Iowa · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Iowa

For spouses in Iowa who agree on everything: how agreed cases are handled, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the filing fee, the fee waiver, e-filing, how your spouse can sign instead of being served and mediation.

In short

How agreed cases are handled 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.

Who can file (residency)
1 year (with exceptions)
Waiting period
90 days after service
Filing fee
$285
E-filing
Yes

How agreed divorces are handled 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.

Before you 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.
Law
Iowa Code 598.5(1)(k), 598.6 · Iowa Code 598.19

Forms, fees and filing in Iowa

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.
E-filing
Yes. You must electronically file the petition through Iowa eFile (self-represented people included, unless exempt): https://www.iowacourts.gov/efile/

If your spouse agrees to sign

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.

If you agree on only some issues

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.

An uncontested divorce in Iowa, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Iowa

    If your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served, there is no residency requirement.

  2. Check how agreed cases are finished

    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.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Iowa courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    $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. Yes. You must electronically file the petition through Iowa eFile (self-represented people included, unless exempt): https://www.iowacourts.gov/efile/.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    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.

  6. 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).

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Iowa

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases 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 an uncontested 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.

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Iowa?

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.

Does my spouse have to be served if we agree in Iowa?

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.

Can we file for divorce online in Iowa?

Yes. You must electronically file the petition through Iowa eFile (self-represented people included, unless exempt): https://www.iowacourts.gov/efile/

How much does it cost to file an uncontested 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.

Is mediation required 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.

More about divorce in Iowa

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.