IOWA DIVORCE
Petitioner must have been a bona fide resident of this state for one year prior to the filing of the complaint, which must be stated in the complaint.
If you have minor children living with your spouse in another state for over six months then you should consider filing in that state as that court has jurisdiction over the children. You spouse can waive that jurisdiction in writing.
If you have minor children living with your spouse in another state for over six months then you should consider filing in that state as that court has jurisdiction over the children. You spouse can waive that jurisdiction in writing.
County of Filing:
You should file the divorce in the county your spouse lives in, or in the county that you both lived in when you separated, or in your county if your spouse lives out of state. You or your spouse must have a Iowa address in the county of filing. Iowa civilian residents living overseas may file in Iowa if they have maintained their residency in Iowa.
MILITARY:
Active duty members of the military (or their spouses) may file in Iowa if they have been stationed in Iowa for six months or were residents of Iowa when they entered active duty. Smart Divorce.com staff includes former active duty officers and enlisted personnel and are completely knowledgeable on the special military requirements and the “Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act”. Our staff prides themselves on the service they provide our military members.
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: NO-FAULT or FAULT ?
The only ground for divorce is: A breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved.
WAITING PERIOD:
PROPERTY OF THE MARRIAGE:
In a divorce, the property (land, house, buildings, and items of personal property) owned (and debts owed) by the couple is divided between the parties. In an uncontested divorce, this division is accomplished by means of a Marital Separation Agreement (MSA). You and your spouse must agree to the property and debt division and memorialize your agreement in the Marital Separation Agreement, which will be incorporated by reference into the Decree of Divorce that ultimately ends your marriage. You may agree to divide the property any way you like, as long as a basic fairness is maintained. You do not need to list items already divided or not an important issue in the divorce. You may revise the MSA after receipt of the documents from us by sending an email with your changes. There is never a charge for revisions at any time up to one year.
If you cannot agree on any item of this division, the dissolution of marriage transforms into a contested divorce. If at the final hearing the divorce is still contested we do not provide advice for that hearing. You may need to consult an attorney or be prepared to tell the judge why you feel your requested division of property is fair.
SPOUSAL SUPPORT:
Spousal Support is either agreed upon by the parties or determined by the judge in a contested hearing. We cannot give legal advice regarding spousal support but will include your request in the documents.
The questionnaire you fill out will outline the custody, visitation and support for the children. We will prepare the documents accordingly, and we will also prepare a Marital Separation Agreement (at no additional cost) which outlines in specific detail all the provisions regarding the children. Both parties must attend the parenting class or get a waiver. A list of the places in Iowa to attend may be obtained from the court.
CHILD SUPPORT:
The child support will either be an amount you and your spouse agree upon, or it will be determined for you by the court, according to the Iowa Child Support Guidelines. If you wish the court to calculate the amount then you will need to file the standardized Child Support Guidelines form and Child Support Income Statement/Affidavit which we provide. See “Iowa Child Support Calculator” on any search engine such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.
CUSTODY:
You may have Joint Legal Custody or Sole Legal Custody. This determines how the decisions are made regarding the raising of the child(ren).
Physical custody may be with one residential parent or “SPLIT CUSTODY” where the child(ren) live a substantial time with each parent.
VISITATION:
This can be any program agreed upon by the parties and may change from time to time. If the parties cannot agree then the state guidelines are in effect. State guidelines are outlined in the MSA provided with your documents. You do not need to list your present visitation agreement as it will change from time to time but you may if you wish. “No Visitation” or “Restricted Visitation” may be requested by supplying the reason on the questionnaire.
COURT ADDRESSES:
You must file the divorce documents in the Circuit Court in the county that you are filing in. Some court addresses for larger counties are as follows:
County (District) Mailing Address Phone #
Adair (5B) ………….
400 Public Square, PO Box L, Greenfield 50849.....641-743-2445
Adams (5B)………..
500 9th St., Corning 50841...... 641-322-4711
Allamakee (1A)…
110 Allamakee Street, PO Box 248, Waukon 52172....563-568-6351
Appanoose (8A)........
PO Box 400, Centerville 52544............. 641-856-6101
Audubon (4)..............
318 Leroy Street #6, Audubon 50025... 712-563-4275
Benton (6).................
111 E 4th Street, PO Box 719, Vinton 52349........... 319-472-4205
Black Hawk (1B).......
P.O. Box 9500, Waterloo 50704-9500.. 319-833-3331
Boone (2B)...............
201 State Street, Boone 50036............. 515-433-0561
Bremer (2A)..........
415 E Bremer Avenue, PO Box 328, Waverly 50677..319-352-5661
Buchanan (1B)...
210 - 5th Ave NE, PO Box 259, Independence 50644.319-334-2196
Buena Vista (3A)..
215 E Fifth Street, PO Box 1186, Storm Lake 50588...712-749-2546
Butler (2A)................
