Des Moines Family Lawyers
Dedicated Legal Services with a Focus on Your Future
If you need trustworthy legal advice for a crisis within your family in
Des Moines,
Hope Law Firm is prepared to help. Since 2003, we have provided compassionate counsel
and capable representation to Iowans for a broad range of family law issues.
When you are in the midst of turmoil, it’s easy to let emotions cloud the issues you face and make problems seem insurmountable. Our dedicated Des Moines family lawyers can help you set your emotions aside, identify realistic goals, and implement a sound strategy for achieving those goals. With steadfast legal support from our firm, you can start planning for a more secure future.
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Contact us online or call (515) 298-5056 to request a free consultation.
Dissolution of Marriage in Iowa
If you’ve reached the point where you must dissolve your marriage, it’s essential to understand your options under Iowa law. A divorce attorney from Hope Law Firm patiently explains the law and answers your questions so you can make a fully informed decision on how you’d like to proceed.
Depending on your circumstances, you could choose:
- Annulment — If your marriage was not valid at its formation, the law allows you to annul your union and treats you and your spouse as though you were never married. Grounds for an annulment include one of the spouses being party to a pre-existing marriage that was not legally dissolved, lack of capacity to contract a legal marriage, and impotence at the time of the marriage.
- Divorce — A divorce dissolves a valid marriage, freeing each spouse to remarry if they desire. Divorce in Iowa is strictly no-fault, so neither party has to assert grounds or allege marital misconduct. To obtain a judgment of divorce, parties must resolve issues of alimony, child custody, child support, and the division of their marital property. Processes for resolving these issues include traditional negotiations, mediation, collaborative divorce, and trial in family court.
- Legal separation — A legal separation resolves all the ancillary issues mentioned above and allows the parties to live separately but does not free the spouses to remarry. Individuals with a religious objection to divorce or those who need to stay married to remain eligible for benefits often choose legal separation.
If a defendant spouse is a resident of Iowa and able to be served personally with dissolution of marriage papers, there is no residency requirement for the petitioning spouse. Otherwise, there is a one-year residency requirement before filing for divorce.
Family Law Issues Involving Children
Iowa family law is intensely concerned with the best interests of children residing within the state.
Issues that we effectively manage during, after, and outside of divorce proceedings include:
- Child custody — We help our clients obtain fair terms for parenting plans that uphold their parental rights. We manage post-divorce disputes that arise after the court has approved a parenting plan, such as interference with visitation and relocation.
- Child support — Iowa law recognizes the duty of both parents to support their children. We work to obtain fair child support orders based on the parties’ true economic circumstances and help resolve disputes over child support payments.
- Guardianship — If you have a loved one who lacks the capacity to live independently, we can help establish guardianship for their protection.
- Paternity — We represent mothers, putative fathers, and children in actions to establish paternity and subsequently to resolve child support and visitation issues.
- Fathers’ rights — Although Iowa family law is written to be gender neutral, fathers often feel that judges side unfairly with mothers in custody matters. Whenever necessary, we raise issues with the court to ensure our clients receive equal, unbiased treatment under the law.
- Adoption — We help our clients welcome children into their home with full confidence that their new relationship is legally binding.
When you hire Hope Law Firm for your family law issues, you can rest assured we’ll work tirelessly to achieve the results you need.
To schedule a free consultation, call (515) 298-5056 or contact our office online. On urgent matters, we will do our best to see you within 24 hours.
Des Moines Family Law FAQ:
How do I choose the right family lawyer for my case?
When choosing a family lawyer in Iowa, consider their experience and expertise in family law matters, their reputation and track record of success, their communication style and approach to handling cases, and their compatibility with your specific needs and goals. It's important to schedule consultations, ask questions, and assess their knowledge and understanding of your unique situation.
Do I really need a family law attorney?
While it is possible to handle certain family law matters on your own, having a knowledgeable and experienced family law attorney can greatly benefit your case. Family law involves complex legal issues and emotional considerations that can be overwhelming to navigate without professional guidance. An attorney can provide legal advice, advocate for your rights and interests, help you understand your options, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure your case is properly presented in court if necessary.

Meet the Team
Experience Shown Through a Proven Track Record
Why Hope Law Firm?
See How We Stand Apart-
Thousands of cases successfully handled for our clients.
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We take an aggressive approach & have a proven track record.
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We treat you with compassion, honesty, dignity and respect.
Our Recognitions

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You have to try everything once, twice if it was good!
“I needed a Will done. Rosy was fabulous, she took the time to explain everything to me. We worked together during the Covid-19 time, so she was really accommodating at handling mostly everything ...”
- D'anne -
I would trust Andi with my case again and recommend her to anyone that is going through a similar case.
“I needed to modify my custody agreement for many reasons. One of the biggest was that my children were just not properly being cared for outside of my household. When I decided to reach out to see ...”
- Michelle -
If you are seeking understanding and awareness, look no further.
“If I'm going to hire legal representation, I'm going to hire Amanda Adams. She is beyond qualified for any legal case. She is a wonderful listener and extremely driven! The woman is classy and doesn't ...”
- Brittney R. -
She always responded in a timely manner with the exact information I needed.
“Shannon was great to work with. I had many questions and sent tons of emails and she always responded in a timely manner with the exact information I needed. 10/10 would recommend.”
- Jared F. -
I couldn't have asked for a better team and I appreciate them so much.
“Starting a custody case and living through the stress and worry about how things will end up was the worst thing I have ever dealt with. Thankfully, Katie and Shelby were always there when I had ...”
- Whitney F.