The adverse party may at once, or within such reasonable time as the court allows, file specific written objections to the motion for continuance, which shall be part of the record. Where the defenses are distinct, the cause may be continued as to any one or more defendants. Every continuance shall be at the cost of the movant unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Rule 1.912.Objections; ruling; costs
Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.912 lets the adverse party file specific written objections to a continuance motion as part of the record, allows a continuance to be granted as to some defendants but not others when the defenses are distinct, and puts the cost of every continuance on the movant unless the court orders otherwise.
Full Text of Rule 1.912
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.912 rounds out the continuance rules by giving the opposing side a formal way to push back. The adverse party can file specific written objections to a continuance motion at once, or within whatever reasonable time the court allows, and those objections become part of the record for the case.
The rule also recognizes that a continuance does not have to apply uniformly across every defendant in a case. Where the defenses are distinct from one another, the cause may be continued as to one or more defendants without necessarily delaying the case for everyone.
Finally, Rule 1.912 assigns the price tag: every continuance is at the movant's cost, unless the court orders it otherwise. That default puts the financial consequence of delay on the party who asked for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I object to the other side's motion for continuance?
Yes. Rule 1.912 lets you file specific written objections at once, or within a reasonable time the court allows, and those objections become part of the record.
If there are several defendants with different defenses, does a continuance apply to all of them?
Not necessarily. Rule 1.912 allows the cause to be continued as to one or more defendants where the defenses are distinct, rather than delaying the whole case for every defendant.
Who pays the costs when a continuance is granted?
Rule 1.912 puts every continuance at the movant's cost, unless the court orders otherwise.
Do my objections to a continuance motion need to be specific?
Yes. Rule 1.912 calls for specific written objections, not a general statement of opposition.
Is there a set deadline for filing objections to a continuance motion?
Rule 1.912 allows objections to be filed at once or within such reasonable time as the court allows, so the specific deadline can depend on what the court sets.
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 objecting to continuance motioncontinuance costs iowa civil rulerule 1.912 iowacontinuance for some defendants only iowa