Conciliation in Iowa Divorces

In any judicial district in Iowa, a majority of judges, along with the district’s county board of supervisors can establish a domestic relations division of that district court. The division will offer counseling and related services to persons coming before the court. You will be notified by the court if you are required to participate in conciliation efforts.

The general rule is for the court to require parties to participate in conciliation efforts for sixty days upon filing a petition for dissolution. At the completion of the sixty-day counseling period, the conciliator will file a written report with the court, outlining the progress of the parties at the completion of the conciliation efforts, which may include the involvement of public or private marriage counselors, family service agencies, community health centers, physicians, and clergy. Depending on the ability to pay, costs will be paid either by the parties involved or the county.

Exceptions to the conciliation requirement exist in the event of a history of domestic abuse, the issuance of a protective order against one of the parties regarding the other party, or consent agreement, court order, emergency order, or order of contempt over any of the above, or the response of police to the scene of alleged domestic abuse following a report or arrest for domestic abuse.