Improper or unnecessary matter in a pleading may be stricken out on motion of the adverse party.
Rule 1.434.Motion to strike
Division IV: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.434 lets a party ask the court to remove improper or unnecessary material from an opponent's pleading.
Full Text of Rule 1.434
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.434 is short, but it fills a specific gap: it lets the adverse party move to strike improper or unnecessary matter from a pleading. That can mean allegations that don't belong in the case at all, material that's redundant with something already pleaded, or matter that has no bearing on any claim or defense at issue. The motion targets the offending material itself rather than the pleading as a whole.
This rule works alongside the broader motion practice in Rule 1.421, which allows a motion to strike an insufficient defense before pleading to it, and Rule 1.432, which makes clear that losing a motion to strike doesn't waive the right to raise the same objection again later in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of material can I ask the court to strike from a pleading?
Improper or unnecessary matter — allegations that don't belong in the case, are redundant, or have no bearing on any claim or defense at issue.
Who can file a motion to strike under Rule 1.434?
The adverse party — the party against whom the improper or unnecessary matter was pleaded.
Can I use a motion to strike to challenge an entire claim, not just a portion of a pleading?
Rule 1.434 is aimed at improper or unnecessary matter within a pleading rather than the sufficiency of an entire claim; challenging a claim's legal sufficiency generally runs through the pre-answer motions listed in Rule 1.421.
Does losing a motion to strike waive my right to raise the issue again later?
No. Rule 1.432 makes clear that an overruled motion to strike doesn't waive the right to question the pleading's sufficiency in later proceedings.
How does Rule 1.434 relate to striking an insufficient affirmative defense under Rule 1.421?
Rule 1.421(5) specifically allows a motion to strike an insufficient defense before pleading to it, while Rule 1.434 provides the more general tool for striking improper or unnecessary matter anywhere in a pleading.
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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