Iowa is an at-will employment state. At-will employment means that either the employer or employee can terminate the employment relationship for any reason without any notice required. This can be contrasted with contract employment relationships where contracts specify the terms of the employment.
After you are in an accident or injured, you should first seek medical attention. Be sure to report the incident so that there is a record of the accident or injury. Contact a lawyer shortly after you obtain medical treatment.
Mediation is a process where a neutral facilitator works with two or more parties in order to help them find a solution to a conflict without going to court. Mediators work with all parties together or separately to help resolve their conflict. Mediators can help people in conflict find create solutions that they can be satisfied with without going to court.
If you do not like the work that a contractor did for you, keep in mind that you have 10 years from the date of a written contract to sue for breach of contract or, if there is not a written contract, 10 years from the date that you discovered that you found out that the work was defective. Learn more about the steps that you can take with the contractor before you take legal action.
Child support is calculated in Iowa by using guidelines that are set by the Iowa Supreme Court. The guidelines are used to determine how to divide the parent’s financial responsibilities to care for their children. Child support can be withheld from a parent’s paycheck or parents can send checks for child support to the clerk of court in the county where the child support order was issued. If one parent fails to pay child support, the other parent can contact the Child Support Recovery Unit or a private lawyer.
Meeting with a lawyer to talk about a divorce can be one of the most stressful things that a person may do. Before you select a lawyer, you may want to consider how much the lawyer may charge to represent you in the divorce and how much experience the lawyer has in representing clients in their divorces. Before you see your lawyer, gather copies of your most recent bank, credit card, and retirement fund statements along with your last 6 months of pay stubs and your tax return. Be prepared to talk with your lawyer about what you want to get out of the divorce.
If you file for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 13, it will stay on your bank report for seven years. If you file under Chapter 7, it will stay on your credit report for 10 years. Late payments that you make will stay on your credit report for seven years. You can rebuild your credit after bankruptcy by making timely and consistent payments to your creditors, reaffirming certain types of debts and by making wise credit decisions going forward.
Before you contest or challenge a will, it is important to find out what the consequences will be in case you lose the contest. When you contest a will, you ask a judge or jury to void the will so that its effects will be defeated. There are procedures and deadlines that you will need to follow in order to contest a will. You only have a short amount of time from the date that a will is admitted to probate to file a lawsuit contesting the will.
The following information will assist you if you are in need of an attorney for a civil legal matter but cannot afford one.
A power of attorney is a written document by which one person gives to another person (the attorney-in-fact) the authority to act on behalf of the first person in one or more matters.
A written rental agreement between the landlord and the tenant is not necessary if the lease will last less than a year.
A living trust, also known as a revocable trust, revocable living trust, or inter vivos trust, is an alternative way to own property during your life and transfer property at your death.
If someone else is more at fault for your injury than you are, you may make a claim against that person or business and their insurance company, if any.
Everyone should make a will before they die to endure that their property is distributed according to their wishes.
This handbook was prepared by the: Young Lawyers Division Services to the Elderly Committee of the Iowa State Bar Association.
This section has information and resources about child support in Iowa.
Domestic violence is abuse or threats of abuse when the person being abused and the abuser are or have been in an intimate relationship (married or domestic partners, are dating or used to date, live or lived together, or have a child together).
Basic information about obtaining a divorce in Iowa.
Under Iowa law, if there are children involved in a divorce, the parents must attend a court-approved class on how divorce affects children, designed to educate parents about the pitfalls and emotional effect divorce can have on children.
The Iowa lemon law covers persons who purchase or lease a new or previously untitled motor vehicle for purposes other than resale or sublease. The lemon law also covers any other person entitled by the warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty during the lemon law rights period. The definition of “person” includes any natural person or his/her legal representative, a partnership, corporation, company, trust, business entity or association.
This pamphlet outlines some key issues you need to consider when you purchase a residence without the assistance of a realtor as well as those situations where the seller is trying to sell a residence in a "for sale by owner” situation sometimes called a FSBO.
Jury service is one of the most important duties of citizenship. The right to trial by jury is one of the most important guarantees of our freedom contained in the U. S. Constitution. However, this right would not mean very much without people who were willing to serve as jurors. When you are summoned to jury service, please answer the call to serve. It is your civic duty. It is your chance to participate directly in our democracy. To learn more ab - A Jury of Our Peers.out Iowa's jury selection process by reading the information below or you may view the latest jury instructional video
To find a legal professional to meet your needs, please visit www.iowafindalawyer.com.
Commonly requested legal forms in Iowa
This guide gives the public an attorneys in Iowa an overview of the standards for professional conduct within Iowa.
This is a glossary which describes the different areas of law.
A list of frequently asked questions for the public.
It is important to select an attorney who can help with the specific legal problem. Most lawyers practice in certain areas, and only take cases in their practice areas.
The relatively small amount of money involved in some legal claims often makes it economically impractical for people to hire a lawyer to represent them in small claims court. In these cases, people usually have to represent themselves and many times they just give up.
One of the most frequently asked questions asked of a legal professional is how they determine the fees that they charge. Some people considering hiring an attorney are hesitant to do so for fear of the cost.
There may be a time where you may need someone to act on your behalf because of circumstances beyond your control. This can be even more important should you need medical care but you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
If someone else is more at fault for your injury than you are, you may make a claim against that person or business and their insurance company, if any.
Are you considering starting a new business or adopting a new business form for an existing business?
Your legal rights and responsibilities as an adult.
A legal information and resource guide produced by the young lawyers division of the Iowa State Bar Association.
Living Wills, also called Advance Care Directives, are documents that set forth your personal wishes with respect to medical care.
Concern is manifested not infrequently about attorneys’ fees. Some who have benefited from a lawyer’s services occasionally express surprise at the amount charged and wonder how the lawyer arrived at a particular fee.
So you're going to be a witness. For many, this can be a very stressful experience. We understand that you may feel anxious or nervous about testifying in court before a judge, lawyers, and jury.
The most careful and conscientious drivers are not immune to automobile accidents. It can be an emotional and confusing experience.
One of the most important roles a lawyer plays is the of a problem solver.
Learn more about bankruptcy and what it means for you.
Even the most careful and conscientious drivers are not immune from automobile accidents.
Everything you need to know about arbitration and mediation.