Iowa Divorce Law
In re the Marriage of Michelle L. Rasmussen and Scott M. Rasussen
Harlan, Iowa family law lawyers represented the Petitioner and Respondent in a divorce.<br> <br> In February 2023, Michelle petitioned for divorce from Scott. She used some of the money left over from her 401(k) withdrawal to retain an attorney and establish a new residence for herself. By the dissolution trial in December, Michelle only had $10,000 left in a savings account from the 401(k) money.... More...
$0 (06-04-2025 - IA)Katie Venechuk n/k/a Katie Vandewalker v. Gary A. Landher
Northwood, iowa family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce.<br> <br> A mother changed her residence and wanted her eight-year-old daughter, who was the subject of an existing custody order, to attend school there. The father objected. He argued that it would be disruptive for the daughter to change schools and that it would limit his time with her. When the parents were unable to ag... More...
$0 (04-18-2025 - IA)In re the Marriage of Raven T. Mueller and Craig E. Mueller
<h2><br> Dubuque, Iowa family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce action.<br> </h2><br> After sixteen years of marriage, Craig Mueller and Raven Kennicker divorced in December 2020. Under a parenting plan accepted by the court, Craig and Raven agreed to joint physical care of their daughter, L.A.M., born in 2014. Craig also agreed to pay $55 per month in child support, as provided in ... More...
$0 (12-04-2024 - IA)Mayfe Patino v. Nestora Alejandro Sanchez
<h2><br> Sioux City, Iowa family law lawyers represented husband and wife in a divorce involving child support.<br> </h2><br> <br> <br> As part of a custodial decree from December 2021, Nestor Sanchez was ordered to pay child support and provide a health benefit plan for his child with Mayfe Patino.[1] Just over two years later, in January 2023, Patino asked child support services[2] to review San... More...
$0 (10-02-2024 - IA)In re the marriage of Joshua Eugene Dow and Ashley Laine Dow
<h2><br> Clarinda, Iowa divorce lawyers represented husband and wife.<br> </h2><br> <br> When Joshua Dow and Ashley Herzberg divorced in October 2019, the district court-following their stipulated agreement-granted them joint physical care of their two daughters, born in 2008 and 2012. Three years later, Herzberg filed a modification petition, requesting primary physical care of the children. She ... More...
$0 (09-04-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Elena Mae Bell and Barrett Andrew Bell
<h2><br> Dubuque, Iowa divorce lawyers represented husband and wife.<br> </h2><br> <br> Elena Bell petitioned to dissolve her three-year marriage with Barrett Bell in January 2022. And after a dissolution trial-in which Barrett had an attorney and Elena represented herself-the district court issued a decree dissolving their marriage in February 2023. Both parties appeal, challenging the property d... More...
$0 (09-04-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Aron Elvis Mentz and Kelsey Ann Mentz
<h2><br> Dubuque, Iowa divorce lawyers represented husband and wife.<br> </h2><br> Aron and Kelsey Mentz were married in 2016 and have one minor child together-V.M., born in 2018. Aron petitioned to dissolve the marriage in November 2021. As the case progressed, Aron failed to respond to Kelsey's discovery requests or the district court's orders requiring him to do so. So, at the start of the diss... More...
$0 (09-18-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Nicole Sarah Shada and Christopher David Shada
<h2><br> Logan, Iowa divorce lawyers represented the husband and wife in a marriage dissolution.<br> </h2><br> <br> David and Nicole married in 2011. Nicole petitioned to dissolve the marriage in March 2023, and a trial was held in October after an unsuccessful attempt at mediation. While the divorce was pending, the parties continued living together at the family's acreage with their three childr... More...
$0 (09-18-2024 - IA)State of Iowa v. Michael Craig Glynn
<h2><br> Boone, Iowa criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with arson.<br> </h2><br> <br> In 2013, P.M. met Michael Glynn. Their relationship became romantic, and within two years Glynn moved into P.M.'s home. The couple married in 2020, but by January 2023, the relationship had soured. P.M. asked Glynn to move out early that year, and she filed for divorce shortly thereafter.<... More...
$0 (09-18-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Steven Paul Richard Awe and Michaela Ann Awe, d/k/a Michael Ann Hale
<h2><br> Eldora, Iowa divorce lawyers represented the parties in a family law case.<br> </h2><br> <br> <br> Michaela Hale[1] appeals an order modifying the decree dissolving her marriage with Steven Awe by placing their children in his-rather than her- physical care. Hale argues that Awe failed to show a substantial change in circumstances or that modifying the children's physical-care placement i... More...
