If you are going through a divorce in Iowa and have children, you are required to take a class called Children in the Middle. Parents are required to take a Children in the Middle course for separation and custody cases, as well. Children in the Middle is a 3 to 4 hour class that addresses […]

In Iowa, the spouse who is seeking alimony, also called spousal support, has the burden to show they are entitled to a support award. Iowa law recognizes 4 types of spousal support: (1) Traditional, (2) Reimbursement, (3) Rehabilitative, and (4) Transitional. Courts can issue hybrid support awards which are justified by more than one of […]

What you need to know about Private Termination of Parental Rights In Iowa, the parents of a minor child have certain obligations and rights toward their child. Those rights include making various decisions about the medical care, education, and religious instruction of the child. Parents also have the right to decide where their child will […]

How is child support determined in Iowa? Under Iowa law, both parents have a duty to provide adequate support for their minor children. Courts use the Iowa Child Support Guidelines to calculate the amount of child support that will be paid. The purpose of the support guidelines is to provide for the best interests of […]

Can I seek a protective order for domestic abuse? Iowa Code Chapter 236 provides that a protective order may be entered upon a finding of domestic abuse. To obtain a 236 protective order, the party seeking a protective order must prove by a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., more likely than not) that (1) they […]

There is a difference between physical separation (moving out) and legal separation (getting a court order that you are separated).  You may file a petition in court for legal separation if you are planning to be separated for a long time and want the court to address support, property or debts during the separation.  You […]