Bill > HF932

This bill modifies existing Iowa law regarding joint physical custody of children by changing the requirements and process for awarding joint physical care. Under the proposed legislation, if joint legal custody is awarded to both parents, the court shall now require parents to submit a proposed joint physical care parenting plan that details how they will make decisions, provide a home, divide the child's time, resolve disagreements, and handle additional expenses. If the court denies a request for joint physical care, it must provide specific findings explaining why such an arrangement is not in the child's best interest and must list specific requirements the non-custodial parent must meet to potentially obtain joint physical care in the future. The bill also introduces a provision that allows the court to still deny joint custody even after a parent meets the previously specified requirements, provided the court makes a determination that joint custody is not in the child's best interest and provides specific factual findings. Additionally, the bill emphasizes that the parent with physical care must support the other parent's relationship with the child and is prohibited from intentionally impeding the other parent's efforts to meet court-specified requirements for obtaining joint physical care.

Justice

Judiciary (H)

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF932