Electronic filing (e-filing) is the process of filing legal documents with courts and other government and nongovernment entities (arbitration administrators) electronically—often through a website—rather than mailing or delivering paper copies of the documents to be filed.
In Iowa, electronic filing (e-filing) is a standard practice for submitting legal documents to courts. The Iowa Judicial Branch offers an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) where attorneys and self-represented litigants can file court documents electronically. This system is used for both civil and criminal cases in all of Iowa's 99 counties. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in most case types, and they must register to use the system. Self-represented litigants are also encouraged to use e-filing, although it is not mandatory for them. The system is designed to increase efficiency, reduce paper use, and provide easier access to court records. Training and resources for using the EDMS are available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website. For filings with government and nongovernment entities outside of the court system, such as arbitration administrators, the availability and requirements for e-filing may vary and should be confirmed with the specific entity.