$0 (09-04-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Elena Mae Bell and Barrett Andrew Bell
<h2><br> Dubuque, Iowa divorce lawyers represented husband and wife in a family law case.<br> </h2><br> <br> <br> Elena Bell petitioned to dissolve her three-year marriage with Barrett Bell in January 2022. And after a dissolution trial-in which Barrett had an attorney and Elena represented herself-the district court issued a decree dissolving their marriage in February 2023. Both parties appeal, ... More...
$0 (09-04-2024 - IA)In the Matter of the Marriage of S.W. and M.W.
<h2><br> Olathe, Kansas divorce lawyers represented the Petitioner and the Respondent in a marriage dissolution action.<br> </h2><br> <br> <br> Following a contested trial in a divorce action, the district court entered a final journal entry and decree of divorce in November 2021. Relevant to this appeal, the court ordered the parties to share joint legal custody of their four minor children with ... More...
$0 (08-16-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Loriel R. Bashor and James M. Bashore
<h2><br> Council Bluff, Iowa divorce lawyers represented the Petitioner and the Respondent in a marriage dissolution action.<br> <h2><br> <br> <br> James Bashore appeals the decree dissolving his marriage to Loriel Bashore (now known as Loriel Nordmeyer). James challenges the district court's admission of exhibit 26, the spousal-support provision, the child-support provision, the division of marit... More...
$0 (07-03-2024 - IA)Jonathan Tracy Meador v. Di Lu
<h2><br> Des Moines, Iowa divorce lawyers represented the Petitioner and the Respondent in a marriage dissolution actions.<br> <h2><br> <br> onathan and Di were married in China in 2013 and are the parents of N.G.M., who was born the same year. The parties divorced in China in 2018. The dissolution decree included a custody provision that Di would "foster[]" the parties' child, while Jonathan had ... More...
$0 (08-07-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word </center
<h2><br> Mason City, Iowa family law lawyers represented the Plaintiff and Defendant on a petition to modify the parties' dissolution (divorce) decree.<br> <h2><br> <br> <br> Bridget and Brett married in 2014, and they have two children, born in 2015 and 2017. The parties' marriage was dissolved by an Arizona decree in 2019, several months after the family moved to Iowa. Bridget and Brett stipulat... More...
$0 (07-19-2024 - IA)In re the Marriage of Sheryl A. Wilson and James D. Wilson
Grundy Center, Iowa family law lawyer represented Petitioner seeking a divorce.<br> <br> <br> Sheryl and James Wilson married in 1982.1 The marriage lasted thirty-one years. Sheryl worked as a nurse's aide but agreed to give up her job when she became pregnant with the first of two children. Approximately nine years into the marriage, she opened a video store and ran it for about six years. Later,... More...
$0 (04-08-2022 - IA)In the marriage of Jeff Michael Hockemeyer and Renae Hockemeyer
Grundy Center, Iowa family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce case.<br> <br> <br> Jeff and Renae Hockemeyer met in 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri. After Jeff was laid off following closure of the construction office for which he worked, the two moved together to Jeff's hometown of Grundy Center in February 2008. They married in 2011, and had one child, M.J.H., in 2013. During the marr... More...
$0 (09-26-2021 - IA)In Re The Marriage of Bekele Tuke Adam and Habviba Hussien Adam
Iowa City, Iowa family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce case.<br> <br> <br> Bekele Adam and Habiba Kedir chose to end their marriage. Bekele preferred an annulment, but the district court rejected that bid and granted a dissolution. Bekele appeals contending two statutory grounds exist for an annulment: (1) the marriage was prohibited by law and (2) one of the parties was impotent ... More...
$0 (05-11-2022 - IA)Marriage of Matthew Tait Miller and Karri Ann Miller
Waterloo, Iowa family law lawyers represented Petitioner, who sued Respondent seeing a divorce and equitable property division.<br> <br> Petitioner appealed and respondent cross-appealed from the property provisions of the district court decree dissolving the parties' marriage. T... More...
$0 (11-18-2021 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. DUSTIN JEROME JEFFERSON <table> <td>
Dustin1 was convicted of aiding and abetting his mother, Ginger Jefferson, <br> in the stabbing death of his wife, Kerry Jefferson. Dustin and Kerry had a volatile <br> marriage and lived separately. Dustin lived at his cousin Carlos’s house, but Kerry <br> often spent time with him there. Kerry fearfully told a friend shortly before her death <br> that Dustin might hurt or kill her. The nex... More...
