Iowa
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in Iowa — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in Iowa
Iowa's courts provide free interactive divorce forms (with and without children) plus a plain-language overview of Iowa divorce law. Start with the court's self-help page before anything else.
Iowa Judicial Branch — Divorce Self-Help
The official starting point: free interactive court forms and an overview of divorce under Iowa law.
iowacourts.gov — divorce self-help →Find a divorce lawyer
Iowa State Bar — Find-A-Lawyer
Searchable directory of Iowa attorneys. Listed attorneys charge $25 or less for up to 30 minutes of initial consultation. Questions? Call (515) 243-3179.
iowabar.org — find a lawyer →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Report Child or Dependent Adult Abuse
Call the Iowa Child Abuse / Dependent Adult Hotline at 1-800-362-2178 — 24 hours a day.
Iowa Mortgage Help
Free mortgage counseling from Iowa's state-sponsored Mortgage Help initiative — for homeowners behind on payments or expecting trouble.
iowamortgagehelp.com →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in Iowa
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in Iowa.
Where to go
Iowa Division of Labor (Iowa DIAL)
Time limit to file
1 year
What the floor is
federal $7.25 applies
Changing your name in Iowa
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in Iowa.
How it works
petition the district court in your county
Typical court fee
~$215
Newspaper notice required?
sometimes — judge's discretion
Small claims court in Iowa
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in Iowa.
Maximum claim
$6,500
Filing fee
$95
Can you bring one?
yes — allowed
Clearing your criminal record in Iowa
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where Iowa stands.
Can records be cleared?
very limited — expungement
What qualifies
acquittals and dismissed charges; some misdemeanor convictions
Waiting period
180 days for acquittals/dismissals; 8 years for misdemeanor convictions
Child support in Iowa
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in Iowa.
How it's figured
income shares (both parents' incomes combined) guidelines in Iowa Court Rules; worksheets available on the Iowa Judicial Branch site
When it ends
age 18, or high school graduation if reasonably expected before age 19
Lemon law in Iowa
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? Iowa's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
vehicles purchased or leased (under warranty; excludes mopeds, motorcycles, motor homes, vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVW)
When it's legally a lemon
3+ attempts on same defect (with written notice for a final cure attempt), 20+ cumulative days out of service, or 1 attempt for life-threatening defect — within lemon law rights period (2 years/24,000 miles)
What you get
replacement vehicle or refund of full purchase/lease price (less reasonable offset for use)
Tenant rights in Iowa
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in Iowa.
Notice before eviction
30 days to end month-to-month; 3-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment
Deposit limits & return
Max 2 months' rent; returned within 30 days with written itemized statement
When the landlord won't fix things
May repair and deduct after 7-day written notice (cap: one month's rent)
DUI / DWI in Iowa
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how Iowa handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; enhanced penalties at 0.15
Typical penalties
48 hours-1 year jail, up to $1,250 fine, 180-day license revocation
How far back DUIs count
12-year lookback
Gun laws in Iowa
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permitless carry (since 2021), 18+; optional shall-issue permit
Carrying openly
Generally allowed without permit
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Not required No waiting period.
Extreme risk protection
No red flag law on the books here.
Reciprocity
Honors permits from all other states (permit holder must be 21)
Filming the police: your rights in Iowa
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (Iowa Code § 808B.2)
No buffer-zone law
Iowa has no law setting a minimum distance for filming police. You still must not interfere with officers doing their jobs.
Iowa is a one-party consent state; a participant may record a communication they are part of. No Iowa-specific court ruling on recording police was found, and no state buffer-zone law was found. The ACLU of Iowa confirms filming in public spaces is generally protected.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in Iowa
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in Iowa
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in Iowa
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in Iowa
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in Iowa
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →