection 2. 6. Child endangerment in violation of section 726.6, subsection 5, 6, or 7. 7. Sexual exploitation of a minor in violation of section 728.12.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 802.2CKidnapping.In force
An information or indictment for kidnapping in the first, second, or third degree committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen years shall be found within ten years after the person upon whom the offense is committed attains eighteen years of age, or if the person against whom the information or indictment is sought is identified through the use of a DNA profile, an information or indictment shall be found within three years from the date the person is identified by the person’s DNA profile, whichever is later.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 802.2DHuman trafficking.In force
An information or indictment for human trafficking in violation of section 710A.2, committed on or with a person who is under the age of eighteen years may be commenced at any time after the commission of the offense.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 802.4Simple misdemeanor — ordinance.In force
A prosecution for a simple misdemeanor or violation of a municipal or county rule or ordinance shall be commenced within one year after its commission.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 802.5Extension for fraud, fiduciary breach.In force
1. If the periods prescribed in sections 802.3 and 802.4 have expired, prosecution may nevertheless be commenced for any offense a material element of which is either fraud or a breach of fiduciary obligation within one year after discovery of the offense by an aggrieved party or by a person who has a legal duty to represent an aggrieved party and who is not a party to the offense, but in no case shall this provision extend the period of limitation otherwise applicable by more than five years. 2. A prosecution may be commenced under this section as long as the appropriate law enforcement agency has not delayed the investigation in bad faith. This subsection shall not be construed to require a law enforcement agency to pursue an unknown offender with due diligence.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2017
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Iowa v. Eddie Tipton (Supreme Court of Iowa 2017)“…on of the statute of limitations for fraudulent acts under Iowa Code section 802.5, the court held the State was on notic…”
- State v. Wilson (Supreme Court of Iowa 1998, 573 N.W.2d 248)“…ed a motion to amend, alleging the one-year extension under Iowa Code section 802.5 for crimes of fraud saved the prosecuti…”
- State of Iowa v. Daniel Logan Walden (Supreme Court of Iowa 2015)“…he legislature codified a discovery rule for fraud cases in Iowa Code section 802.5. In State v. Wilson, we declined to ext…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 802.6Periods excluded from limitation.In force
1. When a person leaves the state, the indictment or information may be found within the period of limitation prescribed in this chapter after the person’s coming into the state, and no period during which the party charged was not publicly resident within the state is a part of the limitation. 2. The time within which an indictment or information must be found shall not include the time during which the defendant is a public officer or employee and the offense arises from misconduct relating to the duties and trust of that office or employment.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State v. Howard (Court of Appeals of Iowa 1999, 610 N.W.2d 535)“…th the intention of avoiding prosecution. See Iowa Code § 802.6 (1) (1991). It is the State’s burden to…”
- State of Iowa v. Maurice Frederick Boone, Jr. (Supreme Court of Iowa 2023)“…court incorrectly tolled the statute of limitations under Iowa Code section 802.6(1) for the time he was not publicly re…”
- Dante Kwan Rhodes v. State of Iowa (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2022)“…the offender is “not publicly resident within the state.” Iowa Code § 802.6(1) (“When a person leaves the state, th…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 802.10DNA profile of accused.In force
1. As used in this section: a. “DNA profile” means the same as defined in section 81.1. b. “Identified” means the same as defined in section 802.2. 2. An indictment or information may be found containing only the DNA profile of the person sought. When an indictment or information is found containing only a DNA profile, the limitation of any action under section 802.3 is tolled. 3. However, notwithstanding subsection 2, an indictment or information shall be found against a person within three years from the date the person is identified by the person’s DNA profile. If the action involves sexual abuse, another sexual offense, kidnapping, human trafficking, or fraud in assisted reproduction, the indictment or information shall be found as provided in section 802.2, 802.2B, 802.2C, 802.2D, or 802.2E, if the person is identified by the person’s DNA profile.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Iowa Code, Chapter 633: PROBATE CODE
§ 633.336Damages for wrongful death.In forcecited in 4 of our articles
When a wrongful act produces death, damages recovered as a result of the wrongful act shall be disposed of as personal property belonging to the estate of the deceased; however, if the damages include damages for loss of services and support of a deceased spouse, parent, or child, the damages shall be apportioned by the court among the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the decedent in a manner as the court may deem equitable consistent with the loss of services and support sustained by the surviving spouse, children, and parents respectively. Any recovery by a parent for the death of a child shall be subordinate to the recovery, if any, of the spouse or a child of the decedent. If the decedent leaves a spouse, child, or parent, damages for wrongful death shall not be subject to debts and charges of the decedent’s estate, except for amounts to be paid to the department of health and human services for payments made for medical assistance pursuant to chapter 249A, paid on behalf of the decedent from the time of the injury which gives rise to the decedent’s death up until the date of the decedent’s death.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 18 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Matter of Estate of Wagner (Court of Appeals of Iowa 1993, 507 N.W.2d 711)“…ified in chapter 633 of the code. Iowa Code ch. 633 (1993). Iowa Code section 633.336, which addresses wrongful death proceed…”
- Condon v. Employers Mutual Casualty Co. (Court of Appeals of Iowa 1995, 529 N.W.2d 630)“…rges of the first, second, third and fifth classes. Iowa Code § 633.336 (1975). In 1977, the wrongful d…”
- City of Ames v. Ratliff (Supreme Court of Iowa 1991, 471 N.W.2d 803)“…istrict court concluded that the City’s claim was barred by Iowa Code section 633.336 (1989) which exempts wrongful death pro…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Punitive Damages Laws: No General Cap, State Share (2026), Truck Accident Laws in Iowa (2026): Deadlines & Liability
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This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Iowa Code, Chapter 802: LIMITATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIONS § 802.1 (Murder.)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Sources and References
- Iowa Code Chapter 614: Limitations of Actions(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Section 614.1: Period(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Chapter 802: Limitation of Criminal Actions(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Section 614.8: Minors and Persons with Mental Illness(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Section 614.6: Nonresident or Unknown Defendant(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Section 633.336: Damages for Wrongful Death(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Senate File 562: Eliminating Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Criminal Statutes Summary Chart(iowacourts.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Section 614.8A - Damages for Child Sexual Abuse - Time Limitation(legis.iowa.gov).gov