1. A proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by filing a verified petition in the
court in equity in the county where the dependent resides or is domiciled, or if the dependent
does not reside in or is not domiciled in this state, where the petitioner or respondent resides,
or where public assistance has been provided for the dependent. The petition shall show
the name, age, residence, and circumstances of the dependent, alleging that the dependent
is in need of and is entitled to support from the respondent, giving the respondent’s name,
age, residence, and circumstances, and praying that the respondent be compelled to furnish
such support. The petitioner may include in or attach to the petition any information which
may help in locating or identifying the respondent including, but without limitation by
enumeration, a photograph of the respondent, a description of any distinguishing marks
of the respondent’s person, other names and aliases by which the respondent has been or
is known, the name of the respondent’s employer, the respondent’s fingerprints, or social
security number.
2. It shall not be necessary for the dependent or the dependent’s witnesses to appear
personally at a hearing on the petition, but it shall be the duty of the petitioner’s representative
to appear on behalf of and represent the petitioner at all stages of the proceeding.
3. If at a hearing on the petition the respondent controverts the petition and enters a
verified denial of any of the material allegations, the judge presiding at the hearing shall stay
the proceedings. The petitioner shall be given the opportunity to present further evidence to
address issues which the respondent has controverted.
4. If the respondent appears at the hearing and fails to answer the petition or admits the
allegations of the petition, or if, after a hearing, the court has found and determined that the
prayer of the petitioner, or any part of the prayer, is supported by the evidence adduced in
the proceeding, and that the dependent is in need of and entitled to support from a party, the
court shall make and enter an order directing a party to furnish support for the dependent and
to pay a sum as the court determines pursuant to section 598.21A or 598.21B, as applicable.
Upon entry of an order for support or upon failure of a person to make payments pursuant
to an order for support, the court may require a party to provide security, a bond, or other
guarantee which the court determines is satisfactory to secure the payment of the support.
\n
Tue Dec 09 22:19:53 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 252A (27, 0)
§252A.6, SUPPORT OF DEPENDENTS 8\n\nUpon the party’s failure to pay the support under the order, the court may declare the security,
bond, or other guarantee forfeited.
5. The court making such order may require the party to make payment at specified
intervals to the clerk of the district court or to the collection services center, and to report
personally to the sheriff or any other official, at such times as may be deemed necessary.
6. A party who willfully fails to comply with or who violates the terms or conditions of the
support order or of the party’s probation shall be punished by the court in the same manner
and to the same extent as is provided by law for a contempt of such court or a violation of
probation ordered by such court in any other suit or proceeding cognizable by such court.
7. Except as provided in 28 U.S.C. §1738B, any order of support issued by a court shall
not supersede any previous order of support issued in a divorce or separate maintenance
action, but the amounts for a particular period paid pursuant to either order shall be credited
against amounts accruing or accrued for the same period under both. This subsection also
applies to orders entered following an administrative process including, but not limited to,
the administrative processes provided pursuant to chapters 252C and 252F.
[C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §252A.6]
85 Acts, ch 100, §1; 89 Acts, ch 166, §3; 93 Acts, ch 79, §35; 96 Acts, ch 1141, §19, 20; 97
Acts, ch 175, §13; 2003 Acts, ch 62, §7; 2005 Acts, ch 69, §4
Referred to in §252A.6A, 252A.13, 602.8102(47)
\n
Notes of Decisions
Davis Ex Rel. Grant v. Davis, 67 N.W.2d 566 (Iowa 1954).
· cites it 44× “Section 252A.6 provides: "1. A proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by a petitioner by filing a verified petition in the court in the county of the state wherein he resides * * *.”
Moore v. Moore, 107 N.W.2d 97 (Iowa 1961).
· cites it 24× “But the effect of this so far as it provides a means of summary notice to a parent under Chapter 252A is destroyed, if it may be said ever to have existed, by a consideration of the history of the present Chapter 252A, particularly the present Section 252A.6, subd. 4. Prior to…”
State Ex Rel. Hamilton v. Snodgrass, 325 N.W.2d 740 (Iowa 1982).
· cites it 6× “He therefore reasons that issues determined in the present proceeding may directly control subsequent proceedings in which his personal freedom is in fact endangered.”
Greenstreet v. Clark, 239 N.W.2d 143 (Iowa 1976).
· cites it 4× “In section 252A.6(1) it is provided that “a proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by a petitioner, or a petitioner’s representative, by filing a verified petition in the court in equity * * “Chapter 252A is unquestionably a special procedure statute.”
Moody Ex Rel. Moody v. Christiansen, 306 N.W.2d 775 (Iowa 1981).
· cites it 4× “On that basis the respondent claims a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because, he says, section 252A.6(1) provides that the child, not its mother, is the proper petitioner.”
Callender v. Skiles, 591 N.W.2d 182 (Iowa 1999).
· cites it 2× “§ 252A.6; see also id. § 252A.2(9). Thus, our task is to determine whether Charles has a cause of action under chapter 600B.”
State Ex Rel. Holleman v. Stafford, 584 N.W.2d 242 (Iowa 1998).
· cites it 4× “Although the New Jersey case involved similar facts, we find that the result it reaches is incompatible with the provisions of Iowa Code section 252A.6(15) and our own prior case law.”
