Best Divorce Attorneys in Iowa
Timothy M. Duffy
Divorce Lawyers
Timothy M. Duffy has been practicing law in central Iowa for 40 years. He graduated from Drake University Law School in 1982, was admitted into the Iowa Bar in 1983 and opened up his own practice shortly afterward.
Education
- Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
- J.D. – 1982
- Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
- B.S. – 1973
- Major: Economics in Business Administration
Fraternities or Sororities
- Delta Tau Delta
Bar Admissions
- Iowa, 1983
Professional Associations
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Polk County Bar Association
Past Positions
- John Deere, Labor, 1968 to 1985
Kim Baer
Divorce Lawyers
Kim Baer has over 33 years of experience helping her clients. She has worked for fortune 500 companies, small businesses and thousands of individuals and families. She has experience in personal injury, car and semi-truck accident cases, business law, medical malpractice and family law. The Baer Law Office has been voted BEST LAW FIRM in the Des Moines are for the last 7 years by over 13,000 voters. This is because the Baer Law Office prides itself on customer service.
- Personal Injury — Plaintiff
- Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
- Wrongful Death Claims
- Divorce
- Business Law
- Southern District of Iowa
- Northern District of Iowa
- Iowa Supreme Court
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Polk County Bar Association
Jerrad R. Ahrens
Divorce Lawyers
Jerrad R. Ahrens enjoys helping others in difficult situations, particularly custody disputes. His most satisfying cases are when the father is awarded custody of his children.
“The norm is for the court to award the mother custody so it is always nice to be able to help a father stay as actively involved in his child’s life as possible,” Mr. Ahrens said.
Mr. Ahrens said he tries to be a calming influence for clients who find themselves in tense and complex situations. It is his job as a family law attorney to make sure his clients have a clear understanding of all potential issues and possibilities.
“This will enable you to make informed decisions and have an active role in your case,” he said.
Licenses
Mr. Ahrens is licensed in Nebraska and Iowa and admitted to practice in the United States District Court of Nebraska.
Scott Bandstra
Divorce Lawyers
Scott Bandstra of the Bandstra Law Firm in Des Moines, IA is a graduate of Drake Law School (1993) and a 27-year member of the Iowa Bar in good standing. For 27 years, Mr. Bandstra has practices in the areas of Criminal Defense, Automobile Accidents, Personal Injury and Family Law. Scott also serves as corporate counsel for local Mental Health groups with legal issues that often arise during their practice.
BAR Admissions
- Supreme Court of Iowa
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Member of
- Iowa Bar Association
- The Polk County Bar Association
- The American Inns of Court
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- The Iowa Association of Justice
Erin M. Carr
Divorce Lawyers
Erin Carr graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 2002 with a degree in Political Science. In search of more knowledge, he attended the University of Iowa and graduated with another degree in Economics after just one year of study. He then attended law school at Drake University where he graduated with honors in 2006. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Iowa in 2006 and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in 2007. In furtherance of his dedication to trial and appellate advocacy, he gained admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 2013.
Erin started the Carr & Wright Law Firm with his partner, Jeff Wright, in October of 2007. In 2018 the Firm was re branded to the Carr Law Firm. Since then he has focused his practice almost exclusively in the area of litigation and trial work. Erin has provided representation for persons accused of crimes in various district courts of the State of Iowa ranging from simple misdemeanors to major felonies. In the last few years, Erin has moved his practice to federal court as well and has represented individuals in some of the largest drug cases in the history of our state. Erin’s practice also includes work in the areas of divorce, family law, juvenile law, and general civil litigation.
Erin is committed to a competitive fire to represent his clients in the court of law. He believes strongly in the power and justice of the American legal system and he is ready to use his knowledge of the system to aggressively fight for the rights of his clients.
In addition to his litigation practice, Erin has worked to better the legal profession and protect the values promoted by the Iowa Rules of Ethics. He has worked for the Supreme Court Client Securities Commission as a trustee and greatly values his role in protecting the legal profession.
Ryan D. Babich
Divorce Lawyers
Helping his clients successfully navigate through the rough waters of a separation and divorce, Ryan goes beyond just advising you on all of your options and guiding you through the legal process. He effectively and zealously represents you to help reach your goals.
Ryan prides himself in listening carefully to his clients’ needs and responding to them honestly and thoroughly. Most family law clients in Iowa will go through mediation prior to going to court. With Ryan’s experience creating excellent outcomes during the mediation process, his clients often save both the financial and the high emotional costs of going to court. Ryan is also an experienced litigator and he vigorously represents his clients in the courtroom when necessary.
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Collaborative Law
- Mediation
- Appeals
- Unbundled Legal Services
Bar Admissions
- Iowa, 2010
Professional Associations
- Drake Law Review, Junior Editor, 2008 to 2009
- Iowa State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Polk County Bar Association
- Iowa Collaborative Divorce
- Jack Levin Family Law Inns of Court
Douglass S. Marberry
Divorce Lawyers
Graduated from the University of Iowa in 1976 and Drake University Law School in 1988; among other things, I served in the military for eight years between graduating from Iowa and Drake. I was hand selected to be part of a small group of individuals to participate in the Polk County Pilot Mediation Program in April of 1996 and have been actively involved in mediation since that time. In 2004 I was one of thirteen individuals who were trained in collaborative law to establish a local practice group. I have also undergone basic and advanced training/certification in parenting coordination.
