Iowa

Custody/Visitation

Legal Information

• Can an Iowa Court Hear Your Family Law Case?

  Iowa courts can’t automatically hear every divorce or custody case that is filed. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Can I terminate the other parent’s parental rights?

  Some feel like it would be best if the parental rights of the parent making bad choices are terminated Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Changes to Child Abuse Law

  When the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) receives a report of child abuse, there are now two alternative paths DHS can take in response. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Changes to Custody Law Affecting Deployed Service Members

  service member parents who are deployed may ask that a nonparent take over their parenting responsibility during their deployment. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Change to Custody Law Regarding Sex Offenders

  A new law tells judges in custody cases to consider if a parent let a child be around a sex offender. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Do You Really Need a Guardianship for Your Child?

  Parents often convinced by school officials or medical personnel that a guardianship of their child is needed. However, this is not always best and there are other options. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Internet Privacy and the Court

  You should know this before posting things on social media. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Iowa Custody Law

  What you need to know about custody in Iowa. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• New Law Makes It More Difficult to End a Guardianship over a Minor

  A recent change in the law creates a new hurdle to end a guardianship for a minor child. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• New Option Available for Custody Order for Parents with Open CINA Cases

  Parents involved in open Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases have a new way to get a court to order permanent custody, physical care, and visitation. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Passports and Child Custody

  Information and Links to the form needed to apply for a passport for a child. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Paternity Affidavit

  Information from DHS on paternity. The paternity affidavit is a free form parents complete and file with the Bureau of Health Statistics to legally establish paternity. Content Detail

  By:

  Iowa Department of Human Services

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Fathers' Rights in Unmarried Situations

  If parents are not married at the time of a child's birth, a father's participation in making many important decisions may be limited until paternity is established. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• Guardianships for Children

  Parents should consider all their options before agreeing to let someone else have a guardianship over their child. A guardianship may be hard to end and can last much longer than planned. A guardian has no legal obligation to allow the parents to visit unless it is ordered by a judge Also a child support action could be brought against the parents. Read More

  By:

  Iowa Legal Aid

• How Social Networking Can Be Used Against People in Family Law Cases

  What people put on social networking websites can end up being used in unexpected ways. Being aware of the potential risks can help you avoid adding content that could cause problems down the road. Read More