Des Moines sits in Polk County, Iowa, so family court is handled at the county level. How and where to file family court papers from Des Moines: the right clerk of court, e-filing, filing fees, and self-help for custody, child support, and divorce.
Des Moines sits in Polk County, Iowa. Family court matters for Des Moines residents are filed with the clerk of court for the Polk county. Start with the Polk county court resources linked on this page to confirm the family division, courthouse location, hours, and accepted filing formats. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help resource and not a law firm.
Iowa uses Iowa eFile (EDMS) for electronic court filings. Whether self-represented filers in Des Moines can e-file depends on the court and case type, so confirm with the clerk before you submit. Where e-filing is not open to you, the clerk will accept paper filings in person or by mail.
Dissolution filing fee: ~$265. The exact amount is set by the clerk and changes over time, so verify the current schedule before filing. If you cannot afford the fee, Iowa courts let you ask for a fee waiver based on income.
Yes. Iowa maintains a statewide self-help resource for people without a lawyer, and many clerks run a local self-help center too. Use those official resources for forms and procedure, and use FamilyCourtHelp.com to organize your case, draft documents, and prepare. This page is educational and not legal advice.
Des Moines is served by the Polk county court in Iowa. Divorce, custody, child support, and parenting-plan cases for Des Moines residents are heard in that court's family division.