Real numbers for Iowa — filing fees, attorney rates, contested vs. uncontested costs, county breakdowns, and what you can do to reduce your total.
✓ Filing fees verified against Iowa court records · Updated July 2026
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Calculate My Iowa Divorce Cost →The cost of divorce in Iowa ranges from roughly $2,400 for a simple uncontested case to $27,200 or more for a contested divorce that goes to trial. The single biggest factor is not the state — it is how much you and your spouse disagree.
Iowa requires a 90-day waiting period — one of the longer mandatory periods in the Midwest.
| Divorce Type | Low Estimate | Typical | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncontested, no children | $185 | $785 | $4,000 |
| Uncontested with children | $2,400 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Contested, no trial | $9,350 | $17,000 | $27,200 |
| Contested, goes to trial | $27,200 | $32,300 | $50,000+ |
| Savings going uncontested | Up to $13,000 per spouse | ||
The court filing fee in Iowa is paid when you submit your divorce petition to the court. This is a fixed, unavoidable cost regardless of whether your divorce is contested or uncontested.
Filing fee note: $185 statewide average
| Polk County (Des Moines) | $185 |
| Linn County (Cedar Rapids) | $185 |
| Scott County | $185 |
Divorce attorney hourly rates in Iowa average $200 per hour.
Get a personalized estimate in 60 seconds.
Open Iowa Calculator →Filing fees based on Iowa court records as of July 2026. This is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.