Divorce in Iowa

Iowa Code Chapter 598 covers divorce. The formal term for divorce in Iowa is “dissolution of marriage.” In Iowa, you do not need to prove wrongdoing by either spouse to get a divorce. A marriage can be dissolved when there is evidence of a breakdown of the marital relationship with no likelihood it can be repaired. A court can grant a dissolution of marriage even if only one of the spouses wants a divorce. 

Divorce proceedings differ depending on whether there are children involved.

For divorces that do not involve children (either minor children or dependent adult children), the Iowa Interactive Court Forms are a free and easy-to-use way to prepare a petition for divorce, a response to your spouse’s divorce petition, or a settlement agreement. You can also use the Interactive Court Forms to prepare a "request for relief" if your spouse did not file an answer to your divorce petition or if your spouse will not work with you to prepare a settlement agreement. The Iowa Judicial website offers links to these forms, along with more information on divorce. Additional forms are available on the Court Forms page, in the folder “Divorce with No Children.”

If you are considering filing for divorce or your spouse has filed for divorce, the Iowa Judicial website provides a Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Divorce with No Children.

For divorces that involve children, the Iowa Judiciary provides forms on the Court Forms page, in the folder “Divorce with Children.”  

If you are considering filing for divorce or your spouse has filed for divorce, and children are involved, the Iowa Judicial website provides a Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Divorce with Children.

Divorces that involve children can also have issues like child custody and child support. Visit our pages on Custody and Visitation and Child Support for more information. Iowa Legal Aid also has a collection of resources on divorce here.