Getting divorced in Des Moines?
Divorce in Iowa is no-fault, so you don't have to prove your spouse did anything wrong — only that the marriage has broken down. Expect a 90-day waiting period, and know that Iowa divides property by what's fair rather than a strict 50/50 split. The lawyer you pick shapes how custody, support and assets get sorted out. Below are the Des Moines divorce and family-law firms recognized most consistently across independent rating services.
Most Des Moines divorces never see a trial — they settle through negotiation or mediation. But the quality of that settlement depends on having a lawyer who knows Polk County's judges and can value a marital estate accurately. The firms below handle everything from amicable uncontested filings to high-conflict custody and high-net-worth property cases.
How we picked these firms: We cross-referenced Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia and Expertise.com, then looked for peer recognition, family-law focus, and consistent client review patterns. A firm had to appear across at least two independent sources to make the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. Where a firm's founding year or staff size isn't publicly confirmed, we leave it out rather than guess. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Divorce, child custody and support, family law
Handles collaborative, contested, uncontested and high-net-worth divorces along with custody, support, property division and paternity. The firm reports resolving more than 1,000 custody and divorce cases.
Practice focus: Divorce, family-law litigation
Founding partner Gary E. Hill is a courtroom litigator with more than four decades of experience in county, state and federal courts, leading a practice devoted to Iowa family law.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, spousal support
Advocates for clients in both contested and uncontested divorces and offers collaborative divorce, counseling clients on asset distribution, legal and physical custody, and spousal support.
Practice focus: Divorce, separation, prenuptial agreements
Lead attorney Jeremy Feitelson has represented Des Moines clients since 2004, covering divorce, legal separation, child support, alimony and prenuptial agreements.
Practice focus: Divorce, family law
A long-standing Iowa firm with a dedicated divorce and family-law practice group serving Des Moines, using a comprehensive approach to property, custody and support issues.
Practice focus: Divorce, family law
A large, established Des Moines firm with a divorce and family-law practice that handles dissolution, custody and property matters for clients across central Iowa.
Practice focus: Divorce, family law
A Des Moines family-law and divorce practice that represents clients through contested and uncontested dissolutions, custody disputes and support matters.
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The case starts when one spouse files a petition for dissolution of marriage and serves the other. From the date of service, Iowa imposes a 90-day waiting period before a judge can finalize the divorce. During that window the spouses exchange financial information and try to agree on parenting, support and how to split property and debt. If they agree, the court approves the settlement; if they don't, the case heads toward a trial in Polk County District Court, where a judge decides.
Iowa is an equitable-distribution state, which means marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically in half. Custody is decided on the best interests of the child, with joint legal custody common and physical care decided case by case.
Divorce lawyers in Des Moines almost always bill hourly — commonly $200 to $350 per hour — and ask for a retainer up front that they bill against. A straightforward uncontested divorce with a written agreement is often handled for a flat fee in the range of $1,500 to $3,500. Once custody or significant assets are in dispute, costs climb with the number of hearings, depositions and experts involved. Iowa's court filing fee for a dissolution is a little over $250. Ask each firm for its hourly rate, retainer amount, and a candid estimate for a case like yours.
Match the lawyer to the fight. An amicable, no-kids divorce calls for someone efficient and flat-fee friendly; a contested custody case calls for a litigator who is in Polk County courtrooms regularly. Ask who will handle your file, how they bill, whether they use mediation or collaborative methods, and how they communicate during the months a case can take. A good family lawyer will tell you when settling beats fighting — that candor is worth more than aggression.
Iowa has a 90-day waiting period after the other spouse is served before a divorce can be finalized. An uncontested case can wrap up shortly after that; a contested case with custody or property disputes commonly takes nine months to well over a year.
No. Iowa is a no-fault state. The only ground is that the marriage has broken down and there is no reasonable likelihood it can be preserved. You don't have to prove wrongdoing.
Most Des Moines divorce lawyers bill hourly, commonly $200–$350 per hour with a retainer up front. A simple uncontested divorce is often handled for a flat fee of roughly $1,500–$3,500; contested cases cost more depending on how much is in dispute.
Iowa is an equitable-distribution state. Marital property is divided fairly, which is not always 50/50 — the court weighs factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions, and earning capacity.
Iowa courts decide legal custody and physical care based on the best interests of the child. Joint legal custody is common; physical care (where the child primarily lives) is decided on the specific facts of your family.
Generally one spouse must have lived in Iowa for at least the year before filing, unless the other spouse is an Iowa resident. Cases for Des Moines residents are filed in Polk County District Court.
One last thing. Before you hire anyone, ask for the hourly rate, the retainer, and an honest estimate for a case like yours in writing. Talk to two or three firms — fit matters when you'll be working together for months. — The LawFirmSquare team