Iowa Domestic Abuse Law Articles

In this article, we discuss what qualifies as abuse for Iowa Protective Orders. There must be a proven history of abuse to obtain a protective order. Specific acts that could be classified as abuse include pushing, hitting, kicking, forcibly holding, and shaking. If a petitioner is threatened with a knife, gun, or other deadly weapon, they can claim abuse against the respondent. Verbal abuse is typically not considered domestic abuse under Iowa law when petitioning for a protective order.

Protective orders are court orders intended to stop current and prevent future abuse and harassment between family and/or household members. To learn more about protective orders in Iowa, read what Constitutes abuse for the Purpose of an Iowa Protective Order.

In the state of Iowa, there are several types of protective orders. The determination of which type of protective order you need is dependent on the events prior to the filing of the order, as well as the restrictions you would like to establish moving forward and severity of crimes committed. The aggrieved party can file for a criminal no-contact, civil no-contact, or civil protective order, depending on the circumstances of the case. A protective order by consent can also be established when deemed in best interest of both parties or children, even in cases of domestic abuse or accompanying Dissolution of Marriage Decree.