Competency Evaluations

Online Claim Submission

As of March 1, 2020, all miscellaneous claims must be submitted electronically. 

If you provided services for a State Public Defender Field Office, please select the appropriate field office from the drop down menu.  

Claims for Court-Ordered Competency Evaluations are governed by State Public Defender Rule 13.2(5), which should be reviewed carefully before submitting a claim.  Claims not in compliance with Rule 13.2(5) will be reduced or denied. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Summary of Required Elements has been updated.  

Summary of Required Elements of a Court-Ordered Evaluation Claim

A completed SPD Substitute W-9 Form with your accurate information must be on file with our office.

A Miscellaneous Claim Form, original and one copy, must be completed and must contain:

  • The case name, case number and county in which the action is pending.

  • The name of the attorney for whom the services were provided, if any.

  • The date on which services commenced.

  • The date on which services ended.

  • The total number of hours claimed.

  • The total amount of your claim.

  • Claimant’s name, address, social security or federal tax identification number, and phone number.

  • Signed by claimant

3. Required Attachments to Claim Form

  • The application and court order granting authority to conduct the evaluation.

  • The order appointing counsel, an order with a finding of indigence for a pro se party (party not represented by counsel), or a Missildine order pursuant to Iowa Code section 815.1 (2019).

  • An itemization of the evaluator’s services detailing the expenses incurred, the services rendered, the dates on which the services were rendered, the time spent on each date, and the manner in which the amount of the claim was calculated. If the evaluator charges a “minimum” amount for services based on a specific time, the evaluator certifies that no other services have been performed or charges made by the evaluator for any portion of that specific time.

  • A court order approving the dollar amount of the claim. If the court order authorizing the evaluation sets a limit for the claim, this additional approval order is unnecessary.

NOTE: Payments for evaluations are limited to evaluations to establish whether the defendant is competent to stand trial or to establish a defense of insanity or diminished responsibility

Submission Procedure

Claims must be submitted online: https://spdclaims.iowa.gov/