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Legal Information: Iowa

Custody

Laws current as of August 5, 2024

If the judge makes a custody and visitation order I don’t agree with, what can I do?

Right after the judge enters the order, you have a few options:

  • A motion for reconsideration asks the judge to decide differently. It must be based on the law or new evidence.
  • An appeal explains a mistake the judge made. It moves the case to a higher court and asks that court to review the judge’s decision.

You can learn more about these options in our After a Decision is Issued section.

On the other hand, a motion or petition to change (modify) the order is a legal request that would not be filed right away. See How can I change my custody and visitation order? for more information.

All of these options can be complicated, and you may want to talk to a lawyer in your state for advice. You can find legal referrals on our IA Finding a Lawyer page.

Legal Information

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