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 by expert witnesses are governed by State Public Defender Rule 13.2(3), which should be reviewed carefully before submitting a claim.  Claims not in compliance with Rule 13.2(3) will be reduced or denied.  

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

Summary of Required Elements of an Expert Witness Claim

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

Information or documents you need:

  • The case name, entire 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 and the hourly rate.

  • The total amount of your claim.

  •  Tasks and time must be invoiced by date performed.

One copy of each of the following documents must be attached:

  • The application and court order granting authority to hire the expert.

  • 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 expert’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 expert charges a "minimum" amount for services based on a specific time, the expert certifies that no other services have been performed or charges made by the expert for any portion of that specific time.

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

Submission Procedure

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