Iowa divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Dissolution of marriage in Iowa
Iowa is one of the stricter states on residency: the general rule is a full year in the state before you can file for dissolution of marriage. The exception is practical — if your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served with the papers here, you can file without meeting the year-long rule. This matters for military families and couples where only one spouse moved to Iowa.
The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage goes to the District Court in the county where you live, and a mandatory 90-day waiting period runs after service before the decree can be finalized. The no-fault ground is the breakdown of the marriage relationship, described in Iowa’s statute as a state where the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed.
Property is divided equitably, and child support follows the Iowa Child Support Guidelines under Iowa Code § 598.21B. The official forms are in Chapter 17 of the Iowa Court Rules, and the filing fee is $265.