In Re the Marriage of Russell, 490 N.W.2d 810 (Iowa 1992).
· cites it 6× “The trial court determined that the procedures for enforcement and modification of foreign support orders outlined in Iowa Code section 252A.6 or 252A.18 were Patricia’s exclusive remedies to receive increased support under the Pennsylvania decree.”
State Ex Rel. Iowa Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Barnes, 379 N.W.2d 377 (Iowa 1986).
· cites it 4× “Most importantly in this regard, section 252A.6(15) expressly deals with the substance of Jerry’s res judicata argument and, as we recognized in Iowa Department of Social Services ex rel.”
In Re Marriage of Griffey, 629 N.W.2d 832 (Iowa 2001).
· cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 252A.6(15) (1985). Any order of support issued by a court of the state acting as a responding state shall not supersede any previous order of support issued in a divorce or separate maintenance action, but the amounts for a particular period paid pursuant to…”
In Re the Marriage of McMorrow, 342 N.W.2d 73 (Iowa 1983).
· cites it 2× “23 permits the most drastic punishment our law provides — loss of liberty — to be visited upon one willfully disobeying the support provisions of a dissolution decree.”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(1) — 13 cases
Greenstreet v. Clark, 239 N.W.2d 143 (Iowa 1976).
“In section 252A.6(1) it is provided that “a proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by a petitioner, or a petitioner’s representative, by filing a verified petition in the court in equity * * “Chapter 252A is unquestionably a special procedure statute.”
Davis Ex Rel. Grant v. Davis, 67 N.W.2d 566 (Iowa 1954).
“Section 252A.6 provides: "1. A proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by a petitioner by filing a verified petition in the court in the county of the state wherein he resides * * *.”
Moody Ex Rel. Moody v. Christiansen, 306 N.W.2d 775 (Iowa 1981).
“On that basis the respondent claims a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because, he says, section 252A.6(1) provides that the child, not its mother, is the proper petitioner.”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(12) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(13) — 2 cases
State Ex Rel. Hamilton v. Snodgrass, 325 N.W.2d 740 (Iowa 1982).
“He therefore reasons that issues determined in the present proceeding may directly control subsequent proceedings in which his personal freedom is in fact endangered.”
In Re the Marriage of McMorrow, 342 N.W.2d 73 (Iowa 1983).
“23 permits the most drastic punishment our law provides — loss of liberty — to be visited upon one willfully disobeying the support provisions of a dissolution decree.”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(15) — 6 cases
Moore v. Moore, 107 N.W.2d 97 (Iowa 1961).
“But the effect of this so far as it provides a means of summary notice to a parent under Chapter 252A is destroyed, if it may be said ever to have existed, by a consideration of the history of the present Chapter 252A, particularly the present Section 252A.6, subd. 4. Prior to…”
State Ex Rel. Holleman v. Stafford, 584 N.W.2d 242 (Iowa 1998).
“Although the New Jersey case involved similar facts, we find that the result it reaches is incompatible with the provisions of Iowa Code section 252A.6(15) and our own prior case law.”
State Ex Rel. Iowa Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Barnes, 379 N.W.2d 377 (Iowa 1986).
“Most importantly in this regard, section 252A.6(15) expressly deals with the substance of Jerry’s res judicata argument and, as we recognized in Iowa Department of Social Services ex rel.”
In Re Marriage of Griffey, 629 N.W.2d 832 (Iowa 2001).
“See Iowa Code § 252A.6(15) (1985). Any order of support issued by a court of the state acting as a responding state shall not supersede any previous order of support issued in a divorce or separate maintenance action, but the amounts for a particular period paid pursuant to…”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(2) — 1 case
Davis Ex Rel. Grant v. Davis, 67 N.W.2d 566 (Iowa 1954).
“Section 252A.6 provides: "1. A proceeding under this chapter shall be commenced by a petitioner by filing a verified petition in the court in the county of the state wherein he resides * * *.”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(3) — 1 case
In Re Marriage of Griffey, 629 N.W.2d 832 (Iowa 2001).
“See Iowa Code § 252A.6(15) (1985). Any order of support issued by a court of the state acting as a responding state shall not supersede any previous order of support issued in a divorce or separate maintenance action, but the amounts for a particular period paid pursuant to…”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(4) — 1 case
Moore v. Moore, 107 N.W.2d 97 (Iowa 1961).
“But the effect of this so far as it provides a means of summary notice to a parent under Chapter 252A is destroyed, if it may be said ever to have existed, by a consideration of the history of the present Chapter 252A, particularly the present Section 252A.6, subd. 4. Prior to…”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(5) — 2 cases
In Re the Marriage of Russell, 490 N.W.2d 810 (Iowa 1992).
“The trial court determined that the procedures for enforcement and modification of foreign support orders outlined in Iowa Code section 252A.6 or 252A.18 were Patricia’s exclusive remedies to receive increased support under the Pennsylvania decree.”
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(6) — 4 cases
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(7) — 4 cases
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(8) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(9) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 252A.6(y) — 1 case
Moody Ex Rel. Moody v. Christiansen, 306 N.W.2d 775 (Iowa 1981).
“On that basis the respondent claims a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because, he says, section 252A.6(1) provides that the child, not its mother, is the proper petitioner.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.