In our modern world, the word “family” has taken many new definitions. There are more possibilities for what makes someone your family than ever before. These days, it’s more common to see scenarios that were unheard of before. For instance, life could put you in a position where you need to adopt a child who is not a U.S. citizen. Perhaps you fell in love with their parent, and want to officially ...
It’s been almost a decade since the Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage should be recognized across. The country. Still, for many, the laws on the topic can feel “new.” There is still much vagueness and confusion about what, exactly your rights are. This can be especially true for same-sex parents. Many laws are still steeped in traditional, heterosexual marriages, and it’s taking time for ...
From Temporary Housing to Forever Home Becoming an adoptive parent is a rewarding experience for the parents and child alike. By adopting through foster care, you can help a child regain a sense of stability and permanence while providing them with the caring, attentive family that they’ve been lacking. What Is Foster Care? When a family fosters a child, they provide temporary care while a social ...
Marriage annulment is a very specific process. It is not like a divorce, which ends a marriage. In an annulment, the state invalidates the marriage, making it “null.” It erases the marriage from your record as if the union never existed. Because of what an annulment does, it requires very specific parameters. In Iowa, the qualifications for a marriage annulment are: The union is somehow illegal. ...
An annulment is not at all the same thing as a divorce. In a divorce, you divide property and determine spousal support. The purpose is to help someone stable as they transition into singledom. Divorce ends a marriage. Effectively, you are breaking up a legal family, and the law wants to make sure everyone is protected. Annulment doesn’t end a marriage. It nullifies the marriage, erasing it from ...
There are many ways to end a marriage. You can get divorced, file for separation, or have the marriage annulled. Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. None of these options are, however, equal in their outcomes. For instance, both a divorce and an annulment end a marriage, but a separation keeps the marriage legal and official. This fact raises a question: If you want to end your marriage, ...
Iowa law treats dogs as personal property often leaving divorce litigants without judicial remedy November 5th, 2013 One of the most frequent inquries we receive has to do with who gets to keep the dog(s) or pet(s) in an Iowa divorce. While you may treat your dogs as children, the Iowa courts treat them as personal property. When faced with the issue the Iowa Court of Appeals stated, "[a] dog is ...
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian to enter prenuptial agreement October 31st, 2013 Kanye West once so elegantly stated , "If you ain't no punk, holla we want prenup." Well, Kanye, almost ten years later you get the chance to show the world you "ain't no punk." A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract that the husband and wife enter into before they get married that determines how much each party ...
Iowa Court of Appeals Issues New Divorce Rulings August 21st, 2013 Iowa Court of Appeals Releases August 7, 2013 Rulings In Re the Marriage of Mulder The parties had two children, ages thirteen and fifteen. In addition they had considerable equity in their marital home. The court awarded the marital home to the mother, and ordered that she provide half of the net equity in the property to the ...
If you are a single parent, you may have concerns about leaving your child with their other parent. Sometimes, these concerns spring from simple disagreements about parenting. You may have concerns about the other parent’s entertainment choices, what they feed the kids, and so on. Other times, you may be worried that the child is in danger with the other parent. In this article, we explore the ...
Divorce is a challenging process for any couple, but it can be even more complex when one or both spouses are members of the military. In such cases, child custody and support matters can become particularly intricate due to the unique circumstances and lifestyle associated with military service. Understanding how child custody and support are handled in military divorces is crucial for service ...
Divorce is never an easy process, especially when you have children involved. Custody decisions can be extremely difficult to ascertain. Often, these decisions are left up to judges who try their best to suit a child's needs. As part of this decision, they can consider the child’s wishes. In this article, we broadly explain Iowa’s general approach to child custody, then we directly address whether ...
Divorce is a challenging process for any couple, but it can be even more complex when one or both spouses are members of the military. In such cases, child custody and support matters can become particularly intricate due to the unique circumstances and lifestyle associated with military service. Understanding how child custody and support are handled in military divorces is crucial for service ...
Child support orders are designed to ensure that both parents contribute to the financial needs of their children. However, circumstances can change, and you may find that your current child support order no longer reflects your family's needs. If you're considering requesting a modification to your child support order, this step-by-step guide can help you navigate the process and ensure that your ...
Divorce orders are based on your present circumstances, but they also account for a potential future. For instance, support orders look at your current finances, but they also look at your earning potential. The court can assume that someone will advance in their career and order a higher amount of support. These days, however, the future is harder to predict. People change careers far more often, ...
