District 5 Family Law Mediation

Mediation Forms

To be on the Statewide list of Mediators the Family Law mediators shall have at minimum 40 hours of mediation training.

Attorneys interested in becoming a mediator in the Fifth Judicial District should contact:

Austin Westermann
austin.westermann@iowacourts.gov

Children in the Middle

Mandatory Education for Divorcing Parents

Iowa law requires that parties to any action which involves the issues of child custody or visitation must attend a court-approved course about the affects of divorce on children. In all judicial districts, there are courses such as “Children in the Middle or Children Cope with Divorce. These classes are designed to help minimize the negative impact of divorce on children and educate parents about the needs of children whose parents are divorcing.

Parents are required to attend within forty-five days of the service of original notice or application for modification of an order. A final decree shall not be entered until the parties have complied with this requirement, but under certain circumstances attendance can be waived by the court.

Each participant must pay a fee. Other persons, such as grandparents may also attend for a fee. The registration procedure for each provider may vary, so participants should call to get specific information when planning to attend a class.

District 5 Court Approved Children in the Middle Providers (PDF)

Iowa Center for Children’s Justice Workshops

Parties to a dissolution (divorce) action are required in some counties in the Fifth Judicial District to have their children participate in workshops presented by the Iowa Center for Children’s Justice. Specifically, children between the ages of 6 and 16 are currently required to attend such workshops in Polk County; workshops will be required in Dallas County divorce cases beginning January 1, 2023, and the workshops will be expanded into Warren County in mid-2023. Information regarding the registration for these workshops is available in the Family Law Case Requirements Order (FLCRO) issued at the beginning of the divorce action, or by using the following link: https://www.iowachildrensjustice.org/registration

An informational flyer regarding these workshops is also available here.