428 Sixth Street, Box 307, Allison 50602...................319-267-2487
Calhoun (2B)............
416 Fourth St, Rockwell City 50579...... 712-297-8122
Carroll (2B)..........
Sixth and Main Streets, PO Box 867, Carroll 51401.. 712-792-4327
Cass (4)....................
Five West Seventh Street, Atlantic 50022................ 712-243-2105
Cedar (7)..................
400 Cedar St., PO Box 111, Tipton 52772...............563-886-2101
Cerro Gordo (2A).....
220 North Washington, Mason City 50401..............641-424-6431
Cherokee (3A)..........
520 West Main Street, Cherokee 51012...................712-225-6744
Chickasaw (1B).....
8 East Prospect, PO Box 467, New Hampton 50659..641-394-2106
Clarke (5B)...............
100 S. Main, Osceola 50213................. 641-342-6096
Clay (3A)...................
215 West Fourth Street, Spencer 51301-3890......... 712-262-4335
Clayton (1A)..............
111 High Street NE, PO Box 418, Elkader 52043.....563-245-2204
Clinton (7)................
612 N Second Street, PO Box 2957, Clinton 52732..563-243-6210
Crawford (3B)...........
1202 Broadway, Suite 1P, Denison, 51442.............712-263-2242
Dallas (5A)................
801 Court Street, Adel 50003............... 515-993-5816
Davis (8A)................
100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield 52537..............641-664-2011
Decatur (5B).............
207 North Main Street, Leon 50144...... 641-446-4331
Delaware (1A).......
301 E Main Street, PO Box 527, Manchester 52057...563-927-4942
Des Moines (8B).......
513 North Main St, PO Box 158, Burlington 52601...319-753-8272
Dickinson (3A).......
Hill and 18th Street, Drawer ON, Spirit Lake 51360..712-336-1138
Dubuque (1A)...........
P.O. Box 1220, Dubuque 52004-1220.. 563-589-4418
Emmet (3A)..............
609 First Avenue North, Estherville 51031-2194.....712-362-3325
Fayette (1B)..........
114 North Vine St, PO Box 458, West Union 52175...563-422-5694
Floyd (2A).................
101 South Main Street, Charles City 50616................641-228-7777
Franklin (2A).............
12 First Avenue NW,PO Box 28, Hampton 50441....641-456-5626
Fremont (4)...............
Square, PO Box 549, Sidney 51652...... 712-374-2232
Greene (2B)..............
14 North Chestnut, Jefferson 50129-2144..............515-386-2516
Grundy (1B)..............
706 G Ave, Grundy Center 50638........... 319-824-5229
Guthrie (5A)..............
200 North Fifth Street, Guthrie Center 50115...........641-747-3415
Hamilton (2B)............
PO Box 845, Webster City 50595-0845...................515-832-9600
Hancock (2A)............
855 State Street, PO Box 70, Garner 50438............641-923-2532
Hardin (2B)..............
.Pioneer Plaza, PO Box 495, Eldora 50627..............641-858-2328
Harrison (4)...............
111 N. 2nd Avenue, Logan 51546........ 712 644-2665
Henry (8B)........
100 E Washington, PO Box 176, Mt Pleasant 52641....319-385-2632
Howard (1B).............
137 North Elm Street, Cresco 52136.... 563-547-2661
Humboldt (2B)..........
PO Box 100, Dakota City 50529........... 515-332-1806
Ida (3B).....................
401 Moorehead Street, Ida Grove 51445..................712-364-2628
Iowa (6).....................
901 Court Avenue, PO Box 266, Marengo 52301..319-642-3914
Jackson (7)...............
201 West Platt Street, Maquoketa 52060.................563-652-4946
Jasper (5A).............
101 First Street North, Room 104, Newton 50208...641-792-3255
Jefferson (8A)...........
51 West Briggs, PO Box 984, Fairfield 52556.......641-472-3454
Johnson (6).............
417 S Clinton St, PO Box 2510, Iowa City 52240....319-356-6060
Jones (6)...................
Main Street, PO Box 19, Anamosa 52205................319-462-4341
Keokuk (8A)..............
101 South Main Street, Sigourney 52591.................641-622-2210
Kossuth (3A).............
114 West State Street, Algona 50511... 515-295-3240
Lee (8B)....................
PO Box 725, Keokuk 52632.................. 319-524-2433
Lee (8B)...................
.PO Box 1443, Fort Madison 52627....... 319-372-3523
Linn (6).........
Third Ave Bridge, PO Box 1468, Cedar Rapids 52406 319-398-3411
Louisa (8B)...............
P.O. Box 268, Wapello 52653............... 319-523-4541
Lucas (5B)................
916 Braden Avenue, Chariton 50049.... 641-774-4421
Lyon (3A).................
206 South Second St, Rock Rapids 51246............712-472-2623
Madison (5A)............
PO Box 152, Winterset 50273.............. 515-462-4451
Mahaska (8A)...........