$0 (09-14-2018 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. MARSEAN T. FENTON <table> <td>
In November 2015, the State charged Fenton with burglary in the third <br> degree from a motor vehicle, an aggravated misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa <br> Code section 713.6A(2) (2015). Fenton entered a written guilty plea, allegedly <br> conditioned upon the court’s acceptance of the negotiated sentence including a <br> 180-day suspended jail term. Fenton planned to request a deferred judgm... More...
$0 (06-25-2018 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. VERNON LEE HUSER <table> <td>
A. Conviction of Woolheater. The partially decomposed body of Morningstar was discovered in February 2005 in a forested area in Altoona near Woolheater’s home. Police immediately began investigating Woolheater and subsequently charged him with first-degree murder. Woolheater was convicted after a jury trial. The conviction was upheld by the court of appeals. State v. Woolheater, No. 10–0... More...
$0 (05-07-2017 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. TONY WANGMENG LEE
Lee went to Laos in 2010 to meet and marry M.V. When Lee brought <br> M.V. to the United States in June 2011, Lee’s former wife, O.L.,2 was still living <br> with him and was pregnant with his child. M.V. did not speak, read, or write <br> English and had no relatives in the United States. <br> In April 2012, M.V. called police and reported Lee had beaten her. Lee <br> was arrested, and M... More...
$0 (02-22-2017 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. SETH ANDREW TECHEL
Seth and Lisa Techel married in October 2011 and lived in rural Agency. <br> Lisa worked as a jailer in Washington County, but she had aspirations to become <br> a deputy sheriff like her father, Todd Caldwell, a longtime deputy sheriff in <br> Wapello County. Seth also aspired to become a deputy sheriff and had interned <br> with the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office. Seth worked as a security... More...
$0 (08-10-2016 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. JOHN ARTHUR SENN JR.
In the early morning hours of Labor Day, September 1, 2014, Officer Brian Cuppy was on patrol in downtown Des Moines when he saw a truck eastbound on Court Avenue stop for a red light in the middle of the intersection with Water Street with its “back tires . . . more than five feet past the cross walk.” Officer Cuppy followed the truck, activated his police cruiser’s flashing lights, and in... More...
$0 (06-25-2016 - IA)STATE OF IOWA vs. TERRY DENNIS FOTH
Terry Foth appeals from his conviction and sentence, following a jury trial, <br> for domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury. Foth asserts the district court <br> erred when it excluded evidence that the victim allegedly made prior false <br> accusations of domestic abuse; furthermore, he argues, trial counsel was <br> ineffective for failing to assert the admission of this evidence was con... More...
$0 (02-24-2016 - IA)JESSE EDWARD BROWN vs. STATE OF IOWA
In January 2007, Jesse Brown was charged with first-degree kidnapping <br> and second-degree sexual abuse after he forced his estranged wife Michelle1 <br> and others into Michelle’s vehicle and ordered her, at knife point, to drive around. <br> They eventually ended up at a motel, where Jesse had sexual intercourse with <br> Michelle. Trial in the matter was held in July 2007, and Jesse was u... More...
$0 (02-06-2016 - IA)Melissa Slender v. Anthony Zane Blessum
Des Moines, IA - Woman Awarded $500,000 in damages against former lawyer and lover<br> <br> Melissa Slender sued Anthony Zane Blessum on malpractice, breach of fiduciary trust, domestic assault, battery, outrageous conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress theories. The Plaintiff, a former client of Defendant in a divorce action claimed that they entered into an unethical sexual re... More...
$498562 (11-19-2015 - IA)In re the Marriage of Michaelle Nichole Garland Stern and Menachem Medel Stern
A father appeals the visitation provisions of the decree dissolving his marriage. Specifically, the father challenges a geographical restriction in the decree that limits the father's summer visitation with his son to visitation within the United States until the child is sixteen years old. The father contends he should be able to exercise summer visitation with his son in Israel prior to the chil... More...
$0 (02-11-2015 - IA)IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MATTHEW R. SEVERIN AND BOUAPHAN S. SEVERIN Upon the Petition of MATTHEW R. SEVERIN, Petitioner-Appellant/Cross-Appellee, And Concerning BOUAPHAN S. SEVERIN, Respondent-Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
Matthew Severin appeals from the decree dissolving his marriage to Bouaphan Severin. Matthew asserts (1) the district court's award of alimony is excessive and (2) the district court erred in awarding Bouaphan the marital home without requiring a cash equalization payment to Matthew of half the home's equity. Bouaphan cross-appeals arguing the award of alimony is insufficient. We affirm as to both... More...
