On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of Iowa issued a public reprimand against attorney T.J. Hier.
The case is entitled “Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board v. T.J. Hier,” with case no. 25–1218.
The case against Hier stemmed from a complaint involving a family law matter, where it was alleged that she accepted a retainer fee but did not fulfill her obligations or maintain adequate communication with her client. The complainant claimed that Hier had promised a refund of $55 for unearned fees but failed to provide proof of the refund being issued. Hier argued that she attempted to send the refund twice, yet she could not verify that it was sent or received.
This incident is part of a troubling history concerning Hier’s handling of client funds. In 2009, she received her first public reprimand for withdrawing a flat fee from trust before completing the associated work without notifying her client. Additionally, in 2017, a Client Security Commission audit revealed a significant deficiency in her trust account, attributed to poor record-keeping practices.
In 2019, Hier faced a 30-day suspension for mishandling a payment related to another family law case, where she deposited funds intended for her client into her operating account instead of the client’s trust account. This led to complications when a settlement fell through, prompting legal action to recover the funds.
More recently, in September 2022, Hier was privately admonished for failing to properly manage $300 entrusted to her for deposition costs, which should have been held in her client trust account.
The current reprimand also addresses allegations of improper notarization. The Board found that Hier notarized a custody petition without personally witnessing the client’s signature, which violates Iowa’s notarial regulations. The complainant’s signature was obtained through electronic means, and Hier lacked the necessary authorization to perform remote notarizations using the technology employed. This led the Board to conclude that the notarization was invalid, further compounding her record of misconduct.
The Iowa Supreme Court has historically dealt sternly with attorneys engaging in false notarizations, typically resulting in more severe penalties. However, in this instance, the Board deemed a public reprimand appropriate, considering the circumstances of the case.
According to Avvo.com, Ms. Hier is a child custody attorney in Baxter, Iowa. She acquired her law license in Iowa in 1997.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
