Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 598.7 (2026)

Mediation

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The district court may, on its own motion or on the motion of any party, order the parties to participate in mediation in any dissolution of marriage action or other domestic relations action. Mediation performed under this section shall comply with the provisions of chapter 679C. The provisions of this section shall not apply if the action involves a child support or medical support obligation enforced by child support services. The provisions of this section shall not apply to actions which involve elder abuse pursuant to chapter 235F or domestic abuse pursuant to chapter 236. The provisions of this section shall not affect a judicial district’s or court’s authority to order settlement conferences pursuant to rules of civil procedure. The court shall, on application of a party, grant a waiver from any court-ordered mediation under this section if the party demonstrates that a history of domestic abuse exists as specified in section 598.41, subsection 3, paragraph “j”.

2. The supreme court shall establish a dispute resolution program in family law cases that includes the opportunities for mediation and settlement conferences. Any judicial district may implement such a dispute resolution program, subject to the rules prescribed by the supreme court.

3. The supreme court shall prescribe rules for the mediation program, including the circumstances under which the district court may order participation in mediation.

4. Any dispute resolution program shall comply with all of the following standards:

a. Participation in mediation shall include attendance at a mediation session with the mediator and the parties to the action, listening to the mediator’s explanation of the mediation process, presentation of one party’s view of the case, and listening to the response of the other party. Participation in mediation does not require that the parties reach an agreement.

b. The parties may choose the mediator, or the court shall appoint a mediator. A court-appointed mediator shall meet the qualifications established by the supreme court.

c. Parties to the mediation have the right to advice and presence of counsel at all times.

d. The parties to the mediation shall present any agreement reached through the mediation to their attorneys, if any. A mediation agreement reached by the parties shall not be enforceable until approved by the court.

e. The costs of mediation shall be borne by the parties, as agreed to by the parties, or as ordered by the court, and may be taxed as court costs. Mediation shall be provided on a sliding fee scale for parties who are determined to be indigent pursuant to section 815.9.

5. The supreme court shall prescribe qualifications for mediators under this section. The \n Tue Dec 09 22:00:11 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 598 (41, 1) 5 DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS, §598.10\n\nqualifications shall include but are not limited to the ethical standards to be observed by mediators. The qualifications shall not include a requirement that the mediator be licensed to practice any particular profession. [C51, §1481; R60, §2533; C73, §2222; C97, §3173; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10471; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §598.4; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §598.7] 2005 Acts, ch 69, §31; 2014 Acts, ch 1107, §17; 2016 Acts, ch 1073, §162; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1232 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 29 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1952–2026 · leading case: Bouska v. Bouska, 86 N.W.2d 884 (Iowa 1957).

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Bouska v. Bouska, 86 N.W.2d 884 (Iowa 1957). · cites it 4× “8, subsection 5, Code of 1954; there was no sufficient corroboration as required by section 598.7; the record shows condonation of the alleged marital offenses of the defendant, at least to the extent that doubt is cast upon plaintiff’s fears of harm through continued living…”

Craft v. Craft, 226 N.W.2d 6 (Iowa 1975). · cites it 6× “Respondent’s first assignment asserts a failure to comply with § 598.7 and § 598.8, The Code. Section 598.”

Arnold v. Arnold, 133 N.W.2d 53 (Iowa 1965). · cites it 2× “Code section 598.7 provides “No divorce shall be granted on the testimony of the plaintiff alone.”

In Re Marriage of Boyd, 200 N.W.2d 845 (Iowa 1972). · cites it 2× “In discussing the purpose of section 598.7, The Code, 1966, this court has said corroboration is required to prevent collusion between the parties.”

Lamp v. Lamp, 60 N.W.2d 844 (Iowa 1953). · cites it 4× “Section 598.7, 1950 Code. Necessary corroboration may be had from a defendant’s own testimony.”

Beno v. Beno, 149 N.W.2d 778 (Iowa 1967). · cites it 2× “The trial court did not find plaintiff’s testimony was not corroborated as required by Code section 598.7 bat indicated some question in this regard by reference to Baker v.”

Lehmkuhl v. Lehmkuhl, 145 N.W.2d 456 (Iowa 1966). · cites it 2× “Code section 598.7 does not so require. Corroboration is required to prevent collusion between the parties, and we think the evidence makes it abundantly clear that situation did not exist here.”

Payton v. Payton, 108 N.W.2d 358 (Iowa 1961). · cites it 2× “He states he did discuss the religious problem, that was a1 small amount of their arguments, but they spent untold hours talking about Jo Ann and things she did.”

Hancock v. Hancock, 131 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 1964). · cites it 2× “We hold defendant’s conduct did endanger plaintiff’s life.”

Smith v. Smith, 139 N.W.2d 453 (Iowa 1966). · cites it 2× “We have consistently held corroboration as required by Code section 598.7 may be furnished by defendant’s own testimony.”

Erickson v. Erickson, 154 N.W.2d 106 (Iowa 1967). · cites it 2× “We may as well refer here also to the requirement of Code section 598.7 that the testimony of plaintiff be corroborated.”

Duwe v. Duwe, 72 N.W.2d 501 (Iowa 1955). · cites it 2× “Our corroboration statute, section 598.7, Code of 1954, merely provides: “No divorce shall be granted on the testimony of the plaintiff alone.”

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— Iowa Code § 598.7(4)(d) — 1 case

In re the Marriage of Wagner (Iowa Ct. App. 2026).

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