106 South 1st Street, Oskaloosa 52577.............641-673-7786
Marion (5A)...............
PO Box 497, Knoxville 50138............... 641-828-2207
Marshall (2B)............
17 East Main Street, Marshalltown 50158............641-754-1603
Mills (4).....................
418 Sharp Street, Glenwood 51534...... 712-527-4880
Mitchell (2A).............
508 State Street, Osage 50461-1250... 641-732-3726
Monona (3B)............
610 Iowa Avenue, Onawa 51040......... 712-423-2491
Monroe (8A).............
10 Benton Avenue East, Albia 52531... 641-932-5212
Montgomery (4)..
105 Coolbaugh Street, PO Box 469, Red Oak 51566..712-623-4986
Muscatine (7).....
401 East 3rd Street, PO Box 8010, Muscatine 52761..563-263-6511
O'Brien (3A).............
155 South Hayes Avenue, Primghar 51245..........712-957-3255
Osceola (3A)...
300 Seventh Street, PO Box 156, Sibley 51249-0156.. 712-754-3595
Page (4)....................
112 East Main St, PO Box 263, Clarinda 51632....712-542-3214
Palo Alto (3A)..........
1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg 50536.... 712-852-3603
Plymouth (3B) .........
215 Fourth Avenue SE, LeMars 51031-2194..........712-546-4215
Pocahontas (2B)......
99 Court Square, Pocahontas 50574.... 712-335-4208
Polk (5C)......
500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines 50309.... 515-286-3772
Pottawatttamie (4)..
227 S. 6th Street, PO Box 476, Council Bluffs 51502.712-328-5604
Poweshiek (8A)........
P.O. Box 218, Montezuma 50171................... 641-623-5644
Ringgold (5B)...........
PO Box 523, Mount Ayr 50854............. 641-464-3234
Sac (2B)...................
PO Box 368, Sac City 50583................ 712-662-7791
Scott (7)...................
400 West Fourth Street, Davenport 52801...........563-326-8648
Shelby (4)................
612 Court Street, PO Box 431, Harlan 51537........712-755-5543
Sioux (3B)...............
PO Box 47, Orange City 51041-0047... 712-737-2286
Story (2B).................
1315 South B Ave, PO Box 408, Nevada 50201....515-382-7410
Tama (6)...............
100 West High Street, PO Box 306, Toledo 52342...641-484-3721
Taylor (5B)............
403 Jefferson St, PO Box 306, Bedford 50833.......712-523-2095
Union (5B)................
300 North Pine, Creston 50801............. ................641-782-7315
Van Buren (8A).........
Fourth & Dodge, Keosauqua 52565......................319-293-3108
Wapello (8A).............
101 West Fourth Street, Ottumwa 52501..............641-683-0060
Warren (5A)..............
PO Box 379, Indianola 50125.................................515-961-1033
Washington (8A).......
PO Box 391, Washington 52353.........................319-653-7741
Wayne (5B)...............
Town Sq, PO Box 435, Corydon 50060..............641-872-2264
Webster (2B)............
701 Central Avenue, Fort Dodge 50501.............515-576-7115
Winnebago (2A)........
126 South Clark St., Ste. 6, Forest City 50436.. 641-585-4520
Winneshiek (1A).......
201 West Main Street, Decorah 52101...............563-382-2469
Woodbury (3)............
620 Douglas, Room 101, Sioux City 51101........712-279-6611
Worth (2A)................
1000 Central Ave, Northwood 50459.....................641-324-2840
Wright (2B)......
115 North Main Street, PO Box 306, Clarion 50525...515-532-3113
FILING FEES:
The court filing fees for a divorce in Iowa is approximately $155.
If your spouse won't sign and must be served, then the sheriff may charge a fee of around $20 to serve your spouse.
If you don't know the whereabouts of your spouse, then your spouse will need to be served by publication. The average publication fee is approximately $75.
You may call the Clerk of the Court in your county to determine the exact fees in your county.
METHODS OF SERVICE:
1. The most common way is to have your spouse sign the documents AFTER you have filed the complaint with the court. You can hand deliver the documents , mail them or have a third party deliver them to your spouse. This method is available even though your spouse is incarcerated.
2. If your spouse will not sign or you not not sure if your spouse will sign then you can get service by having the sheriff in spouse’s county serve a copy of the filed documents along with other documents requiring spouse’s signature. You can contact the sheriff in any state to serve your spouse. You can also get service by Certified Mail, (Return Receipt Requested) if your spouse lives out of state. If your spouse is incarcerated then you can get service by having the prison/jail officials serve your spouse.
3. Service by publication. If you cannot find your spouse after a diligent search then you can publish. The publication fee for the newspaper is approximately $65 but varies for different counties. Upon the filing of the Affidavit the clerk shall direct that service of notice be made by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the complaint is filed. We provide all the required documents for service by publication.
Go to our questionnaire and get started today.
