Filing Bankruptcy in Iowa: Means Test, Exemptions and Courts

Iowa has two federal bankruptcy districts: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa (https://www.ianb.uscourts.gov) and the Southern District of Iowa (https://www.iasb.uscourts.gov).

1 person: $67,617; 2 people: $88,800; 3 people: $104,133; 4 people: $126,058; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026).

Iowa filers must use Iowa's exemptions: a debtor to whom Iowa law applies "is not entitled to elect to exempt" the property listed in 11 U.S.C. 522(d).

No dollar limit. The homestead is limited by area: up to one-half acre within a city plat, otherwise up to 40 acres in total (and if its value is under $500 it may be enlarged to reach that amount). People living together as one household may claim only one homestead.

The debtor's interest in one motor vehicle, up to $7,000.

Up to $1,000 in total in cash, bank or credit union deposits, or any other personal property, whether or not otherwise exempt.

Payments under pension, annuity or similar plans are exempt (except portions from above-normal contributions made within one year before a bankruptcy filing), and contributions and assets in qualified plans, IRAs and Roth IRAs, including rollovers, are exempt from execution and creditors' claims.

In bankruptcy, the debtor's interest in accrued wages and state and federal tax refunds as of the filing date is exempt up to $1,000 in total. Separately, outside bankruptcy, garnishment follows the federal limits and annual per-creditor caps (e.g., $250 per year for earnings under $12,000).

N.D. Iowa has a "Parties Without an Attorney" section (with a debtor page), clerk's office assistance information, and local bankruptcy forms. S.D. Iowa has a "Filing for Bankruptcy Without an Attorney" page and non-attorney e-file registration.

Northern District of Iowa: Standing Order No. 26-03, Chapter 13 Attorney Fee Requests (effective July 1, 2026; vacates and replaces Standing Order 25-01), establishes a "NO-LOOK" Compensation Plan under which counsel for the debtor, without filing a fee application, is awarded a Standard Allowable Amount (SAA) not to exceed $5,300.00 ($4,900.00 fees and $400.00 out-of-pocket expenses), plus applicable filing fees paid by or through counsel, deemed allowed upon confirmation of the plan. The SAA covers all services typically performed up to and through confirmation of the debtor's original plan (including counseling, the section 341 meeting, preparing and filing the petition, plan, statements and schedules, pre-confirmation modifications and amendments, and confirmation hearings). Additional services may be compensated through court-set A La Carte (ALC) fees by certification and notice.