DIVORCE ATTORNEY IN DES MOINES, IOWA

No matter what you call it — divorce or dissolution — the process of ending a marriage is inevitably going to come with a certain level of stress and emotional exhaustion. While it’s easy to focus on those negative aspects, you can make the entire experience better for yourself and any children you may have by taking these two simple steps: 1) Think of this as a well-deserved fresh start, and 2) Get an attorney you feel comfortable with.

Grounds for a Divorce in Iowa

Today’s television would have us believe that every marriage ends because one spouse did something hurtful to the other. While this is sometimes the initial cause of a separation, Iowa courts recognize that marriages end for all kinds of reasons. That’s why we operate on a no-fault divorce system.

What Does “No-Fault Divorce” Mean?

It’s all in the name: the no-fault divorce system alleges that no one has to be “at fault” for causing a marriage to fail. In fact, Iowa divorce courts aren’t all that interested in hearing about the reasons behind the separation. All they’re looking for is a statement from one or both spouses that you aren’t compatible.

So, Does Fault Ever Matter in Iowa Divorce Cases?

Iowa may operate on a no-fault divorce system, but that doesn’t mean that actions such as adultery, abuse, neglect, or abandonment are completely dismissed by family law judges. Really, it all depends on whether you’re filing for uncontested or contested divorce.

Uncontested Divorces

Uncontested divorces occur when you and your spouse can sit down and reach an agreement on every aspect of the separation, such as property division, alimony, child custody arrangements, and child support payments. Since you and your attorneys are the only ones involved in this process, it’s up to you whether you take past wrongdoings into account when negotiating your terms of separation.

Contested Divorces

When the two of you cannot reach a consensus on your own, the court will take matters into its own hands. During the next steps in the dissolution process, your attorneys will present all the facts — including hurtful past actions — in order to help the court determine what it believes to be fair divorce terms.

As you can imagine, uncontested divorces tend to be less costly, stressful, and time-consuming. However, sometimes contested divorce is unavoidable. Regardless of which kind of separation you are going through, I will be there for you every step of the way.