Adoption makes it possible for individuals and couples to accept children who need a home, provide them with adequate care, and build bonds of consistent love and attachment. In Iowa, a child may be adopted through the foster care system (foster adoption), through a private adoption agency (private adoption), or from another country (international adoption). An experienced Iowa adoption attorney can explore your possible options and help you understand the adoption process.
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Understanding Drug Crime Charges
The recreational marijuana movement has not yet reached Iowa. In March 2021, a study by the Des Moines Register found that more than half (54 percent) of Iowans support the legalization of cannabis for recreational usage, while 78 percent favor expanding medical marijuana to cover more diseases and conditions.
Consequences of <br>Domestic Violence Charges
Accusations of domestic violence can leave you feeling confused, even overwhelmed. Criminal courts in Iowa take domestic violence and abuse charges very seriously—individuals convicted of domestic violence can face severe consequences.
IF I QUIT MY JOB TO HAVE MORE TIME WITH MY CHILDREN WILL THAT CHANGE MY CHILD SUPPORT?
In THE MARRIAGE OF RENEE M. TRIMBLE AND JOHN A. TRIMBLE, the custodial parent (Renee) moved with her children to a new home four hours away. The non custodial parent (John) took a new job that would allow him to maximize his visitation with his children. The new job paid significantly less than his old […]
NOT USING A TURN SIGNAL IS NOT ENOUGH REASON FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PULL YOU OVER – SOMETIMES
One of the common reasons law enforcement gives when they pull a person over in an OWI case is that the person was “weaving within their lane” and “they changed lanes without signaling” Usually this is sufficient to give law enforcement probable cause to stop a car and it goes downhill from there. STATE OF […]
You get one telephone call – update
Under Iowa law,804.20, if you are arrested for OWI, you have the absolute right to make telephone calls to your family and to try to find an attorney. Law enforcement does not have to tell you have the right to make a telephone call, however, law enforcement has to tell you who you can call […]
LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT USE A PROMISE OF LENIENT TREATMENT WHEN TRYING TO GET YOU TO TALK
It is standard law enforcement procedure to tell a suspect being questioning that it is better to tell the truth (confess). However, if law enforcement says that by confessing the suspect will get a reduced charge or lesser punishment, then they step over the line and any “confession” made after that is inadmissible. In STATE […]
Property is valued as of the date of trial
Over the past several years, many of us have had the all too common experience of watching the value of our retirement savings drop like a rock. Unfortunately, if that change in value happens between the time your case goes to trial and when the judge renders his decision, you probably will be stuck with […]
Your spouse empties the bank account, you may not get it back
Near the time the couple separated, Barbara took some $39,000.00 of marital (joint) money without Richard’s permission or even knowledge. The trial court awarded Richard credit for one-half (½) of the money Barbara took. The Court of Appeals in IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF BARBARA BUDELIER AND RICHARD BUDELIER reversed the trial judge and […]
Being a guest in a home does not mean you had possession of the drugs that were in the home
Whether a person has possession of a controlled substance is controlled by the facts of each case. Here a person was convicted of possession of a controlled substance because he was in the home and near where the drugs were found. The conviction was overturned and the case ordered dismissed in: STATE OF IOWA, vs. […]