Unless otherwise ordered by the court, no deposition, notice of deposition, interrogatory, request for production of documents, request for admission, or response, document or thing produced, or objection thereto shall be filed with the clerk. Any motion under rule 1.517 attacking the sufficiency of a response to a discovery request must have a copy of the request and response attached or the motion may be denied. This rule does not apply to depositions to perpetuate testimony under rules 1.721 through 1.728.
Rule 1.502.Discovery materials not filed
Division V: Discovery and Inspection · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.502 keeps routine discovery paperwork, depositions, interrogatories, requests for production or admission, and the responses to them, out of the court file unless the court orders otherwise, though a motion challenging a response's sufficiency must attach a copy of the request and response.
Full Text of Rule 1.502
Plain-English Summary
Most discovery in an Iowa case never needs to reach the clerk's file. Rule 1.502 makes that the default: unless the court orders otherwise, depositions, notices of deposition, interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for admission, and the responses, documents, or objections that go with them, aren't filed with the clerk. That keeps the court record from being cluttered with paperwork most cases never need a judge to see.
The rule carves out one practical exception. A motion under Rule 1.517 attacking the sufficiency of a discovery response has to attach a copy of the request and the response, or the motion may be denied — the court can't evaluate a dispute about a discovery response without seeing what was asked and answered. Rule 1.502 also doesn't apply to depositions taken to perpetuate testimony under Rules 1.721 through 1.728, since those depositions may substitute for live testimony and belong in the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file my interrogatories and the answers with the court?
No, not unless the court orders otherwise. Rule 1.502 keeps routine discovery materials, including interrogatories and their responses, out of the court file by default.
What happens if I file a motion challenging a discovery response but don't attach a copy of it?
The motion may be denied. Rule 1.502 requires a motion under Rule 1.517 attacking the sufficiency of a response to have a copy of the request and response attached.
Does this rule apply to depositions taken to preserve testimony before trial?
No. Rule 1.502 expressly does not apply to depositions to perpetuate testimony under Rules 1.721 through 1.728.
Can the court order discovery materials to be filed anyway?
Yes. Rule 1.502's default applies unless the court orders otherwise in a particular case.
Why does Iowa keep routine discovery materials out of the court file?
Because most discovery paperwork, unlike pleadings and motions, doesn't need to be part of the court record for the case to proceed, and keeping it out avoids cluttering the file with material the court will never need to review.
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
Also known as: iowa discovery not filed with court ruleiowa interrogatories filing requirementrule 1.502 iowa civil proceduredepositions to perpetuate testimony filing iowa