When Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 513 into law (effective July 1, 2025), she fundamentally changed how divorced parents in Iowa handle college expenses. The new legislation eliminates Iowa courts' authority to...more
Iowa courts have held the authority to order divorced parents to contribute to their children's college education expenses. This unique provision, outlined in the Iowa Code as the "postsecondary education subsidy," has been a...more
Highly contested child custody cases are hard on everyone. The children's routines change. The parents lose the ability to see their children 24/7. None of it is pleasant. But can parents make it worse? Absolutely!...more
Many clients dream of a low-conflict divorce. And for good reason—a peaceful separation benefits everyone involved: the spouses, the children, and even their finances. But what happens when one spouse uses the divorce process...more
You're going through a divorce. Your spouse says something that cuts deep—maybe they call you an unfit parent or threaten that you'll walk away with nothing. These brief yet hurtful comments can trigger impulsive actions. But...more
The decision to divorce is never easy. From the initial contemplation to untangling shared finances, the process demands careful thought at every turn. Once you've made the decision to file, you face your first legal hurdle:...more
Iowa law clearly states that “parents with joint legal custody” means both parents jointly have legal custodial rights and responsibilities toward their child and neither parent has legal custodial rights superior to those of...more
In Iowa, child and spousal support (alimony) amounts are mainly determined by each party’s income. But income is not the whole story. Parties may deduct certain qualified expenses, resulting in a lower income amount used in...more
Under Iowa law, alimony, also known as spousal support, refers to the financial help provided by one spouse to the other following a divorce or separation. It addresses the economic disparity that can arise when one spouse...more