Divorce in Iowa, start to finish
See a different stateIowa
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Iowa gives you the forms for free. What it doesn’t give you is the order, the 90-day math, the trap that catches people who think the clock starts on the day they file, or anyone to tell you which forms are actually yours. That’s this.
Put in the day you filed and this page works out every deadline in your case, then hands you a calendar file that reminds you a week before each one and again the day before. It opens in the calendar you already use. Free, no account, nothing stored.
Which forms do you actually need?
Your route and its conditions, the forms grouped by route, how filing actually works in Iowa, and the sequence with its costs.
First, which route you are on. Each one opens to the conditions the rule actually sets.
The settlement track
Iowa R. Civ. P. 17.100 / 17.200 self-represented forms; Iowa Code ch. 598
Available only where all of these are true:
- The residency requirement in Iowa Code § 598.5(1)(k) is satisfied, or the respondent lives in Iowa and is personally served there.
- The spouses have already agreed on how to divide property and debts.
- Where there are children, the spouses have also agreed on custody, visitation and support.
- The 90-day waiting period has passed before the Decree is submitted.
The contested track
Iowa R. Civ. P. 17.100 / 17.200 self-represented forms
This is the track wherever any of these is true:
- Property and debts are not yet divided by agreement.
- Where there are children, custody, visitation or support is not yet agreed.
Grouped exactly as Iowa labels them. This state does not publish direct PDF links for these, so they are listed by number for the state’s own catalog.
With children — both tracks 4 forms
- 201 — Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — with children
- 211 — Protected Information Disclosure
- 224 — Financial Affidavit — one from each spouse
- 209 — Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs — only where the filing fee is unaffordable
With children — contested track 5 forms
- 227 — Request for Relief
- 230 — Proposed Parenting Plan — the custody and visitation schedule being asked for
- 222 — Motion — used to ask the court to set a hearing or trial date
- 226 — Notice of Intent to File Written Application for Default Decree — only if the other spouse never answers
- 225 — Affidavit of Mailing Notice — if that notice is mailed
With children — settlement track 2 forms
- 228 — Settlement Agreement
- 229 — Agreed Parenting Plan — signed by both spouses
With children — where the spouse accepts service 1 form
- 205 — Acceptance of Service — the other spouse signs this instead of being formally served
With children — where the spouse is formally served 3 forms
- 204 — Original Notice for Personal Service
- 206 — Directions for Service of Original Notice — goes to whoever serves the other spouse
- 210 — Affidavit of Service of Original Notice and Petition — filed once service is complete
Without children — both tracks 4 forms
- 101 — Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — with no minor or dependent adult children
- 111 — Protected Information Disclosure
- 124 — Financial Affidavit — one from each spouse
- 109 — Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs — only where the filing fee is unaffordable
Without children — contested track 4 forms
- 127 — Request for Relief — states what the court is being asked to order
- 122 — Motion — used to ask the court to set a hearing or trial date
- 126 — Notice of Intent to File Written Application for Default Decree — only if the other spouse never answers
- 125 — Affidavit of Mailing Notice — if that notice is mailed
Without children — settlement track 1 form
- 128 — Settlement Agreement
Without children — where the spouse accepts service 1 form
- 105 — Acceptance of Service — the other spouse signs this instead of being formally served
Without children — where the spouse is formally served 3 forms
- 104 — Original Notice for Personal Service
- 106 — Directions for Service of Original Notice — goes to whoever serves the other spouse
- 110 — Affidavit of Service of Original Notice and Petition — filed once service is complete
You are expected to e-file
The checklist is not something you file. It is your worktable — what to do, in what order, and what it costs. The forms are what reaches the court, and this is how they get there in Iowa.
- Portal
- EDMS (Electronic Document Management System) / Iowa eFile
- Paper
- Only if the clerk grants it. A self-represented divorce filer must petition in writing for a good-cause exception under Rule 16.302(2)(c); unlike Alaska and Illinois, it is not self-certifying.
- What it costs
- 'There are no additional fees for electronic filing in the Iowa court system' (Iowa Judicial Branch EDMS FAQ). Statutory filing fees still apply.
- Account
- Yes — registration is required of self-represented persons, not optional. Accounts are requested online through the EDMS login page.