When we think of divorce, we often imagine ugly courtroom trials. We picture angry spouses trying to undercut and scam one another out of money, property, and so on. These perceptions give us a sense that someone will “win” or “lose.” It doesn’t have to be this way. When it’s time to get a divorce, court is not always necessary. Many other options are available to you. One such option is a ...
There are many reasons to take guardianship over someone. They may be a minor with no one else to look after them. Perhaps they are an adult who has become incapacitated. Gaining guardianship can be a complicated process. First off, you must know exactly what type of guardianship you are seeking. There are several different forms, and choosing the correct one can be difficult. Here is a broad ...
If you are a single parent, you may have concerns about leaving your child with their other parent. Sometimes, these concerns spring from simple disagreements about parenting. You may have concerns about the other parent’s entertainment choices, what they feed the kids, and so on. Other times, you may be worried that the child is in danger with the other parent. In this article, we explore the ...
Divorce is a challenging process for any couple, but it can be even more complex when one or both spouses are members of the military. In such cases, child custody and support matters can become particularly intricate due to the unique circumstances and lifestyle associated with military service. Understanding how child custody and support are handled in military divorces is crucial for service ...
Divorce is never an easy process, but it can be particularly difficult when spouses share assets. Spouses can be particularly, understandably concerned about their real estate investments. Many don’t see the family home as a financial asset. Instead, they are emotionally tethered to it. If you are concerned about keeping your house in a divorce, here are some steps you can take. They could help ...
Domestic abuse is not always about a direct, violent act. It can take many different forms, and it victimizes both men and women. You should stay aware of the various types of abuse, so you can get help escaping from an abusive situation. Defining Abuse It's Not Just Physical Violence Physical violence is, of course, a form of abuse, but the term is broader than just that. Abuse encompasses a much ...
If you are experiencing domestic violence, you need to seek help immediately. Get to a safe place and call the police. If the threat is imminent, they may be able to help you secure an emergency protective order. This will give you time to prepare for a longer-lasting order later. If the abuse is coming from a spouse, you also need to talk to an attorney and begin filing for divorce. You can view ...
In Iowa, domestic violence occurs when someone commits assault against another person whom he/she has a specific relationship with, such as a current or former spouse, a current or former romantic partner, an individual who shares a child with an abuser, or a family or household member. Common examples of domestic abuse include: Causing injury or pain Insulting or offensive touching Placing ...
If you are a single parent, you may have concerns about leaving your child with their other parent. Sometimes, these concerns spring from simple disagreements about parenting. You may have concerns about the other parent’s entertainment choices, what they feed the kids, and so on. Other times, you may be worried that the child is in danger with the other parent. In this article, we explore the ...
Divorce is never an easy process, but it can be particularly difficult when spouses share assets. Spouses can be particularly, understandably concerned about their real estate investments. Many don’t see the family home as a financial asset. Instead, they are emotionally tethered to it. If you are concerned about keeping your house in a divorce, here are some steps you can take. They could help ...
Child support orders are designed to ensure that both parents contribute to the financial needs of their children. However, circumstances can change, and you may find that your current child support order no longer reflects your family's needs. If you're considering requesting a modification to your child support order, this step-by-step guide can help you navigate the process and ensure that your ...
These days, family dynamics are more complicated than ever. Spouses in same-sex marriages may raise a child parented by someone outside the marriage. More people are warming to the idea of polyamory, where more than two people have a relationship, and they have a child with someone other than their spouse. There are, of course, also situations of betrayal where someone has a child from an affair, ...
Being a biological father doesn’t necessarily mean you are a legal father. The government requires you to officially declare our parenthood. You can do this by signing the birth certificate or filing paperwork later. The legal term for fatherhood is “paternity.” If you wait too long, or if you discover a child later in life, you must officially declare your fatherhood. You may need to go through ...
It’s been almost a decade since the Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage should be recognized across. The country. Still, for many, the laws on the topic can feel “new.” There is still much vagueness and confusion about what, exactly your rights are. This can be especially true for same-sex parents. Many laws are still steeped in traditional, heterosexual marriages, and it’s taking time for ...
With the popularity of reality shows like 90 Day Fiancé, more and more Americans have friends and family who have international marriages. Foreign marriages also apply to your destination marriages. Regardless of why you happened to be married outside the country, your marriage is valid in two places. According to Iowa code 595.20 : A marriage that is solemnized in any other state, territory, ...
