Iowa

Divorce Residency Requirements To Get Divorce In Iowa

There are no requirements regarding residency for the filing spouse if the other spouse is a resident of the state and has been served the petition for divorce personally. However, the standard requirements for filing for divorce in the State of Iowa must have been a resident for a full year.

Reasons For Divorce In Iowa

The ground for divorce of marriage in the State of Iowa is the irretrievable breakdown of the union. This is a no-fault grounds for divorce, but it will cover any reason that a couple may have for wishing to end a divorce. More information about choosing this ground for divorce in the state of Iowa is available once you begin filling out your divorce documents using Divorce.com.

Custody Of The Children In Iowa

The divorcing parties in Iowa must either agree to joint or sole legal and physical custody of the children. Legal custody is what gives parents the right to participate in decision making involving the children. Physical custody is what determines where the child will live some or all of the time. The court will evaluate physical custody based on what is in the best interests of the child. The court will consider many aspects when determining custody, including wishes of the parents and child, geographic proximity of the parents and connection of the child to the school, siblings, and community.

Iowa Child Support Guidelines

The standard child support guidelines of Iowa apply in almost every case, barring extraordinary circumstances. The parents’ gross incomes and expenses are considered when calculating child support. Child support continues until the child reaches the age of majority or completes high school. In some cases, it may extend through a college education.

Venue

Filing divorce papers in Iowa is easier than in some states, as the venue for divorce may be the county of residence of either spouse.

Divorce Mediation

When necessary, the court may request that the parties participate in mediation to resolve differences without court intervention. This order may occur at any time before entering the final order or granting a final divorce decree. Utilizing this form of arbitration can allow for a fast and affordable uncontested divorce.

Filing Fees

The Iowa State court filing fees are in addition the costs of using Divorce.com. Filing fees may vary from county to county. To determine the exact costs, we provide an easy way to look up the filing fees for your area. This ensures that you have a clear picture of all expenses specific to your situation before moving forward.