- Worth knowing
- Iowa is one of the strictest states for pro se filers: the rule text puts 'all self-represented persons' in the same sentence as attorneys. The listed automatic exemptions (criminal defendants, confined persons, juvenile-case parents) do NOT cover a self-represented divorce petitioner. A pro se Iowa divorce filer who cannot e-file must affirmatively petition the clerk in writing for a good-cause exception under Rule 16.302(2)(c) — it is not self-certifying the way Alaska's or Illinois's is. That is the difference between an afternoon and a month, so do not assume Iowa works the way another state does.
Each step with the forms it names and the money it costs. The full detail of every step is in the section below. Print this part.
| # | Step | Forms it names | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm residency | None named | — |
| 2 | Assemble and sign your Petition packet | 101211111201 | — |
| 3 | File the Petition and pay the fee | 105209109 | $285 |
| 4 | Get your spouse served within 90 days of filing | 105205 | $30 |
| 5 | Spouse’s Answer is due 20 days after service | None named | — |
| 6 | Both spouses complete a Financial Affidavit | 124224 | — |
| 7 | Attend whatever your judicial district requires | None named | — |
| 8 | Wait out the 90-day waiting period from service, not filing | 122222 | — |
| 9 | File your Settlement Agreement — or your Request for Relief | 229227128230127228 | — |
| 10 | After the Decree | None named | — |
Every figure here is this page’s own, from the costs section below. A fee waiver application is free to file and is listed with the forms above.
| Filing fee — Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, flat statewide rate | $285 |
| Sheriff service of process, per person (Iowa Code § 331.655) | $30 + mileage |
| Newspaper publication, if you can’t locate your spouse | varies — ask the clerk |
| Parenting/mediation program, if your judicial district requires one | varies — ask the clerk |
| Certified copy of your Decree | $50 |
| Typical all-in, doing it yourselves, uncontested | $285–$365 |
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The two tracks, and what the rule requires — Iowa calls this a dissolution of marriage, not a divorce, on every form you will touch.
- Every form Iowa publishes for a dissolution of marriage — The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case.
- Getting the forms and filling them in — Every Iowa form is free, self-represented filing is normal and expected here, and — unlike some states — Iowa's own forms don't require a notary.
- Your deadlines, calculated — Almost everything in an Iowa dissolution counts from one of two dates — when you filed, and when your spouse was served (or signed the Acceptance of Service, or was reached by publication).
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-proofing checklist — Iowa runs two completely separate 90-day rules and people conflate them constantly.
- The Financial Affidavit — what Form 124/224 asks for — Each spouse completes their own — not one joint form.
- What this costs — File Form 109 (or 209 with children), Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs, alongside your Petition.
In this subject 8
1 · The two tracks, and what the rule requires
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The two tracks, and what the rule requires — Iowa calls this a dissolution of marriage, not a divorce, on every form you will touch.
- Every form Iowa publishes for a dissolution of marriage — The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case.
- Getting the forms and filling them in — Every Iowa form is free, self-represented filing is normal and expected here, and — unlike some states — Iowa's own forms don't require a notary.
- Your deadlines, calculated — Almost everything in an Iowa dissolution counts from one of two dates — when you filed, and when your spouse was served (or signed the Acceptance of Service, or was reached by publication).
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-proofing checklist — Iowa runs two completely separate 90-day rules and people conflate them constantly.
- The Financial Affidavit — what Form 124/224 asks for — Each spouse completes their own — not one joint form.
- What this costs — File Form 109 (or 209 with children), Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs, alongside your Petition.
In this subject 8
Iowa calls this a dissolution of marriage, not a divorce, on every form you will touch. There are two numbered form sets — the 100-series without children and the 200-series with children — and inside each one, whether the spouses have reached an agreement changes almost everything downstream.
Residency first. Iowa Code § 598.5(1)(k) requires the petitioner to have lived in Iowa for the last year before filing — unless the respondent spouse currently lives in Iowa and is personally served there, in which case the one-year requirement does not apply at all.
The settlement track
Iowa R. Civ. P. 17.100 / 17.200 self-represented forms; Iowa Code ch. 598
A Settlement Agreement is filed — plus an Agreed Parenting Plan, signed by both spouses, where there are children — instead of a Request for Relief. This is Iowa’s most efficient route: if the judge has no questions once the 90-day waiting period has passed, the Decree can be signed without a hearing at all.
