Here is a guide we stumbled across to help newbies to the process of Judicial proceedings in the Small Claims Court.   

Conduct and Procedures that are Important to Know before Going to Court

You'll find tips from the Iowa Judicial Branch here. 

This guide also is good for review by those who have been to court a few times, or even several times per year.   We highly recommend folks be ready and understand you're going there to WIN YOUR CASE, not to be chewed up and spit out by your adversary -- whether the defendant or worse, the JUDGE!  

We offer training to help you STAY OUT OF COURT in the first place.  However, even the best of us will occasionally have to make an appearance subsequent to initiating a lawsuit.  We want our MEMBERS to have an advantage from the moment you initiate your case, until you walk out of the courtroom knowing justice has been served! 

https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself

For those who are wanting to learn the Iowa Courts Online efiling system -- known as eFlex - Iowa Courts Online -- we offer a class through the IaREIA School of Real Estate titled "eFiling in Iowa -- Small Claims Actions for Property Managers".   

The court also offers a guide which you'll find here -->https://www.iowacourts.gov/efile/ 

We also offer printed and downloadable (PDF) versions of a home study guide, approved by the Iowa Supreme Court's "Commission on the Unauthorized Practice of Law" department for the training.   (For the moment, simply call the office to order -- (515) 274-0300).