Rule 1.504.Protective orders

Division V: Discovery and Inspection · Last amended January 1, 2015 · Last verified July 15, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1.504 lets anyone facing, or affected by, a discovery request ask the court for protection from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden, through options ranging from blocking the discovery entirely to limiting its scope, method, or the people allowed to be present, but only after certifying a good-faith attempt to work it out first.

Full Text of Rule 1.504

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1.504(1) Upon motion by a party or by the person from whom discovery is sought or by any person who may be affected thereby, and for good cause shown, the court in which the action is pending or alternatively, on matters relating to a deposition, the court in the district where the deposition is to be taken:

a. May make any order which justice requires to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense, including one or more of the following:

(1) That the discovery not be had.

(2) That the discovery may be had only on specified terms and conditions, including a designation of the time or place, or the allocation of expenses.

(3) That the discovery may be had only by a method of discovery other than that selected by the party seeking discovery.

(4) That certain matters not be inquired into, or that the scope of the discovery be limited to certain matters.

(5) That discovery be conducted with no one present except persons designated by the court.

(6) That a deposition after being sealed be opened only by order of the court.

(7) That a trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way.

(8) That the parties simultaneously file specified documents or information enclosed in sealed envelopes to be opened as directed by the court.

b. On motion or on its own, shall limit the frequency and extent of use of the methods described in rule 1.501 (1) in accordance with the limitations of rule 1.503 (8).

(2) A party need not provide discovery of electronically stored information from sources that the party identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a protective order, the party from whom discovery is sought must show that the information is not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the requesting party shows good cause, considering the limitations of rule 1.503 (8). The court may specify conditions for the discovery.

(3) A motion for protective order must include a certification that the movant has in good faith personally spoken with or attempted to speak with other affected parties in an effort to resolve the dispute without court action. The certification must identify the date and time of any conference or attempts to confer. If the motion for a protective order is denied in whole or in part, the court may, on such terms and conditions as are just, order that any party or person provide or permit discovery. The provisions of rule 1.517 (1)(d) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.

End

Comment

Rule 1.504 (1). Rather than repeating the proportionality limitations contained in the scope of discovery, rule 1.504 (1) cross-references proportionality. Additionally, in recognition of the court's independent obligation to ensure the proportionality of discovery, rule 1.504 (2) expressly authorizes the court to limit sua sponte the frequency and extent of discovery. [Court Order August 28, 2014, effective January 1, 2015]

Plain-English Summary

Rule 1.504(1) lets a party, the person from whom discovery is sought, or anyone else the discovery would affect, move the court where the action is pending — or, for a deposition dispute, the court in the district where the deposition will be taken — for a protective order on a showing of good cause. The court can order that the discovery not happen at all, that it happen only on specified terms covering timing, place, or expense allocation, by an alternate method, on a narrowed set of topics, with only court-designated people present, under seal, or that trade-secret or other confidential business information be disclosed only in a designated way, among the other options the rule lists.

Rather than restate the proportionality factors, the rule cross-references Rule 1.503(8) and lets the court limit discovery's frequency or extent on its own, without any party even asking, reflecting the court's independent duty to police proportionality. The rule also protects electronically stored information a party identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost — the resisting party has to make that showing first, and even then the court can still order the discovery for good cause, subject to whatever conditions it specifies.

Like Rule 1.501's discovery-motion certification, a motion for a protective order must certify that the movant personally tried, in good faith, to work out the dispute with the other side, and must identify when that happened. If the court denies the motion in whole or in part, it can instead order the discovery to proceed on fair terms, with expense-shifting available under Rule 1.517(1)(d).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can ask for a protective order under Rule 1.504?

A party to the case, the person from whom discovery is sought, or any person who may be affected by it, on a showing of good cause.

What kinds of protection can a court order under Rule 1.504?

Options range from barring the discovery entirely to limiting its terms, method, or scope, restricting who can be present, requiring material to be sealed, or requiring confidential business information to be disclosed only in a designated way.

Do I need to talk to the other side before filing a motion for a protective order?

Yes. The motion must include a certification that you personally spoke with, or tried to speak with, the other affected parties in a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute, identifying when.

Can I refuse to produce electronically stored information because it's too costly to retrieve?

You can identify it as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost, but you must make that showing to the court. Even then, the court can still order the discovery for good cause, considering the proportionality factors in Rule 1.503(8).

What happens if my motion for a protective order is denied?

The court can order that discovery proceed on whatever terms and conditions are just, and expense-shifting under Rule 1.517(1)(d) may apply to the motion itself.

Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026. · Official source

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