Iowa Child Custody Law Overview

Iowa law requires that the court, "insofar as is reasonable and in the best interests of the child," shall order the custody award, including liberal visitation rights where appropriate, which will assure the child the opportunity for maximum continuing physical and emotional contact with both parents after the parents have separated and dissolved the marriage, and which will encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of raising the child unless physical harm or significant emotional harm to the child, other children, or a parent is likely to result from such contact with one parent.

Custody means "an award of the rights of legal custody of a minor child to a parent under which the parent has legal custodial rights and responsibilities toward the child.  Rights and responsibilities of legal custody include, but are not limited to decision-making affecting the child's legal status, medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and religious instruction."

Joint custody means "an award of legal custody of a minor child to both parents jointly." "Neither parent has legal custodial rights superior to those of the other parent."  An award of joint custody does not necessarily mean that the child must spend equal time with or live with both parents.

Joint physical care "means an award of physical care of a minor child to both joint legal custodial parents."   An award of joint physical care involves shared parenting time in which each parent maintains a home for the child and provides routine physical care for the child.  As in joint custody, neither parent has physical care rights superior to the other parent.