Iowa Code § 236.5 (2026)

1. Upon a finding that the defendant has engaged in domestic abuse: a. The court may order that the plaintiff, the defendant, and the children who are members of the household receive professional counseling, either from a private source approved by the court or from a source appointed by the court. Costs of counseling shall be paid in full or in part by the parties and taxed as court costs. If the court determines that the parties are unable to pay the costs, they may be paid in full or in part from the county treasury. b. The court may grant a protective order which may contain but is not limited to any of the following provisions: (1) That the defendant cease domestic abuse of the plaintiff. (2) That the defendant not knowingly possess, ship, transport, or receive firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition in violation of section 724.26, subsection 2. (3) That the defendant grant possession of the residence to the plaintiff to the exclusion of the defendant or that the defendant provide suitable alternate housing for the plaintiff. (4) That the defendant stay away from the plaintiff’s residence, school, or place of employment. (5) The awarding of temporary custody of or establishing temporary visitation rights with regard to children under eighteen. (a) In awarding temporary custody or temporary visitation rights, the court shall give primary consideration to the safety of the victim and the children. (b) If the court finds that the safety of the victim or the children will be jeopardized by unsupervised or unrestricted visitation, the court shall condition or restrict visitation as to time, place, duration, or supervision, or deny visitation entirely, as needed to guard the safety of the victim and the children. (c) The court shall also determine whether any other existing orders awarding custody or visitation rights should be modified. (d) Prior to entry of an order or agreement under this section that involves a child-custody determination as defined in section 598B.102, the parties shall furnish information to the court in compliance with section 598B.209. (6) Unless prohibited pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1738B, that the defendant pay the clerk a sum of money for the separate support and maintenance of the plaintiff and children under eighteen. (7) A grant to the petitioner of the exclusive care, possession, or control of any pets or companion animals owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, respondent, or minor child of the petitioner or respondent whose welfare may be affected by the controversy. The court may forbid the respondent from approaching, taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise disposing of\n\nTue Dec 09 22:20:44 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 236 (31, 0) 5 DOMESTIC ABUSE, §236.6\n\nthe pet or companion animal. This subparagraph shall not apply to livestock as defined in section 717.1, held solely or primarily for commercial purposes. 2. The court may approve a consent agreement which may contain but is not limited to any of the provisions specified in subsection 1, paragraph “b”, without a finding the defendant has engaged in domestic abuse. 3. An order for counseling, a protective order, or approved consent agreement shall be for a fixed period of time not to exceed one year. The court may amend or extend its order or a consent agreement at any time upon a petition filed by either party and after notice and hearing. The court may extend the order if the court, after hearing at which the defendant has the opportunity to be heard, finds that the defendant continues to pose a threat to the safety of the victim, persons residing with the victim, or members of the victim’s immediate family. At the time of the extension, the parties need not meet the requirement in section 236.2, subsection 2, paragraph “d”, that the parties lived together during the last year if the parties met the requirements of section 236.2, subsection 2, paragraph “d”, at the time of the original order. The number of extensions that can be granted by the court is not limited. 4. The order shall state whether a person is to be taken into custody by a peace officer for a violation of the terms stated in the order. 5. The court may order that the defendant pay the plaintiff’s attorney fees and court costs. 6. An order or consent agreement under this section shall not affect title to real property. 7. A copy of any order or approved consent agreement shall be issued to the plaintiff, the defendant, the county sheriff of the county in which the order or consent decree is initially entered, and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the county sheriff. Any subsequent amendment or revocation of an order or consent agreement shall be forwarded by the clerk to all individuals and the county sheriff previously notified. 8. The clerk shall notify the county sheriff and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the county sheriff in writing so that the county sheriff and the county sheriff’s dispatcher receive written notice within six hours of filing the order, approved consent agreement, amendment, or revocation. The clerk may fulfill this requirement by sending the notice by facsimile or other electronic transmission which reproduces the notice in writing within six hours of filing the order. 9. The county sheriff’s dispatcher shall notify all law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over the matter and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the law enforcement agencies upon notification by the clerk. [C81, §236.5] 83 Acts, ch 123, §93, 209; 86 Acts, ch 1179, §1; 87 Acts, ch 154, §2, 3; 89 Acts, ch 85, §1; 91 Acts, ch 218, §7, 8; 91 Acts, ch 219, §3; 93 Acts, ch 157, §4; 95 Acts, ch 180, §11; 96 Acts, ch 1019, §1; 97 Acts, ch 175, §228; 99 Acts, ch 57, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1129, §2; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §39, 40; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §222; 2010 Acts, ch 1083, §2; 2010 Acts, ch 1159, §5, 6; 2014 Acts, ch 1098, §4; 2022 Acts, ch 1042, §1, 2 Referred to in §236.4, 236.6, 236.19, 331.424, 598.41, 598.42, 598C.305, 664A.4, 708.2A, 915.22, 915.50 For restrictions concerning issuance of mutual protective orders, see §236.20