As of 2001, the United States government requires both parent’s signatures on their child’s passport applications. This rule applies to new passports for children under the age of 14; before this rule, it was possible for only one parent to complete a passport application for their child. If you are a single parent, it is still possible for you to obtain a passport for your child. However, the ...
These days, family dynamics are more complicated than ever. Spouses in same-sex marriages may raise a child parented by someone outside the marriage. More people are warming to the idea of polyamory, where more than two people have a relationship, and they have a child with someone other than their spouse. There are, of course, also situations of betrayal where someone has a child from an affair, ...
Being a biological father doesn’t necessarily mean you are a legal father. The government requires you to officially declare our parenthood. You can do this by signing the birth certificate or filing paperwork later. The legal term for fatherhood is “paternity.” If you wait too long, or if you discover a child later in life, you must officially declare your fatherhood. You may need to go through ...
In the state of Iowa, when a married couple has a child, the husband is automatically presumed to be the father. His name will go on the birth certificate and no further action is needed from the couple. Unfortunately, there are no automatic protections in place for the fathers of a children born out of wedlock. Unwed partners need to take additional steps to ensure the father has legal rights to ...
Many people use prenuptial contracts for financial purposes. They can clearly define their marital and separate property; they can restrict certain finances to just one spouse, they can make a financial plan in case of divorce; and so on. Some people also use marital agreements to dictate rules within the marriage. They can, for instance, make decisions about which spouse will handle which ...
People often assume prenuptial agreements are for the ultra-rich, and these contracts do not apply to them. Without question, people of substantial means use these agreements to protect their wealth. However, anyone from any social class can benefit from a prenup. Here are some ways a prenuptial contract can benefit your marriage, even if you have an average income. Prenups Can Determine the Rules ...
Prenuptial agreements are not always enforceable, but that doesn’t mean you should enter into an agreement assuming you can break it. While a prenup can be strong and well-drafted, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be challenged in court. The law is straightforward regarding prenuptial agreements. The law is written to protect both spouses, and if a prenuptial agreement is determined by a judge to be ...
Divorce is never an easy process, but it can be particularly difficult when spouses share assets. Spouses can be particularly, understandably concerned about their real estate investments. Many don’t see the family home as a financial asset. Instead, they are emotionally tethered to it. If you are concerned about keeping your house in a divorce, here are some steps you can take. They could help ...
Each state has its own rules on how to divide marital assets. Generally, they use one of two systems: equitable property division or community property division. In this article, we focus specifically on Iowa’s approach to dividing assets in a divorce. If you are an Iowa resident preparing to end your marriage, this information will help you understand what to expect. Equitable Distribution vs. ...
Breaking up is hard enough, but when you have to figure out what to do with your pet, it can be even more challenging. If you're going through a divorce and hope to keep your pet, here are some things you'll need to consider. Pets Are Considered Property in a Marriage Under common and civil law, pets are classified as moveable property. In the event of a divorce, pets are subject to division like ...
Restraining orders go by many names. Some call them “protective orders,” and others call them “orders of protection.” There are several ways to combine the terms, but the orders themselves all serve the purpose. Retraining orders help expedite justice for people who have been victimized. If, for instance, someone is threatening you, you can accuse them of assault. After that, their case churns ...
In Iowa, protective orders are issued to protect victims of violence, stalking, and domestic abuse . Every protective order includes conditions that prevent physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Petitioners and abusers are equally responsible for respecting the boundaries initiated by this court order. It’s a crime in almost every state for an abuser to violate a protective order. Iowa, ...
Even in our modern times, there is a lot of confusion around gender and divorce decisions. Most people assume that the system is biased toward women. They believe that women are overcompensated when it comes to support, child custody, and so on. Legally, gender should not affect any divorce decisions. The court should consider only the facts of the case and the individuals getting divorced. In ...
Once a divorce is on the table, it’s not uncommon for emotions to run high and to the left. Marriage is a legally binding contract, but it’s also about love and emotion. It’s difficult for many couples to get through the rational and cerebral part of the divorce because the emotional part becomes all-consuming. No one gets married planning for their divorce, and yet, divorce happens often. When a ...
Alimony, also referred to as spousal support or maintenance, provides individual financial support during separation and divorce. The support comes from the higher-earning spouse in the relationship. The court orders alimony to be paid using a court order, which makes the debt a legal obligation. When a party fails to comply with a court-ordered support award, they face garnishment, tax refund ...
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