Available only where all of these are true:
- The residency requirement in Iowa Code § 598.5(1)(k) is satisfied, or the respondent lives in Iowa and is personally served there.
- The spouses have already agreed on how to divide property and debts.
- Where there are children, the spouses have also agreed on custody, visitation and support.
- The 90-day waiting period has passed before the Decree is submitted.
Spousal support has to be addressed explicitly in the Settlement Agreement. It cannot be asked for after the Decree is filed.
The contested track
Iowa R. Civ. P. 17.100 / 17.200 self-represented forms
A Request for Relief is filed instead of a Settlement Agreement — plus a Proposed Parenting Plan where there are children — and the court sets a trial date. Iowa divorce trials are decided by a judge, not a jury. A case on this track can still resolve without ever reaching trial if the spouses settle before the date arrives.
This is the track wherever any of these is true:
- Property and debts are not yet divided by agreement.
- Where there are children, custody, visitation or support is not yet agreed.
Where the respondent is formally served rather than signing an Acceptance of Service, the clock on their 20-day Answer starts only once service is actually completed, and a sheriff or process server has to be paid for.
Both tracks run on the same two form sets. The 100-series applies where there are no minor children of the marriage and no dependent adult child from the marriage who still needs support because of a physical or mental condition; the 200-series applies where there are.
2 · Every form Iowa publishes for a dissolution of marriage
The complete list, not a shortlist — because which forms are needed depends on facts only you and, if you need one, your lawyer can weigh. Each row says which form set and which track it belongs to, with the rule numbers clerks look for and the revision date. Every one is free.
The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case. Everything here is general information about how Iowa handles divorce, and every form below is published free by Iowa itself — you do not have to buy anything from anyone to get them. If your situation is not straightforward, a consultation with an Iowa family lawyer costs far less than fixing a filing that went wrong.
| Form | What it is | Route | Rev. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — with no minor or dependent adult children | Without children — both tracks | 01/23 | Download |
| 105 | Acceptance of Service — the other spouse signs this instead of being formally served | Without children — where the spouse accepts service | 01/23 | Download |
| 104 | Original Notice for Personal Service | Without children — where the spouse is formally served | 01/23 | Download |
| 106 | Directions for Service of Original Notice — goes to whoever serves the other spouse | Without children — where the spouse is formally served | 01/23 | Download |
| 110 | Affidavit of Service of Original Notice and Petition — filed once service is complete | Without children — where the spouse is formally served | 01/23 | Download |
| 111 | Protected Information Disclosure | Without children — both tracks | 01/23 | Download |
| 124 | Financial Affidavit — one from each spouse | Without children — both tracks | 01/23 | Download |
| 128 | Settlement Agreement | Without children — settlement track | 01/23 | Download |
| 127 | Request for Relief — states what the court is being asked to order | Without children — contested track | 01/23 | Download |
| 122 | Motion — used to ask the court to set a hearing or trial date | Without children — contested track | 01/23 | Download |
| 126 | Notice of Intent to File Written Application for Default Decree — only if the other spouse never answers | Without children — contested track | 01/23 | Download |
| 125 | Affidavit of Mailing Notice — if that notice is mailed | Without children — contested track | 01/23 | Download |
| 109 | Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs — only where the filing fee is unaffordable | Without children — both tracks | 01/23 | Download |
| 201 | Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — with children | With children — both tracks | 06/24 | Download |
| 205 | Acceptance of Service — the other spouse signs this instead of being formally served | With children — where the spouse accepts service | 06/24 | Download |
| 204 | Original Notice for Personal Service | With children — where the spouse is formally served | 06/24 | Download |
| 206 | Directions for Service of Original Notice — goes to whoever serves the other spouse | With children — where the spouse is formally served | 06/24 | Download |
| 210 | Affidavit of Service of Original Notice and Petition — filed once service is complete | With children — where the spouse is formally served | 06/24 | Download |
| 211 | Protected Information Disclosure | With children — both tracks | 06/24 | Download |
| 224 | Financial Affidavit — one from each spouse | With children — both tracks | 06/24 | Download |
| 228 | Settlement Agreement | With children — settlement track | 06/24 | Download |
| 229 | Agreed Parenting Plan — signed by both spouses | With children — settlement track | 06/24 | Download |
| 227 | Request for Relief | With children — contested track | 06/24 | Download |
| 230 | Proposed Parenting Plan — the custody and visitation schedule being asked for | With children — contested track | 06/24 | Download |
| 222 | Motion — used to ask the court to set a hearing or trial date | With children — contested track | 06/24 | Download |
| 226 | Notice of Intent to File Written Application for Default Decree — only if the other spouse never answers | With children — contested track | 06/24 | Download |
| 225 | Affidavit of Mailing Notice — if that notice is mailed | With children — contested track | 06/24 | Download |
| 209 | Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs — only where the filing fee is unaffordable | With children — both tracks | 06/24 | Download |
Every one of these is free. Download fresh each time — the rule numbers stay the same but the revision date can change. Full libraries: no children · with children.
