Rule 16.304 - Registration; logins; passwords(1) Registration a. Registration requirement. Registration is required to file documents electronically in any case this chapter governs and to remotely access and download electronically filed documents. See rules 16.302(1) (electronic registration and filing requirements) and 16.502 (access to electronic court files).b. Filer registration. To file documents with the court electronically, filers, self-represented litigants, and specialized nonparty filers must complete the EDMS registration process. Filers can request an account and obtain a login and password for EDMS in the electronic filing section of the Iowa Judicial Branch website. Filers can access the registration process with personal computers or by using public access terminals at county courthouses.(1)Requirements for pro hac vice registration. Before registering to use EDMS, an out-of-state attorney must first make application for and be admitted pro hac vice pursuant to chapter 31 of the Iowa Court Rules, Admission to the Bar. The in-state attorney appearing with the out-of-state attorney in the proceeding must file the application for admission pro hac vice. If the court grants the application, the out-of-state attorney must complete the registration process in the electronic filing section of the Iowa Judicial Branch website and enter an appearance in the case.(2)Requirements for filing agent registration. An officer, employee, or other nonattorney representative electronically filing for an entity such as a partnership, association, corporation, or tribe, or filing for an individual property owner in a landlord-tenant matter, must register as a filing agent. If the filing agent appears on behalf of multiple entities or individual property owners under the rules of this chapter, the agent must register separately for each entity or individual property owner the agent represents. See rule 16.201(13) (definition of "filing agent").(3)Requirements for specialized nonparty filer registration. Specialized nonparty filers must register to file electronically. Specialized nonparty filers may include bail bond agents, process servers, and other persons who generally are not considered parties but who need to file documents in multiple cases.c. Law student and law graduate registration requirements.(1) To use EDMS, a law student or law graduate qualified to engage in the practice of law or appear as counsel must contact EDMS Support at the number or email address located on the electronic filing login page of the Iowa Judicial Branch website to obtain an application for registration. The student or graduate must submit a completed application, signed by a supervising attorney, to obtain a login and password. (2) The student or graduate must enter an appearance in each case in which the student or graduate is practicing and must file to withdraw from each case when the student's or graduate's practice is completed.(3) Upon termination of the supervision of the student's or graduate's practice, the supervising attorney must notify EDMS Support to have the student's or graduate's registration inactivated.(4) A law student or law graduate in good standing who resumes practice before admittance to the bar must reinstate his or her former registration by submitting a new application for registration signed by a current supervising attorney.(5) Once the student or graduate is licensed to practice law in Iowa, the new attorney must withdraw from the law student account and register with the attorney identification number (AT PIN) assigned by the office of professional regulation.d. Registration requirements for specialized nonparty users and abstractors.(1) To register, specialized nonparty users must request an application through EDMS Support at the telephone number or email address located on the electronic filing login page of the Iowa Judicial Branch website.(2) Abstractors are specialized nonparty users. For the purpose of remote access to court documents and otherwise restricted information, an abstractor must either qualify as a "participating abstractor" as recognized by the Title Guaranty Division of the Iowa Finance Authority, be a licensed abstractor at such time that abstractors are licensed in the State of Iowa, or be substantially equivalent to a "participating abstractor" as determined by the state court administrator or the state court administrator's designee.(3) Court interpreters are specialized nonparty users . For the purpose of remote access to court documents and other restricted information, a court interpreter must be listed on Iowa's roster of court interpreters maintained by the Iowa Judicial Branch's Office of Professional Regulation.e. Changing passwords. Once registered, a registered filer must change the filer's password. If a registered person or entity believes the security of an existing password has been compromised, the person or entity must change the password immediately. The court may require password changes periodically.f. Changes in filers' contact information. If a registered filer's email address, mailing address, or telephone number changes, the filer must promptly make the necessary changes to the registered filer's account information on the My Profile page in the filer's EDMS account. The filer must provide appropriate notice of changes in contact information to any nonregistered filer in every active case.g. Duties of registered filers.(1)To update email. Registered filers must maintain current registered email account information.(2)To monitor account. Registered filers must monitor their accounts regularly and ensure that notifications sent to the account are timely opened.(3)To notify the court when no longer able to participate. Registered filers who can no longer participate electronically in their cases must notify the court and request an exception from electronic filing in each case. See rule 16.302(2). When the registered filer has received an exception in each of the filer's open cases, the registered filer must withdraw from participation in electronic filing before the exceptions become effective.h. Withdrawal from electronic filing. Registered filers may withdraw from participation in EDMS by logging in to the My Profile page of the filer's EDMS account or by contacting the clerk of court. Upon the withdrawal from electronic filing, the person's or entity's registration, login, and password are canceled and the filer's name is deleted from any applicable electronic service list. A registered filer's withdrawal from participation in EDMS is not authorization to file cases or documents nonelectronically. To file nonelectronically, the filer must obtain an exception from the electronic filing requirement from the chief judge of each judicial district where the filer has a case pending. The filer should obtain an exception from electronic filing before withdrawing from EDMS. A registered filer's withdrawal from participation in EDMS is not a withdrawal from a case. (2)Logins and passwords. Filers must use logins and passwords to file documents electronically. a. Any electronic filing, downloading, or viewing of an electronic file or document is deemed to be made with the authorization of the person registered to use the login and password unless and until clear and convincing evidence proves otherwise.b. A registered filer must not knowingly permit the filer's login and password to be used by any other person except:(1) A registered attorney may permit the attorney's login and password to be used by an authorized member or staff of the attorney's law office.(2) A registered filer for an entity or governmental agency may permit the filer's login and password to be used by an authorized member or staff of the entity or governmental agency.c. If a login or password is lost, misappropriated, misused, or compromised in any way, the person registered to use that login or password must promptly contact EDMS Support at the number or email address located on the electronic filing login page of the Iowa Judicial Branch website. If a login or password is lost, misappropriated, misused, or compromised in any way, the court may cancel the registration. The registered person or entity may be required to apply for a new password and login by completing a new registration.d. For good cause, the court may refuse to allow a user or a filer to electronically file or download information in EDMS. The affected user or filer may apply with the court to reregister. Improper use of electronic filing, such as an intentional misuse or reckless use of a password or login, may subject a person to court sanctions. A person prohibited from electronic filing is not excluded from using the court system, but the person must obtain authorization under rule 16.302(2) to submit paper documents to the clerk for filing.e. For system security reasons, a registration may be immediately suspended.Court Order November 21, 2016, temporarily effective 11/21/2016, permanently effective 2/1/2017; Order August 26, 2020, effective 1/1/2021; order August 30, 2021, effective 8/30/2021.