Understanding Bankruptcy in Iowa: Court Locations and Contacts
The bankruptcy courts in Iowa are divided into two judicial districts: the Northern District and the Southern District, each overseeing bankruptcy proceedings under Title 11 of the U.S. Code. These courts handle a range of cases—including Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 filings for individuals, businesses, and farms.
The Northern District, with courthouses in Cedar Rapids and Sioux City, serves over 50 counties across northeastern and northwestern Iowa. The Southern District, headquartered in Des Moines with additional courtrooms in Council Bluffs and Davenport, covers the remaining counties in the state.
Cedar Rapids Division includes the following counties: Benton, Cedar, Grundy, Hardin, Iowa, Jones, Linn, Tama
The Central Division includes: Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright.
The Eastern Division includes: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Jackson, Mitchell, and Winneshiek.
Western Division includes: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sac, Sioux, and Woodbury.
Below is the contact information for the bankruptcy court system, including other resources such as contact information for the Iowa bankruptcy trustee.
Court Locations
Cedar Rapids
111 7th Ave. SE,
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401,
(319) 286-2200
Sioux City
320 6th Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
(712) 233-3939
Honorable Thad J. Collins, Chief Bankruptcy Judge
Northern District of Iowa
111 Seventh Avenue SE, # 23
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Staff Information
Angela Pruitt, Law Clerk
(319) 286-2230 Chambers
(319) 286-2290 Fax
United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Iowa
Office Hours
The regular business hours of the Clerk are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of the observed Federal Holidays.
Address
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
United States Courthouse
111 Locust Street, Office 320
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone
(515) 284-6230
Email
Bankruptcy_Court_Support@iasb.uscourts.gov
Honorable Lee M. Jackwig
Chambers Phone: (515) 284-6229
Career Law Clerk
Paul M. Wille
Phone: (515) 284-6302
Email: Paul_Wille@iasb.uscourts.gov
Calendar Clerk
Traci Sharp
Phone: (515) 284-7394
Fax: (515) 284-6404
Email: traci_sharp@iasb.uscourts.gov
For information on the Iowa Bankruptcy Trustee, please follow this link, which provides contact information.
You can learn more about filing for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy petition via this link. Information on the bankruptcy court system, contact information for trustees, and your state’s exemptions can be found here. The federal bankruptcy exemptions are listed here. The latest version of the 341 Meeting of the Creditors can be found here.
You can find additional categories by clicking below or by using the search feature at the top of this page:
Here are some resources to help you find the relevant bankruptcy court website: https://www.uscourts.gov/.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.