1.507(1) Conference timing. Except in a proceeding exempt from initial disclosure under rule 1.500(1)(e), a domestic relations proceeding, or when the court orders otherwise, the parties must confer as soon as practicable, but no later than 21 days after any defendant has answered or appeared. In cases transferred to the district court from the small claims court, the parties must confer as soon as practicable, but no later than 21 days after the date the case is docketed in the district court. The plaintiff must notify all parties of the discovery conference deadline. Except as otherwise stipulated or ordered by the court, the filing of a pre-answer motion under rule 1.421 does not affect the obligation to participate in the discovery conference or to make disclosures required by rule 1.500(1).
Rule 1.507.Discovery conference of the parties
Division V: Discovery and Inspection · Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.507 requires the parties in most Iowa civil cases to confer within 21 days after any defendant answers or appears, discuss their claims and a possible settlement, arrange initial disclosures, and submit a written discovery plan to the court within 7 days after that conference.
Full Text of Rule 1.507
(2) Conference content; parties' responsibilities. In conferring, parties must consider the nature and basis of their claims and defenses and the possibilities for promptly settling or resolving the case; make or arrange for the disclosures required by rule 1.500 (1); discuss any issues about preserving discoverable information; and develop a proposed discovery plan. The attorneys of record and all unrepresented parties that have appeared in the case are jointly responsible for arranging the conference, for attempting in good faith to agree on the proposed discovery plan, and for submitting to the court within seven days after the conference a written report outlining the plan. The court may order the parties or attorneys to attend the conference in person. The discovery plan must be submitted in all events prior to the trial-setting conference.
(3) Discovery plan. The discovery plan will be included in Iowa Court Rule 23.5--Form 2: Trial Scheduling and Discovery Plan, and except as otherwise ordered by the court, a discovery plan must state the parties' views and proposals on the following:
a. Changes that should be made in the timing, form, or requirement for disclosures under rule 1.501 (1), including a statement of when initial disclosures were made or will be made.
b. Subjects on which discovery may be needed, when discovery should be completed, and whether discovery should be conducted in phases or be limited to or focused on particular issues.
c. Issues about disclosure, discovery, or preservation of electronically stored information, including the form or forms in which the information should be produced.
d. Issues about claims of privilege or of protection as trial preparation materials, including--if the parties agree on a procedure to assert these claims after production--whether to ask the court to include the parties' agreement in an order under Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.502.
e. Changes that should be made to the limitations on discovery imposed under these rules, and other limitations that should be imposed.
f. Any other orders that the court should issue under rule 1.504 or under rule 1.602.
(4) Pretrial conference. Following the parties' discovery conference, any party may request the court to convene a pretrial conference under rule 1.602 to resolve any objection or disputed issue identified in the parties' discovery plan.
Comment
Rule 1.507. The rule is substantially rewritten to provide that parties, including pro se litigants, have a duty to confer early in a case and cooperate in framing a discovery plan to submit to the court. The rule is patterned on the federal attorney conference rule, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f). Rule 1.507 envisions that the discovery conference will occur before the rule 1.906 trial-setting conference. The parties must submit the discovery plan within 7 days after the discovery conference, and initial disclosures are due within 14 days after the discovery conference.
[Court Order August 28 2014, October 30, 2014, effective January 1, 2015]
Plain-English Summary
Outside proceedings exempt from initial disclosure, domestic relations cases, and situations where the court orders otherwise, Rule 1.507(1) requires the parties to confer as soon as practicable, no later than 21 days after any defendant has answered or appeared. For a case transferred from small claims court, that same 21-day clock runs from the date the case is docketed in district court, and the plaintiff has to notify everyone of the conference deadline. Filing a pre-answer motion under Rule 1.421 doesn't excuse a party from conferring or from making the Rule 1.500(1) disclosures, unless the parties or the court say otherwise.
Rule 1.507(2) describes what the conference has to cover: the nature and basis of the claims and defenses, the possibility of settling or resolving the case, arranging the initial disclosures, discussing how discoverable information will be preserved, and building a proposed discovery plan. Attorneys of record and any self-represented parties who have appeared share joint responsibility for setting up the conference, negotiating the plan in good faith, and filing a written report of it within 7 days after the conference. The court can require the parties to attend in person, and the plan has to be filed before the trial-setting conference in every case.
Rule 1.507(3) lays out what the discovery plan itself must address, built into Iowa Court Rule 23.5's Form 2: proposed changes to disclosure timing or form, what subjects still need discovery and when it should be finished (or whether it should be phased or focused), issues around electronically stored information including the format for production, privilege and trial-preparation claims (including any agreement on asserting privilege after production under Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.502), proposed changes to discovery limits, and any other orders the parties want under Rule 1.504 or Rule 1.602 — including a request that the court hold a pretrial conference to resolve disputes the plan turns up. The official Comment explains the rule was substantially rewritten in 2014, patterned on the federal attorney-conference rule, specifically to make sure even self-represented litigants cooperate on a discovery plan early in the case, with the conference meant to occur before the Rule 1.906 trial-setting conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after the defendant answers must the parties hold their discovery conference?
As soon as practicable, and no later than 21 days after any defendant has answered or appeared, outside cases exempt from initial disclosure, domestic relations proceedings, or where the court orders otherwise.
What does the discovery conference have to cover?
The nature and basis of the claims and defenses, prospects for settling the case, arranging the initial disclosures required under Rule 1.500(1), preserving discoverable information, and developing a proposed discovery plan.
How soon after the conference must the parties submit their discovery plan?
Within 7 days after the conference, and in every case before the trial-setting conference.
Does filing a pre-answer motion excuse me from participating in the discovery conference?
No. Rule 1.507(1) states that filing a pre-answer motion under Rule 1.421 doesn't affect the obligation to confer or to make the required disclosures, unless the parties stipulate or the court orders otherwise.
Do self-represented parties have to participate in the discovery conference too?
Yes. The rule places the responsibility for arranging the conference and developing the discovery plan on the attorneys of record and any self-represented parties who have appeared in the case.
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 conference deadlineiowa discovery plan requirementmeet and confer discovery iowa civil caserule 1.507 iowa civil procedure