3 · Getting the forms and filling them in
Nobody explains this part, so here it is. Every Iowa form is free, self-represented filing is normal and expected here, and — unlike some states — Iowa’s own forms don’t require a notary.
You are expected to e-file Required of you
- Portal
- EDMS (Electronic Document Management System) / Iowa eFile
- Paper
- Only if the clerk grants it. A self-represented divorce filer must petition in writing for a good-cause exception under Rule 16.302(2)(c); unlike Alaska and Illinois, it is not self-certifying.
- What it costs
- 'There are no additional fees for electronic filing in the Iowa court system' (Iowa Judicial Branch EDMS FAQ). Statutory filing fees still apply.
- Account
- Yes — registration is required of self-represented persons, not optional. Accounts are requested online through the EDMS login page.
- Worth knowing
- Iowa is one of the strictest states for pro se filers: the rule text puts 'all self-represented persons' in the same sentence as attorneys. The listed automatic exemptions (criminal defendants, confined persons, juvenile-case parents) do NOT cover a self-represented divorce petitioner. A pro se Iowa divorce filer who cannot e-file must affirmatively petition the clerk in writing for a good-cause exception under Rule 16.302(2)(c) — it is not self-certifying the way Alaska's or Illinois's is. That is the difference between an afternoon and a month, so do not assume Iowa works the way another state does.
Step one — download them free
Iowa’s statewide self-represented forms live under Iowa Court Rules Chapter 17, organized into two document libraries:
Divorce with no Children — document library
Divorce with Children — document library
Don’t reuse a saved copy — the no-children set (Rule 17.100) was last revised January 2023 and the with-children set (Rule 17.200) was last revised June 2024. Each revision date is printed in the footer of every page. Read the free Guide to Representing Yourself — no children or Guide to Representing Yourself — with children before you start; both are published by the Iowa Judicial Branch.
Step two — fill them in, and sign under penalty of perjury (no notary)
Iowa’s family forms are fillable PDFs. Type everything rather than handwriting it. Where Florida or Connecticut would send you to a notary, Iowa doesn’t: every self-represented divorce form ends with a line reading “I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the State of Iowa” — you sign it yourself, either with a digitized signature through the eFile system or by printing and hand-signing. No notary block, no witness.
Iowa has a free guided-interview tool that builds these forms for you question by question, including the divorce petition, financial affidavit, and settlement agreement. It’s genuinely good — but it’s restricted to low-income, unrepresented filers, nonprofit staff, and attorneys doing pro bono work, not open to everyone. Check iowacourts.gov’s Iowa Interactive Court Forms page to see if you qualify before assuming it covers you.
Step three — file them, mostly electronically
Iowa’s court system runs on one statewide electronic system, EDMS, and self-represented divorce filers are generally required to use it — the automatic paper exceptions are for self-represented criminal defendants, confined people, and self-represented parents in juvenile cases. If none of those apply to you, you register for an eFile account and file online; if you have a genuine hardship, you can file a written request asking the clerk to excuse you for good cause. There’s no extra fee for filing electronically.
iowacourts.gov/efile — registration, the eFile system, and the user guide all live here. Take your Petition, Original Notice, and Protected Information Disclosure to the clerk of court in your county if you’re filing on paper instead.
Filing the Petition doesn’t finish anything by itself. You have 90 days after filing to get your spouse actually served — by sheriff, process server, a signed Acceptance of Service, or publication if you can’t locate them. Miss it, and the court can dismiss your case outright, which means refiling and paying the $285 fee again.