$0 (08-13-2014 - IA)IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF AMY L. SCHMADEKE AND THOMAS Z. SCHMADEKE Upon the Petition of AMY L. SCHMADEKE, Petitioner-Appellant, And Concerning THOMAS Z. SCHMADEKE, Respondent-Appellee.
Thomas and Amy Schmadeke married in 1994. Four children and eighteen years later, in October 2012, Amy filed her petition for dissolution of marriage, requesting, among other things, child support, an award of spousal support, and an award of attorney's fees. The district court awarded Amy child support in the amount of $1162 per month, spousal support in the amount of $1000 for sixty months, and ... More...
$0 (08-13-2014 - IA)IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF JEFFREY C. DEAN AND MELISSA A. DEAN
Melissa Chapman, f/k/a Melissa Dean, appeals and Jeffrey Dean cross-appeals certain economic provisions of the decree dissolving their marriage. Melissa asserts the district court erred in not awarding her a greater cash settlement because it failed to include certain premarital gifts and purchases in its calculation. Jeffrey asserts the court erred in failing to reduce its home equity computation... More...
$0 (03-12-2014 - IA)In re the Marriage of Kelli Dawn Hill Hunt and Tony Robert Hunt
Kelli Hill Hunt (n/k/a Kelli Hill) appeals the physical care and property distribution provisions of the decree dissolving her marriage to Tony Hunt. She argues the district court erred in denying her request for a custody investigation, awarding joint physical care, and in the division of the parties' assets.1 Tony requests appellate attorney fees. We affirm finding the court properly appointed a... More...
$0 (03-12-2014 - IA)Douglas Wayne Debower v. Samantha McDowell
Douglas DeBower appeals from the district court's order granting physical care of his two minor children to their mother, Samantha McDowell. He argues the court erred in its determination that Samantha was the children's primary caregiver and contends the best interests of the children would be better served by residing with him. Upon review, we affirm the order of the district court.<br><br>I. Ba... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)In re Marriage of Annie Le and Tim David Le
Tim Le appeals, pro se, challenging the property division provisions of a district court decree dissolving his marriage to Annie Le. He contends (1) Annie violated the Iowa Constitution by trying to make his life miserable, (2) he was denied effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Iowa Constitution, and (3) the district court's division of marital pr... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)In re Marriage of Tammy Marlene Wasson and James Henry Wasson
James Wasson appeals from the decree dissolving his marriage to Tammy Wasson. He contends the district court erred in granting joint physical care of the parties' two minor children, in requiring him to pay spousal support, and in ordering him to pay $1500 of Tammy's trial attorney fees. In response, Tammy requests we affirm the district court's decree and seeks an award of appellate attorney fees... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)In Re The Marriage of Karen Ann Pelletier and Paul Jeffrey Pelletier
Paul Pelletier appeals, and Karen Pelletier cross-appeals, from the district court's decree dissolving their marriage. The parties challenge the ruling as it relates to custody, visitation, support, alimony, property distribution, attorney fees, contempt, and a request for an injunction. Because we agree with the findings and analysis of the district court, we affirm.<br><br>I. Background Facts an... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)Johnnie Lee Waslick v. Gale Marie Simpson
Johnnie Waslick appeals from a district court's grant of a motion for directed verdict at the conclusion of his evidence seeking damages for entry of a divorce decree. He was alleging alternative theories of fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent nondisclosure, and willful wanton conduct justifying punitive damages. We affirm.<br><br>I. Background and Facts<br><br>In 2006, Gale Simpson filed for... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)SCS Property Management, LLC v. Cindy Vokes and Westside Kids, Inc.
SCS Property Management, LLC, run by Cindy Jones, leased space to a day care center known as West Side Kids, run by one of its owners, Cindy Vokes. When the five-year lease spanning 2005 to 2010 expired, West Side Kids vacated the premises, taking certain items with it. SCS sued West Side Kids and Vokes for breach of the lease agreement. West Side Kids counterclaimed for breach of the same agreeme... More...
$0 (06-12-2013 - IA)Jeannie Schlichte v. William Schlichte
On the day her father died, Jeannie Schlichte finally felt free. Six months after his death she sued his estate, alleging he sexually abused her across three decades and asking for one million dollars in damages. The estate moved for summary judgment, arguing the suit was barred by the statute of limitations. The district court granted summary judgment, finding Jeannie knew of the abuse and was aw... More...
$0 (01-24-2013 - IA)