Iowa · Divorce laws · Updated Oct 2026
Iowa divorce laws
Who can file for divorce in Iowa, how long it takes, the official forms and fees, property, support and children, in plain English from official sources, with a free timeline estimator and checklist.
Where and how to file in Iowa
- Who can file (residency)
- If your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served, there is no residency requirement. Otherwise, the person filing must have lived in Iowa for the last year.
- Waiting period
- The court can't enter a final decree until 90 days after your spouse is served (or the acceptance of service is filed, or the last day of publication). The court can shorten this only in an emergency, on a written motion with an affidavit.
- Court
- Iowa District Court in the county where you or your spouse live
- Official forms
- Divorce forms (Iowa courts)
- Court self-help
- Divorce self-help (Iowa courts)
- Filing fee
- $285 filing fee for a petition for dissolution, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch divorce page. Service of the papers costs extra.
- If you can't afford the fee
- If you can't afford the fee, ask the court to defer (postpone or waive) costs with the fee-deferral application found on the Iowa Judicial Branch Court Forms page; ask the clerk if unsure which form applies.
- Simpler process for agreed cases
- No summary process, but there are official forms (Iowa Court Rules ch. 17) for divorces with and without children, and interactive forms through Law Help Interactive. If your spouse doesn't answer, you can ask for a default decree after 90 days.
- E-filing
- Yes. You must electronically file the petition through Iowa eFile (self-represented people included, unless exempt): https://www.iowacourts.gov/efile/
- Law
- Iowa Code 598.5(1)(k), 598.6 · Iowa Code 598.19
Divorce in Iowa, step by step
Check that you can file in Iowa
If your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served, there is no residency requirement.
Get the official forms
Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Iowa courts) No summary process, but there are official forms (Iowa Court Rules ch. 17) for divorces with and without children, and interactive forms through Law Help Interactive.
File the papers and pay the fee, or ask for a waiver
File with the Iowa District Court in the county where you or your spouse live. Filing fee: $285 filing fee for a petition for dissolution, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch divorce page. Can't afford it? If you can't afford the fee, ask the court to defer (postpone or waive) costs with the fee-deferral application found on the Iowa Judicial Branch Court Forms page; ask the clerk if unsure which form applies.
Serve your spouse
The petition and an Original Notice must be served on your spouse (usually by the sheriff or a process server), or your spouse can sign an Acceptance of Service.
Your spouse responds
Generally 20 calendar days from the date of service (Iowa Judicial Branch). The summons states the deadline. If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask for a default judgment.
Wait out the waiting period
The court can't enter a final decree until 90 days after your spouse is served (or the acceptance of service is filed, or the last day of publication).
Agree, or go to mediation or a hearing
The court may order mediation before granting a divorce; the parties pay. If you agree on everything, you can usually submit a signed agreement. If not, the judge decides the issues you can't settle.
Get the final decree
The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it. Name change: Yes. Either spouse can ask, as part of the decree, to change to the name on their birth certificate or the name they had right before the marriage.
Free tools for Iowa
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Divorce timeline estimator for Iowa
See the earliest date the law lets a judge sign your final divorce decree, from your filing date. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Grounds for divorce in Iowa
- No-fault ground
- breakdown of the marriage relationship (the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there's no reasonable likelihood the marriage can be preserved)
- Fault grounds
- Not available: no-fault only
- Law
- Iowa Code 598.17
Property and debts in Iowa
- System
- Equitable distribution
- The rule
- The court divides all property fairly, whether acquired before or during the marriage, except gifts and inheritances. Marital fault isn't a factor. Factors include each spouse's contributions, property brought into the marriage, length of marriage, age and health.
- Law
- Iowa Code 598.21
Alimony (spousal support) in Iowa
Called spousal support. The court may order it for a limited or indefinite time after weighing factors such as length of the marriage, age and health, the property division, education, earning capacity, and how long it would take to become self-supporting. No formula. Iowa Code 598.21A.
Children: custody and support in Iowa
- What Iowa calls custody
- custody (legal custody and physical care) and visitation
- Parenting class
- Yes. Parents in a case involving custody or visitation must take a court-approved course (often called 'Children in the Middle') within 45 days of service, and the final decree waits until certificates are filed unless the court waives it (Iowa Code 598.15).
