Application

12.1(1) An application seeking the involuntary hospitalization or treatment of any person on grounds of serious mental impairment may be obtained from any district court clerk in any county. Such application may be filled out and presented to the clerk by any person who has an interest in the treatment of another for serious mental impairment and who has sufficient contact with or knowledge about that person to provide the information required on the face of the application and by Iowa Code section 229.6. The clerk or clerk’s designee shall provide the forms required by Iowa Code section 229.6 to the person who desires to file the application for involuntary commitment. The clerk shall see that all the necessary information required by Iowa Code section 229.6 accompanies the application. 12.1(2) A verified application may be filed with the district court clerk in any county. If the application is not filed in a county where the respondent is located or resides, then the court shall transfer jurisdiction of the case to the county where the respondent is located or that is the respondent’s place of residence in accordance with Iowa Code section 229.6(1)(b). [Supreme Court Report 1979; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002; August 22, 2025, effective October 21, 2025]