Iowa divorce at a glance
Residency requirement
Petitioner must be an Iowa resident for 1 YEAR, unless the respondent is an Iowa resident personally served in-state (Iowa Code 598.6) — long residency is a screening question.
No-fault ground
Breakdown of the marriage relationship with no reasonable likelihood of preservation (Iowa Code 598.5/598.17) — Iowa is no-fault only. 90-day waiting period after service of original notice before decree (waivable for good cause).
Filing fee
$185 petition fee. Fee waiver: Application to Defer Payment of Costs (interim rule 1.36 form) available.
Child support
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Iowa Court Rules ch. 9 (rule 9.27, Form 1; Form 2 by agreement) — must be filed before any support order. Model: INCOME SHARES (combined gross income vs. Iowa Schedule of Basic…
E-filing (self-represented)
Iowa eFile (iowacourts.state.ia.us/Efile) — e-filing is MANDATORY for ALL filers including self-represented persons (limited exceptions by rule 16). Free registration. LawCat instructions must cover…
County differences
VERY LOW — uniform mandatory statewide forms + single statewide eFile system; no county supplemental forms of note.
Official statewide forms
YES — and MANDATORY: Iowa Court Rules Chapter 17 forms are required for all self-represented dissolution litigants. Rule 17.100 forms (Form 101 Petition etc.) for divorce WITHOUT minor children; Rule 17.200 forms for…
Official source: Iowa court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
Coming soon
Iowa document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Iowa. In the meantime, the official Iowa court forms are linked below.
Official Iowa forms →
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Why LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
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Iowa divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Iowa?
No. Iowa allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Iowa divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Iowa to file for divorce?
Petitioner must be an Iowa resident for 1 YEAR, unless the respondent is an Iowa resident personally served in-state (Iowa Code 598.6) — long residency is a screening question.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Iowa?
$185 petition fee. Fee waiver: Application to Defer Payment of Costs (interim rule 1.36 form) available. With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.
This page is general information about Iowa’s court process, not legal advice for your situation, and LawCat is not a law firm. Forms and fees change — verify with the official court source above. Reviewed 2026.