Step four — serving your spouse
If your spouse will cooperate, the simplest route is having them sign Form 105 (or 205 with children), Acceptance of Service — no sheriff, no process server, no fee. Otherwise, the county sheriff serves the Original Notice and Petition for a statutory $30 per person plus mileage (Iowa Code § 331.655) — the mileage rate is set by the county, so ask the sheriff’s office what it will run in your county — or you can hire a private process server instead. If you can’t locate your spouse at all, Form 107/207 (Motion and Affidavit to Serve by Publication) lets you serve by newspaper notice; ask the clerk about the newspaper’s publication fee, which is separate from the court’s filing fee.
4 · Your deadlines, calculated
Almost everything in an Iowa dissolution counts from one of two dates — when you filed, and when your spouse was served (or signed the Acceptance of Service, or was reached by publication). Put in what you have and we’ll turn Iowa Code § 598.19 and the Iowa Court Rules into actual dates on your calendar — then add them to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook in one click.
5 · The order it actually happens in
6 · The rejection-proofing checklist
This is the part that’s genuinely worth paying attention to. These are the specific things that stall or dismiss Iowa filings — every one of them costs weeks.
Two different 90-day clocks
Iowa runs two completely separate 90-day rules and people conflate them constantly. One is a deadline: you must complete service on your spouse within 90 days of filing, or the court can dismiss your case. The other is a floor: the judge cannot sign your Decree until 90 days after your spouse was served — which starts later and runs longer than most people assume, because it doesn’t start on the day you filed at all. Assume the 90-day wait starts at filing, and you’ll show up to ask about your Decree weeks before the court can legally sign it.
Signing and filing
Forms people forget
Timing
Iowa is explicit about this in its own guide: if you want spousal support, a share of your spouse’s pension, or other property, you must ask for it before the judge files your Decree. You cannot come back and ask afterward. If alimony is even a possibility, say so in your Petition and again in your Settlement Agreement or Request for Relief.
7 · The Financial Affidavit — what Form 124/224 asks for
Each spouse completes their own — not one joint form. It’s filed with the court, and Iowa’s version breaks assets into named categories rather than one generic list.
Section 4.B, your monthly expenses, only has to be completed if you or your spouse is asking for spousal support. If nobody’s requesting alimony, you can skip it — but if you’re not sure yet whether alimony will come up, fill it in anyway rather than having to redo the form later.
8 · What this costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Filing fee — Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, flat statewide rate | $285 |
| Sheriff service of process, per person (Iowa Code § 331.655) | $30 + mileage |
| Newspaper publication, if you can’t locate your spouse | varies — ask the clerk |
| Parenting/mediation program, if your judicial district requires one | varies — ask the clerk |
| Certified copy of your Decree | $50 |
| Typical all-in, doing it yourselves, uncontested | $285–$365 |
File Form 109 (or 209 with children), Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs, alongside your Petition. It’s a request to postpone payment based on financial hardship, not an automatic waiver — a judge decides, and you may need to show proof of income, assets and expenses. Costs paid to someone other than the court or sheriff, like a newspaper publication fee, generally can’t be deferred this way.
What Iowa filers report paying an attorney
The court fees above are real and verified. The figures below are member-reported, illustrative demo data — a placeholder for the kind of cost tracking The Cusp’s members contribute, not a verified market survey — meant to show the shape of attorney costs by county, not a quote.
| County | Uncontested, attorney-assisted | Contested, attorney-led |
|---|---|---|
| Polk | $1,400–$2,600 | $5,500–$12,000+ |
| Linn | $1,200–$2,300 | $5,000–$10,500+ |
| Scott | $1,300–$2,400 | $5,200–$11,000+ |
Demo figures only — illustrative of how member-reported attorney costs could be tracked by county, not audited or independently verified. Ask any attorney for a written fee agreement before you hire them.
Does cheating change the money in Iowa?
The statute says nothing either way, which is not the same as permission. What we read: § 598.21A lists no fault factor. How all fifty states answer this.
Reconciled, and it did not work? No fault ground survives in Iowa, so forgiving an affair cannot cost you the divorce — which is an answer rather than a gap: condonation, state by state. If the decision itself is what you are sitting with rather than the law, start here.
