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Legal Information: Iowa

Custody

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Laws current as of August 5, 2024

If the other parent isn’t following the custody or visitation order, what can I do?

If the other parent doesn’t follow the order, you can file for contempt. This is true for both temporary and final orders. If the judge believes the other parent disobeyed the order on purpose, the judge can do any of the following:

  • send him/her to jail for up to 30 days;
  • give you extra visits to make up for any visits you missed;
  • give you joint custody or change which parent has custody;
  • require both parents to participate in mediation to work out joint custody issues;
  • direct both parents to provide contact with the child through a neutral place or person; and  
  • order other specific requirements to deal with the violation.1

If you win the contempt case, the judge can order the other parent to pay for your attorney’s fees and other court costs.2

1 Iowa Code § 598.23
2 Iowa Code § 598.24

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