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Legal Information: Iowa

Divorce

Laws current as of August 5, 2024

What are the grounds for divorce in Iowa?

“Grounds” are legally acceptable reasons for divorce. In order for a judge to grant you a divorce in Iowa, you must prove that:

  1. there was a breakdown of your marriage to the extent that the purpose of the marriage was destroyed; and
  2. there is no reasonable chance that your marriage will be repaired.1

If the person filing for divorce (the petitioner) fails to prove this to the judge at the hearing through his/her evidence, the other spouse (the respondent) can also present evidence to prove these things to the judge.2

1 Iowa Code § 598.5(1)(g)
2 Iowa Code § 598.17(2)

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