- Child support calculator
- Official child support calculator or guidelines
- Child support agency
- Iowa Health and Human Services, Child Support Services
Serving your spouse in Iowa
- How your spouse gets the papers
- The petition and an Original Notice must be served on your spouse (usually by the sheriff or a process server), or your spouse can sign an Acceptance of Service.
- Time to respond
- Generally 20 calendar days from the date of service (Iowa Judicial Branch).
- Law
- Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.302-1.305; Iowa Judicial Branch divorce page
Going back to a former name in Iowa
Yes. Either spouse can ask, as part of the decree, to change to the name on their birth certificate or the name they had right before the marriage. Any other name needs a separate name-change case (Iowa Code 598.37).
Mediation in Iowa
The court may order mediation before granting a divorce; the parties pay. It can be waived if there's a history of domestic abuse (Iowa Code 598.7). Each judicial district runs a family law mediation program.
If you are in danger
If you are in danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential and open 24/7, in English and Spanish: call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org.
Protective orders in Iowa: If you are in danger, call 911. You can ask the district court for a Protective Order (Iowa Code ch. 236). Iowa Victim Service Call Center: 1-800-770-1650.
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Free help in Iowa
Good to know in Iowa
- Iowa divides property brought into the marriage too (except gifts and inheritances), not just property acquired during it (Iowa Judicial Branch; Iowa Code 598.21).
- Parents must finish a court-approved children's course within 45 days of service (Iowa Code 598.15).
Divorce checklist for Iowa
Answer a few questions to get a checklist for your state: documents to gather, the official forms, the fee or fee waiver, serving your spouse, children and the final steps. Print it or download it. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Questions about divorce in Iowa
How long do you have to live in Iowa to file for divorce?
If your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served, there is no residency requirement. Otherwise, the person filing must have lived in Iowa for the last year.
How long does a divorce take in Iowa?
The court can't enter a final decree until 90 days after your spouse is served (or the acceptance of service is filed, or the last day of publication). The court can shorten this only in an emergency, on a written motion with an affidavit.
What are the grounds for divorce in Iowa?
Iowa's no-fault ground is breakdown of the marriage relationship (the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there's no reasonable likelihood the marriage can be preserved). Iowa has no fault grounds.
Is Iowa a community property state?
No. Iowa uses equitable distribution. The court divides all property fairly, whether acquired before or during the marriage, except gifts and inheritances. Marital fault isn't a factor. Factors include each spouse's contributions, property brought into the marriage, length of marriage, age and health.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Iowa?
$285 filing fee for a petition for dissolution, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch divorce page. Service of the papers costs extra.
Can I get the divorce filing fee waived in Iowa?
If you can't afford the fee, ask the court to defer (postpone or waive) costs with the fee-deferral application found on the Iowa Judicial Branch Court Forms page; ask the clerk if unsure which form applies.
Is there a simpler divorce process in Iowa?
No summary process, but there are official forms (Iowa Court Rules ch. 17) for divorces with and without children, and interactive forms through Law Help Interactive. If your spouse doesn't answer, you can ask for a default decree after 90 days.
How long does my spouse have to respond in Iowa?
Generally 20 calendar days from the date of service (Iowa Judicial Branch).
Can I change my name back in a divorce in Iowa?
Yes. Either spouse can ask, as part of the decree, to change to the name on their birth certificate or the name they had right before the marriage. Any other name needs a separate name-change case (Iowa Code 598.37).
Is mediation required in a divorce in Iowa?
The court may order mediation before granting a divorce; the parties pay. It can be waived if there's a history of domestic abuse (Iowa Code 598.7). Each judicial district runs a family law mediation program.
Do divorcing parents have to take a class in Iowa?
Yes. Parents in a case involving custody or visitation must take a court-approved course (often called 'Children in the Middle') within 45 days of service, and the final decree waits until certificates are filed unless the court waives it (Iowa Code 598.15).
How does alimony work in Iowa?
Called spousal support. The court may order it for a limited or indefinite time after weighing factors such as length of the marriage, age and health, the property division, education, earning capacity, and how long it would take to become self-supporting. No formula. Iowa Code 598.21A.