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Iowa Family Laws

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Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors

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Welcome to FindLaw’s Iowa Family Law section, with summaries of various family-related laws affecting everything from marriage and divorce to child custody, paternity, and adoption. Abortion laws are also included in this section, although family law attorneys seldom get involved in abortion cases. Iowa statutes also regulate the types of marriage that are prohibited within state boundaries (for instance, blood relatives may not marry), the legal requirements for divorce, and how marital property is divided in a divorce. Some criminal matters also involve family law, such as when a victim of domestic abuse seeks a protective order and perhaps a modification of child custody.

Learn About Iowa Family Laws

  • Iowa Adoption Laws

    Primer on how to adopt a child in Iowa, with information about the qualifications for prospective parents; the right of a child to consent; and related matters.

  • Iowa Divorce Requirements

    The requirements for married couples who wish to go their separate ways, such as the accepted grounds for divorce, residency requirements, and waiting periods.

  • Iowa Legal Age Laws

    Age limits, restrictions, and rights pertaining to minors (under the age of 18), such as the age at which a child may become emancipated from one’s parents.

  • Iowa Child Custody Laws

    Overview of child custody and child visitation laws in Iowa, including details on how to get custody of a child, the factors considered by the court before awarding custody, and more.

  • Iowa Marital Property Laws

    What the state of Iowa considers to be marital property in the event of a divorce, how this differs from separate property, and how shared property it is divided.

  • Iowa Protective Order Laws

    How to get a protective order (or restraining order) in an Iowa family court in order to protect yourself and your family from a stalker or abusive individual.

Iowa Family Law Articles

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