What this is. A guide to Iowa’s own process, built from Iowa Code chapter 598 — including §§ 598.5, 598.6 (repealed in 2005; residency now lives at § 598.5(1)(k)), and 598.19 — Iowa Code § 602.8105 and § 331.655, Iowa Court Rules Chapter 17, and the official Rule 17.100 and 17.200 self-represented forms and guides published by the Iowa Judicial Branch at iowacourts.gov. The forms themselves are free and this guide links you to them rather than reselling them.
What this is not. The Cusp is not a law firm and does not practice law. Nothing here is legal advice, and nothing here tells you which choice is right for your particular situation — only what Iowa requires of each path. If your case involves contested custody, a business, hidden assets, domestic violence, or a spouse with a lawyer, talk to an attorney; many offer free consultations, and one hour of advice is cheaper than a case that gets dismissed for missing the 90-day service deadline. Clerks of court and court staff cannot give legal advice, by rule.
Confirm current numbers with the clerk. Filing fees, county-set mileage rates, and judicial-district program requirements are periodically adjusted. Where this guide could not verify an exact figure, provider, or deadline interpretation with confidence, it says so and points you to the clerk of district court rather than guessing.
Four things can happen to the house in an Iowa divorce
Iowa is not one of the twenty states where filing freezes both spouses automatically. That is not permission to sell: either of you can still ask a court for an order, and one may already exist in your case. But the automatic-order trap is not one you fall into here.
One of you buys the other out, you sell later, you sell now, or the court decides. For a great many people the right answer is not to sell at all – and three of the four routes earn us nothing.
The four routes, compared · Keeping it: the buyout and the carrying cost · Selling: capital gains, basis and timing · Finding an agent who has done a divorce sale · What two households cost
Need a vetted attorney, mediator, or financial analyst in Iowa?
Browse The Cusp’s professional directory — rated only by verified clients, never ranked by who paid the most.
Browse the directory →The Cusp · All 50 state kits · Find a professional · About
Ask for an introduction to an agent → — who we would introduce you to, what the referral fee is and who pays it, and why the answer is sometimes that you should not sell at all.
Everything we have written about Iowa specifically. Every figure on these pages is quoted from Iowa’s own statute or its courts’ own published schedule, and carries the date we last checked it.
- Modifying child support and spousal support after divorce
- Modifying custody and parenting time after divorce
- What it costs to file
- Child custody
- Child support
- Guardians ad litem and child representation
- Travel, custody and relocation
- Alimony
- Property, support and legal fees
- Protective orders
- Changing your name back
- Legal help you can afford
- Verified professionals
The most expensive mistakes in a divorce are made in the year after it, by people who thought the case was over. After the divorce is the checklist for that year — the health-coverage clock, the retirement order a decree cannot replace, and the beneficiary form that outranks your will.
Filing is one household becoming two, and the second one starts empty. The two-household list is what to send the people who keep asking how they can help — the second of everything, and the half of it that costs nothing. Some people call it a divorce registry.
All 28 Iowa divorce forms, listed by the number the clerk will ask for — 28 with an official form number, 28 linked straight to the state’s own file, each with its revision date where the state publishes one. Open the Iowa form list →
Common questions about filing for divorce in Iowa
Short answers to what people ask most before they start. Each one points at the part of this page that covers it in full.
How do I file for divorce in Iowa?
This page sets out the order it happens in for Iowa: which form opens the case, what has to be served on the other person and when, and what the court needs before it will finish. It is written to be followed in sequence rather than read through.
What forms do I need to file for divorce in Iowa?
The form list on this page gives the official Iowa form numbers, each one’s revision date, and a link to the copy on the court’s own site rather than a copy hosted here. Using a superseded revision is one of the most common reasons a filing comes back, which is why the dates are shown.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Iowa?
$285 to open the case, and that is only the filing fee — it does not cover service, copies, any required class, or a lawyer. The full breakdown for Iowa, with every figure traced to the court’s own published schedule and dated, is at what it costs to file in Iowa.
What gets an Iowa divorce filing rejected?
This page has a section on exactly that — the specific mistakes that get a filing returned in Iowa rather than a general list. Most of them are procedural and cost weeks rather than money: the wrong form revision, a missing signature or notarization, service done in a way the state does not accept, or filing before a residency requirement is met.
How long does a divorce take in Iowa?
