In computing time under these rules, the provisions of Iowa Code section 4.1, subsection 34, shall govern.
Rule 1.1801.Computing time; holidays
Division XVIII: Rules of a General Nature · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.1801 incorporates Iowa Code section 4.1, subsection 34, as the governing method for computing any time period under the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.
Full Text of Rule 1.1801
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.1801 is one sentence, but it answers a question that comes up constantly in litigation: how do you count the days in a deadline set by these rules? Rather than spelling out its own counting method, the rule points to Iowa Code section 4.1, subsection 34, and adopts that statute's approach.
This is a deliberate choice to avoid having two different sets of time-computation rules floating around Iowa law — one in the Code and a separate one in the civil rules. Instead, whatever method the legislature has set out in section 4.1(34) for computing time generally applies here as well, so a lawyer or self-represented litigant who already knows how Iowa computes statutory deadlines does not need to learn a second, rules-specific method for civil litigation deadlines.
Anyone who needs to count a deadline under the civil rules — filing an Answer, responding to a motion, meeting a discovery cutoff — should read section 4.1(34) itself for the mechanics, since Rule 1.1801 does no more than incorporate that statute by reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I count a deadline under the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure?
Rule 1.1801 directs you to Iowa Code section 4.1, subsection 34, which governs how time is computed under these rules.
Does Rule 1.1801 have its own counting method separate from the Iowa Code?
No. The rule adopts Iowa Code section 4.1(34) as the governing method rather than setting out a separate one of its own.
Why would the civil rules rely on a Code section instead of stating their own time-computation rule?
Using the same statute that governs time computation elsewhere in Iowa law keeps the method consistent, so litigants and courts are not applying two different sets of counting rules depending on the context.
Does this rule apply to deadlines set by court order, or only deadlines set by the rules themselves?
Rule 1.1801's text refers to computing time under these rules. For deadlines set by a specific court order or another statute, check whether that order or statute specifies its own method or also points to section 4.1(34).
Where do I find the actual mechanics for computing a deadline, like whether weekends count?
Iowa Code section 4.1, subsection 34, contains the substantive counting method; Rule 1.1801 itself only incorporates that statute by reference.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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