Des Moines Iowa Law Blog
Bored teens and the impact on crime
Teen crime happens for many reasons. They may want to impress their friends. They may like the thrill. They may not understand how serious their decisions are. They may feel like they have no choice -- with financial crimes and limited income, for instance. One major...
Why do divorced parents struggle with co-parenting?
Your divorce is in the past and it’s time to look toward the future. If you have children with your ex-spouse, however, that means co-parenting with them until the kids reach the legal age of 18. Even if you go into co-parenting with the best intentions, it has the...
Underage drinking and the reasons it happens
Parents are well aware that underage drinking happens in the United States. People are theoretically not supposed to have a drink until they turn 21, but many young people look at that as merely the age when they can go to the bar or buy alcohol on their own. They...
Work out a parenting plan with less stress
When you and an ex have to work out child custody arrangements, things can get tense. Many parents go through negotiations to come up with the terms. Being able to work through those with as little stress as possible can not only make things easier for you, your...
What’s the importance of actual versus constructive possession?
When the state of Iowa takes legal action against someone accused of drug possession, proving that person possessed the drugs is a major part of the legal process. Unfortunately, people who weren't actually in possession of drugs could still wind up charged with drug...
Why does less education mean more divorce?
When you look at divorce statistics in light of education levels, you find that those with less education tend to get divorced at a higher rate. Someone who only graduated from high school may have higher odds of divorce than someone who graduated from college, for...
Jail time doesn’t help teenage offenders
Jails and prisons are often referred to as correctional facilities because it creates the idea that those who are brought to these facilities can have their behavior “corrected” by spending time behind bars. Someone who breaks the law at a young age should, in theory,...
Creating the ideal schedule: 3 tips for your custody plan
You and your ex-spouse have been honest about your schedules and found that neither of you can decide on a good custody arrangement for your child. You want to have her stay with you a few days of the week, and your ex-spouse wants that as well. Since she’s in school,...
What happens if you refuse a Breathalyzer in Iowa?
You’re on your way home when you see those red and blue flashing lights in your mirror and think, “Uh-oh.” You’re absolutely certain that you’re not drunk but you did have a couple of beers earlier. You’re afraid the officer is going to smell the alcohol on you and...
Putting your child’s best interests first
You often hear people talk about how the standard for a divorce court is to make decisions that are in the child’s best interests. This means that the parents’ wishes may come second if the judge decides that the child needs something other than what they want. A...