There is a timeline on this page built from Iowa’s own statutory day-counts, not from averages. The honest short answer is that the waiting period is a floor and not a prediction: an uncontested case can finish close to it, and a contested one is governed by the court’s calendar rather than the statute.
Where does the information on this page come from?
Iowa’s own courts and statutes. Every form links to the court’s site, every fee is quoted from the published schedule with the date it was last checked, and where something could not be confirmed from an official source this site says so instead of estimating. It is free, with no account and no paywall.
Does cheating change the money in Iowa?
Probably not, but for a different reason than you might think: Iowa’s support statute contains no misconduct factor at all. Silence is not permission and it is not a prohibition — seventeen states are in this position, and in them the written rule simply does not address it. The fifty-state table sets out the section this comes from, and the card higher up this page quotes your state’s own words.
Choosing an agent for a divorce sale is a different problem from choosing one for an ordinary sale: who the agent is allowed to talk to, who has to sign, what happens when one of you will not, and the three separate conflicts of interest that come up when one spouse found the agent first. How to choose a real estate agent for a divorce sale sets out what to ask, and how to check a credential yourself — no divorce credential is official with the National Association of Realtors.
The Cusp receives a referral fee from agents it vets and trains to handle divorce clients.
Key deadlines at a glance
These are the same deadlines the calculator above works out, shown as days counted from the day you file or the day your spouse is served. Use the calculator for your exact dates.
No minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filed | The day you file | The service-deadline clock starts here. |
| Spouse served / Acceptance of Service filed | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Their 20-day Answer clock starts now, and so does the real 90-day waiting period. |
| Spouse’s Answer is due | 20 days after service | 20 days from service, the filed Acceptance of Service, or the filed affidavit of service (Form 115/116, or 215/216 with children). |
| Earliest realistic date to move for a default decree, if your spouse never answers | 33 days after service | An estimate: after the 20-day Answer window closes, you still file and serve a Notice of Intent to File a Default Decree, then generally wait 10 days from that service plus 3 more for mailing (13 days) before filing the Motion and Request for Relief. |
| Deadline to complete service on your spouse | 90 days after filing | If service isn’t complete by this date, the court can dismiss your case. |
| Earliest a judge can sign your Decree | 90 days after service | Iowa Code § 598.19 — the 90-day waiting period, counted from service (or the Acceptance of Service, the final publication, or the end of court-ordered counseling), not from your filing date. |
With minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filed | The day you file | The service-deadline clock starts here. |
| Spouse served / Acceptance of Service filed | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Their 20-day Answer clock starts now, and so does the real 90-day waiting period. |
| Spouse’s Answer is due | 20 days after service | 20 days from service, the filed Acceptance of Service, or the filed affidavit of service (Form 115/116, or 215/216 with children). |
| Earliest realistic date to move for a default decree, if your spouse never answers | 33 days after service | An estimate: after the 20-day Answer window closes, you still file and serve a Notice of Intent to File a Default Decree, then generally wait 10 days from that service plus 3 more for mailing (13 days) before filing the Motion and Request for Relief. |
| Deadline to complete service on your spouse | 90 days after filing | If service isn’t complete by this date, the court can dismiss your case. |
| Earliest a judge can sign your Decree | 90 days after service | Iowa Code § 598.19 — the 90-day waiting period, counted from service (or the Acceptance of Service, the final publication, or the end of court-ordered counseling), not from your filing date. |
Your county
Divorce rules are set by the state, but each county or court has its own forms, deadlines, classes and filing habits. Choose yours.
Or go straight to your county or court:
Black Hawk County (call to confirm)Eighth Judicial District (call to confirm)Linn CountyPolk County (call to confirm)Pottawattamie County (call to confirm)Scott CountyBlack Hawk County Call or check the court website to confirm
The District 1 family law mediation page posts a set of mediation forms (order re mediation, reduced-rate, exemptions and noncompliance) and the 45-day parenting course rule. The page did not list its counties or describe the requirements, so confirm with the Black Hawk County clerk how it applies.
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Eighth Judicial District Call or check the court website to confirm
The District 8 page lists 14 southeast counties and posts a Family Law Requirements Order, a mediation waiver application and district dissolution forms. It states the 45-day parenting class rule. Specific mediation deadlines were not confirmed here, so check the posted order and the clerk.
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Linn County
The Linn County order on iowacourts.gov (with-children version, 2023) sets a schedule: mediation education and parenting classes within 45 days, financial exchange within 60 days of filing, one mediation session and the joint pretrial report within 120 days of service, and a trial setting conference after 150 days from filing. Mediation can be waived only by a judge’s signed order. The order may be updated, so confirm the current version with the clerk.
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Polk County Call or check the court website to confirm
The District 5 page says Polk County children ages 6 to 16 attend Iowa Center for Children’s Justice workshops in divorce cases with children, in addition to the parent course due within 45 days of service. Registration details come with the Family Law Case Requirements Order issued at the start of the case. The mediation requirements themselves were not stated on the page.
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Pottawattamie County Call or check the court website to confirm
The Fourth District’s mandatory mediation rules on iowacourts.gov require mediation in family law cases unless both parties are unrepresented, with mediation scheduled within 90 days and completed within 120 days of service in new cases. Domestic violence waivers must be requested within 20 days of service. The document does not name counties, so confirm with the Pottawattamie County clerk that it applies and how it works for you.
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Scott County
The District 7 family law mediation page, which serves the district Scott County sits in, links mediation procedures and forms and repeats the 45-day parenting course rule, with the decree withheld until it is done unless waived. Courses are offered in Davenport and several other eastern Iowa cities, for a fee. Ask the clerk what mediation your case requires.
Who to contact: District Court Administration (563) 326-8783 (listed on the district 7 page for questions about the pilot project)
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Not listed? Your county clerk of court can tell you the local rules. These are general information from court and clerk pages, last checked 2026-11-10, not legal advice.
Serving the papers in Iowa? Any adult who is not a party or the party’s attorney; not you. Deadline: 90 days. (As we read the rules on 29 October 2026.) See who can serve a divorce summons and whether you can do it yourself, and find Iowa in our state-by-state serving table.
Stay current
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How we can help
Understand the house first. Then talk to someone who gets it.
The house is usually the largest decision in a divorce, and the one people are least ready for. Here is what we do, in the order that makes sense.
1. Start with the facts, free
22 states have automatic orders that freeze both spouses the moment a divorce is filed, barring either one from selling or borrowing against the property. Is yours one of them?
Plain-English guides on what can happen to the house, what an automatic order stops you doing, and how the tax rules decide what a sale is worth. No account and nothing to buy.
- The four things that can happen to the house
- Selling the house: who signs, and the tax rules
- Keeping the house: the buyout and the carrying cost
2. Know when not to call an agent
Often the right answer is to wait, or to talk to your lawyer or an accountant first. We say so plainly. An agent is the wrong first call if nothing is filed, or if an order restricts what either of you can do with the property.
3. Talk to someone who gets it
When you do need an agent, we introduce you to a local agent who has completed our divorce real estate training and passed its 20-question exam. Before any introduction we check the license with the state regulator (any unresolved disciplinary action is a no), the agent’s closed sales, and a review rating of 4.7 or better. The introduction is free, and you are free to say no.
Ask for an introductionHow we are paid
You pay us nothing. Agents are not charged for the training, the exam or the free resources. If an introduction leads to a closed sale, the agent’s brokerage pays a referral fee out of its own commission, not out of your proceeds. A place on the panel cannot be bought.
General information, not legal or tax advice. The Cusp is not a law firm.
Selling a home in a divorce: what to ask a local listing agent
Selling the house is often the largest single decision in a divorce. These questions help you judge whether an agent has done it before. They do not replace your lawyer, who should approve the plan before anything is listed.
- Have you sold homes where both spouses had to sign, or where a court had to approve the sale? How many, and how recently?
- Does filing already restrain a sale in my state? Check the 50-state table and ask my lawyer before we sign anything.
- Who decides on price changes and which offers to accept when we disagree, and how will that be written down?
- Who pays the mortgage, taxes and insurance until closing, and what does the listing agreement say about it?
- Where will the sale proceeds be held until the decree says who gets what?
- How will you handle showings, access and lockboxes if we are not speaking?
- Will you give both spouses and both lawyers the same information at the same time?
- What happens to the listing agreement if we settle, reconcile or the case is delayed? What are the cancellation terms?
- Can I have your fee terms in writing and the names of past clients who sold during a divorce?