236.3  Commencement of actions--waiver to juvenile court.

A person, including a parent or guardian on behalf of an unemancipated minor, may seek relief from domestic abuse by filing a verified petition in the district court. Venue shall lie where either party resides. The petition shall state the:

1.  Name of the plaintiff and the name and address of the plaintiff's attorney, if any. If the plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the petition shall state a mailing address for the plaintiff. A mailing address may be provided by the plaintiff pursuant to section 236.10.

2.  Name and address of the parent or guardian filing the petition, if the petition is being filed on behalf of an unemancipated minor. For the purposes of this chapter, "plaintiff" includes a person filing an action on behalf of an unemancipated minor. A mailing address may be provided by the plaintiff pursuant to section 236.10.

3.  Name and address, if known, of the defendant.

4.  Relationship of the plaintiff to the defendant.

5.  Nature of the alleged domestic abuse.

6.  Name and age of each child under eighteen whose welfare may be affected by the controversy.

7.  Desired relief, including a request for temporary or emergency orders.

The filing fee and court costs for an order for protection under this chapter shall be waived for the plaintiff. The clerk of court, the sheriff of any county in this state, and other law enforcement and corrections officers shall perform their duties relating to service of process without charge to the petitioner. When an order for protection is entered by the court, the court may direct the defendant to pay to the clerk of court the plaintiff's filing fees and reasonable costs of service of process if the court determines the defendant has the ability to pay the plaintiff's fees and costs.

If the person against whom relief from domestic abuse is being sought is seventeen years of age or younger, the district court shall waive its jurisdiction over the action to the juvenile court.

Section History: Early form

  [C81, § 236.3]

Section History: Recent form

  85 Acts, ch 175, § 3; 86 Acts, ch 1237, § 12; 91 Acts, ch 218, §5; 95 Acts, ch 180, § 8-10; 96 Acts, ch 1034, § 12; 2000 Acts, ch 1119, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 43, §1

Internal References

  Referred to in § 232.8, 236.3A, 236.6, 236.19, 598.41, 915.50


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