Des Moines Child Custody and Support Law

Divorce can be very hard on your children. We trust that you are seeking the course of action you feel is best for your child, and our child custody law firm fights to enforce your position.

Des Moines temporary child custody.

Before your divorce is final in Des Moines, temporary child custody may be a step worth considering, especially if your spouse does not honor your custody agreement in Des Moines.

Des Moines child support

The Iowa court may order the non-custodial parent to pay an amount that is reasonable and necessary for supporting a child. The court considers:

• The responsibility of both parents to support and provide for the welfare of the minor child
• The child's need for a close relationship with both parents

However, the judge is also expected to follow the child support guidelines established by the Iowa Supreme Court. A judge must follow these guidelines unless doing so would be unjust or inappropriate. This is where Hope Law Firm, PLC comes in. We work to ensure that the child support order is appropriate for your personal situation and for the proper care of your child.

Des Moines child custody award

Iowa law directs that the court must order a Des Moines child custody award, which includes liberal visitation rights. The child then has the opportunity for continuing physical and emotional contact with both parents. Visitation can be waived if the court deems it likely to harm the child.

Des Moines sole custody

In Des Moines, sole custody means that one parent has legal custodial rights and responsibilities. In a Des Moines custody fight, the mother is given those rights and responsibilities the majority of the time. In Des Moines, father custody is also granted in some cases.

Joint child custody in Des Moines

In Des Moines, joint custody means that both parents have legal custodial rights and responsibilities. Shared custody in Des Moines have the best rate of success if both parents are capable of working together to do what is best for the child.

Both parents have joint custody and share parenting time. In a Des Moines shared custody arrangement, a judge has granted both the mother and father custody. When establishing the custody arrangement that is best for the child, the court’s considerations include:

• The suitability of each parent to be a custodian
• The psychological and emotional development of the child
• The parents’ ability to communicate with each other about the child
• Each parent’s level of care for the child before and since the separation
• Whether each parent can support the other's relationship with the child
• The child’s wishes, taking into account the child's age and maturity
• Whether the parents agree to joint custody
• The geographic proximity of the parents
• The safety of the child or the other parent

In Iowa, parents must attend a course about the effect of divorce on children within 45 days of the custody order.

Parents take a court-approved course

In Iowa, the parties to any action that involves the issues of child custody or visitation are required to participate in a court-approved course to educate and sensitize the parties to the needs of any child. The parties must complete this course within 45 days of the commencement of the action or being served with papers or original notice or application for modification of an order.

Modification of orders

Custody, support, and visitation orders may be modified if the court finds that a substantial change of circumstances has taken place. It is not enough if both parents agree on their own to modify any part of the court order. Rather, the parent must apply to the court to modify an order.

For information on child support, visit our Des Moines Divorce Lawyer website and contact a child custody lawyer in Des Moines.

Hope Law Firm, P.L.C.—your aggressive and affordable legal remedy for child custody

Contact us online or call us at 515.255.3559 to schedule your free half-hour consultation. We offer evening and weekend appointments for your convenience. We also offer convenient payment plans and accept Visa and MasterCard.