Des Moines Iowa Law Blog
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...
Temporary restricted licenses benefit people with OWIs
Of all the potential consequences that people face after getting charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI), the loss of their license may be the most frustrating. After all, if you can't drive, you will struggle to get to and from your job or to fulfill the basic...
Can refusing a breath test help you avoid an Iowa OWI?
People get arrested every day across the state of Iowa for operating while intoxicated (OWI). Officers often watch carefully for signs of impairment and then pull someone over if they swerve, drive in a strange or erratic manner or possibly if their tires graze the...
What will the judge ask me at an Iowa child custody hearing?
A child custody hearing is your chance to present your case to the judge; to tell them why you want custody of your child. Knowing the type of questions the judge could ask you lets you prepare your answers. If you can give clear, well thought out answers, you will...
Iowa’s first “ban the box” rule is upheld in first court challenge
The average criminal defense attorney understands that even very good people can make big mistakes. Few people ever get involved in any kind of criminal activity in a vacuum. Addiction, financial worries, marital concerns, a history of abuse, mental illness and other...
How to make your divorce easier on your teenager
Skin break-outs. First-time break-ups. And now your parents are getting divorced? There’s nothing easy about being a teenager, and adding a divorce to the mix can make it even more complicated. Here are a few things you can do to make your divorce a little easier on...
Drug courts offer hope to those charged because of addiction
There are thousands of people across Iowa and likely just within the Des Moines area who struggle with addiction. Whether their addiction is to synthetic opioids, heroin, methamphetamine or other controlled substances, those struggling with addiction will likely...
Drinks hit hard after the bar? You could face a DWI
You decided to go out for a drink, but you didn’t think to make plans to get home. You didn’t think you’d need a ride since you only planned to have one or two drinks. The night didn’t exactly go as expected, and you decided to drive home after several rounds of...
