Title XV, JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES (Ch. 595 - 686D)

1. The court may appoint an attorney to represent the minor child or children of the parties. If appointed under this section , the child’s attorney shall be solely responsible for representing the minor child or children. The child’s attorney shall be independent of the court an…

1. The supreme court shall prescribe and maintain standards for child custody investigators and child and family reporters. 2. The court may require a child custody investigator or a child and family reporter to obtain information regarding both parties’ home conditions, parentin…

1. a. Both parties shall disclose their financial status. A showing of special circumstances shall not be required before the disclosure is ordered. A statement of net worth set forth by affidavit on a form prescribed by the supreme court and furnished without charge by the clerk…

The petition may be presented to the court for the allowance of an order of attachment, which, by endorsement thereon, may direct such attachment and fix the amount for which it may issue, and the amount of the bond, if any, that shall be given. Any property taken by virtue there…

1. The parties to any action which involves the issues of child custody or visitation shall participate in a court-approved course to educate and sensitize the parties to the needs of any child or party during and subsequent to the proceeding within forty-five days of the service…

1. A majority of the judges in any judicial district, with the cooperation of any county board of supervisors in the district, may establish a domestic relations division of the district court of the county where the board is located. The division shall offer counseling and relat…

1. A decree dissolving the marriage may be entered when the court is satisfied from the evidence presented that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likel…

If, upon the trial of an action for dissolution of marriage, both of the parties are found to have committed an act or acts which would support or justify a decree of dissolution of marriage, such dissolution may be decreed, and the acts of one party shall not negate the acts of …

No decree dissolving a marriage shall be granted in any proceeding before ninety days shall have elapsed from the day the original notice is served, or from the last day of publication of notice, or from the date that waiver or acceptance of original notice is filed or until afte…

The district court has original jurisdiction of the subject matter of this chapter . Venue shall be in the county where either party resides. [C51, §1480; R60, §2532; C73, §2220; C97, §3171; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 10468; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §598.1; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §…

When a dissolution of marriage is decreed the parties shall forfeit all rights acquired by marriage which are not specifically preserved in the decree. This provision shall not obviate any of the provisions of section 598.21 , 598.21A , 598.21B , 598.21C , 598.21D , 598.21E , or …

1. Except as preempted by federal law, if a decree of dissolution, annulment, or separate maintenance is issued after the policy owner of an insurance contract insuring the policy owner’s own life has designated the policy owner’s spouse or one or more relatives of the policy own…

1. Except as preempted by federal law, if a decree of dissolution, annulment, or separate maintenance is issued after a participant, annuitant, or account holder has designated the participant’s, annuitant’s, or account holder’s spouse or one or more relatives of the participant’…

1. General principles. Upon every judgment of annulment, dissolution, or separate maintenance, the court shall divide the property of the parties and transfer the title of the property accordingly, including ordering the parties to execute a quitclaim deed or ordering a change of…

1. Criteria for determining support. Upon every judgment of annulment, dissolution, or separate maintenance, the court may grant an order requiring support payments to either party for a limited or indefinite length of time after considering all of the following: a. The length of…

1. Child support guidelines. a. The supreme court shall maintain uniform child support guidelines and criteria and review the guidelines and criteria at least once every four years, pursuant to the federal Family Support Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 100-485. The initial review shall …

1. Criteria for modification. Subject to 28 U.S.C. §1738B, the court may subsequently modify child, spousal, or medical support orders when there is a substantial change in circumstances. In determining whether there is a substantial change in circumstances, the court shall consi…

If a parent awarded joint legal custody and physical care or sole legal custody is relocating the residence of the minor child to a location which is one hundred fifty miles or more from the residence of the minor child at the time that custody was awarded, the court may consider…

1. If, during an action initiated under this chapter or any other chapter in which a child or medical support obligation may be established based upon a prior determination of paternity, a party wishes to contest the paternity of the child or children involved, all of the followi…

The court shall not order either of the parties to pay a postsecondary education subsidy under a temporary order or final judgment or decree. 2005 Acts, ch 69, §44 ; 2006 Acts, ch 1030, §73 ; 2025 Acts, ch 57, §2, 5 Referred to in §598.20 2025 amendment applies to a support order…

In any order or judgment entered under this chapter or chapter 234 , 252A , 252C , 252F , or 600B , or under any other chapter which provides for temporary or permanent support payments, if the parent ordered to pay support is less than eighteen years of age, one of the following…

1. Except as otherwise provided in section 598.22A , this section applies to all initial or modified orders for support entered under this chapter , chapter 234 , 252A , 252C , 252F , 600B , or any other chapter of the Code. All orders or judgments entered under chapter 234 , 252…

Notwithstanding sections 252B.14 and 598.22 , support payments ordered pursuant to any support chapter for orders entered on or after July 1, 1985, which are not made pursuant to the provisions of section 252B.14 or 598.22 , shall be credited only as provided in this section . 1.…

This section applies to all initial or modified orders for paternity or support entered under this chapter , chapter 234 , 252A , 252C , 252F , 252H , 252K , or 600B , or under any other chapter, and any subsequent order to enforce such support orders. 1. All such orders or judgm…

If dependent benefits are paid for a child as a result of disability benefits awarded to the child’s parent under the federal Social Security Act, all of the following shall apply: 1. Unless the court otherwise provides, dependent benefits paid to the child support obligee as a r…

The court may protect and promote the best interests of a minor child by setting aside a portion of the child support which either party is ordered to pay in a separate fund or conservatorship for the support, education, and welfare of the child. 2005 Acts, ch 69, §50

1. If a person against whom a temporary order or final decree has been entered willfully disobeys the order or decree, the person may be cited and punished by the court for contempt and be committed to the county jail for a period of time not to exceed thirty days for each offens…

1. If a person against whom an order or decree for support has been entered pursuant to this chapter or chapter 234 , 252A , 252C , 252F , 600B , or any other support chapter, or a comparable chapter of another state or foreign country as defined in chapter 252K , fails to make p…

When an action for a modification, order to show cause, or contempt of a dissolution, annulment, or separate maintenance decree is brought on the grounds that a party to the decree is in default or contempt of the decree, and the court determines that the party is in default or c…

1. Whenever a proceeding is initiated in a court for adoption involving the children of parents or guardians whose marriage has been dissolved, or for modification of a judgment of alimony, child support, or custody granted in an action for dissolution of marriage, the following …

The record and evidence in each case of marriage dissolution shall be kept pursuant to the following provisions: 1. Until a decree of dissolution has been entered, the record and evidence shall be closed to all but the court, its officers, and child support services of the depart…

A petition shall be filed in separate maintenance and annulment actions as in actions for dissolution of marriage, and all applicable provisions of this chapter in relation thereto shall apply to separate maintenance and annulment actions. [C73, §2232; C97, §3183; C24, 27, 31, 35…

Marriage may be annulled for the following causes: 1. Where the marriage between the parties is prohibited by law. 2. Where either party was impotent at the time of marriage. 3. Where either party had a husband or wife living at the time of the marriage, provided they have not, w…

In a proceeding to establish, modify, or enforce a child support order the forum state’s law shall apply except as provided in section 252K.604 . 96 Acts, ch 1141, §26 ; 2015 Acts, ch 110, §111

An action for dissolution of marriage shall be by equitable proceedings, and no cause of action, save for alimony, shall be joined therewith. Such actions shall not be subject to counterclaim or cross petition by the respondent. After the appearance of the respondent, no dismissa…

When the validity of a marriage is doubted, either party may file a petition, and the court shall decree it annulled or affirmed according to the proof. [C73, §2233; C97, §3184; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 10488; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §598.21; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §598.30 ]

Children born to the parties, or to the wife, in a marriage relationship which may be terminated or annulled pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be legitimate as to both parties, unless the court shall decree otherwise according to the proof. [C73, §2234, 2235; C97, …

In case either party entered into the contract of marriage in good faith, supposing the other to be capable of contracting, and the marriage is declared a nullity, such fact shall be entered in the decree, and the court may decree such innocent party compensation as in case of di…

Notwithstanding section 561.15 , the court may order either party to vacate the homestead pending entry of a decree of dissolution upon a showing that the other party or the children are in imminent danger of physical harm if the order is not issued. [ C81, §598.33 ]

1. If public assistance is provided by the department of health and human services to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all rights in, title to, and interest in any support o…

In a proceeding for the modification of an order or decree under this chapter the court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party in an amount deemed reasonable by the court. 84 Acts, ch 1211, §1

Either party to a marriage may request as a part of the decree of dissolution or decree of annulment a change in the person’s name to either the name appearing on the person’s birth certificate or to the name the person had immediately prior to the marriage. If a party requests a…

The petition for dissolution of marriage shall be captioned substantially as follows: In the District Court of the State of Iowa In and For ........................ County In Re the Marriage of ........................ and ........................ Upon the Petition of Petition fo…

1. a. The court may provide for joint custody of the child by the parties. The court, insofar as is reasonable and in the best interest of the child, shall order the custody award, including liberal visitation rights where appropriate, which will assure the child the opportunity …

1. Notwithstanding section 598.41 , the court shall consider, in the award of visitation rights to a parent of a child, the criminal history of the parent if the parent has been convicted of a sex offense against a minor as defined in section 692A.101 . 2. Notwithstanding section…

1. Notwithstanding section 598.41 , the court shall not do either of the following: a. Enforce an existing order awarding visitation rights to a child’s parent, which was obtained prior to that parent’s conviction for first degree murder in the murder of the child’s other parent,…