Founding member of the Jack D. Levine Family Law American Inns of Court, as well as serving as a master attorney & chair of the membership committee.
Outside of the office I love to spend time interacting with my grandchildren, working around my acreage, boating, skiing and traveling. Summary: I have practiced law for over thirty years and based on my experiences both inside and outside the courtroom, I have become a strong advocate of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). I believe that when parents can place their personal differences aside and focus on shaping the future of any children that may be involved, the children win and hence so do the parents. In ADR, the parties are afforded the opportunity to go hands on and collectively and collaboratively come up with a resolution that they both feel is just and equitable under the circumstances. The alternative is litigation which, among other things, is costly and takes an emotional and financial toll on the parties involved and potentially any children that may be affected. Furthermore, a complete stranger decides the fate of any children that are involved, as well as, their respective parents. Once the trial concludes, the Judge and attorneys absent themselves from the case and the parties are left to pick up the pieces and move forward. This can be very problematic after litigation which by its very nature, puts the parties at odds with one another. Although the collaborative approach might not be appropriate in all cases, those in which it is tend to lead to agreements that stand the test of time.
Patrick C. Peters
Divorce Lawyers
Patrick was raised in central Iowa and attended Iowa State University, graduating from ISU with a BS in Economics and History. He then attended the University of Iowa College of Law, and received his law degree and was admitted to the Bar in 1984. He also received an MBA from the University of Iowa. He has also done graduate work in Theology.
Patrick has practiced law for over 20 years in Iowa and Illinois. He has represented clients in a wide variety of cases, including personal injury, criminal, business/employment, litigation, will/probate, civil, juvenile, corporations and OWI. He has represented clients at trial in various civil and criminal proceedings, including personal injury trials and major felonies (including murder).
Areas Of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Law
- Business & Employment Law
- Civil Litigation
- Wills and Probate
- Juvenile Law
- Corporations
- OWI
Bar Admissions
- Iowa, 1984
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa, 1984
- Illinois, 1999
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa, 2004
Education
- University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa
- J.D. – 1984
- Iowa State University
- B.S.
Timothy D. Ament
Divorce Lawyers
Timothy Ament has practiced law in Waterloo serving clients in Northeastern Iowa since 1988. He has substantial civil trial and litigation experience dealing in car accident, dog bites, bicycle and other personal injury cases. Tim has also represented many individuals and families in divorce, adoption, conservatorship and guardianship cases. Business transactions as well as wills, probate and estates are also within Tim’s areas of practice.
He has authored a scholarly work entitled “Parent’s Loss of Consortium Claims for Adult Children in Iowa: The Magical Age of Eighteen”, published at 41 Drake L.R. 247 (1992). That article was critical of a rule of law that prevented parents from recovering damages suffered by their children who had reached the age of eighteen years, a law which has since been changed.
Tim is an involved citizen in his community, profession and church having served on boards and commissions for the City of Waterloo, for his church, and his bar association. He has served on a local parochial school board as well as being active with Boy Scouts, youth sports and Optimist Club. Tim has been married to his wife Patricia since 1986 and is the father two children.
Having the best divorce lawyer in Iowa can have a significant impact on your life during the divorce process. Divorce is a complex and emotionally challenging legal procedure, and having a skilled and experienced divorce lawyer by your side can be invaluable for several reasons:
Legal expertise: Divorce laws can be intricate and vary from state to state. A top divorce lawyer in Iowa will have a thorough understanding of the state’s divorce laws, ensuring that your rights are protected and that you receive a fair settlement.
Asset division: If you and your spouse have shared assets, such as property, investments, or businesses, a competent divorce lawyer can help ensure a fair division of these assets. This can significantly impact your financial stability post-divorce.
Child custody and support: If you have children, determining custody arrangements and child support can be emotionally charged and legally complex. A skilled lawyer can advocate for your parental rights and work towards an arrangement that is in the best interest of the children.
Negotiation and mediation: A good divorce lawyer can effectively negotiate with the other party or their attorney and engage in mediation to reach amicable settlements, saving time and reducing conflict.
Emotional support: Divorce is emotionally draining, and a top divorce lawyer will not only provide legal guidance but also offer emotional support during this challenging time.
Reduce stress: Navigating the legal system on your own can be overwhelming and stressful. Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Iowa can alleviate this burden, allowing you to focus on healing and rebuilding your life.
Avoid mistakes: Legal proceedings are complex, and mistakes can be costly. Having a skilled attorney can help you avoid errors that could negatively impact your case.
Court representation: If your divorce goes to trial, a seasoned lawyer can represent you effectively in court, presenting your case in the most compelling manner.
In summary, having the best divorce lawyer in Iowa can make a significant difference in the outcome of your divorce, ensuring that your rights and interests are protected and ultimately easing the process of transitioning to a new phase of life. However, it’s important to remember that each case is unique, and the impact of a lawyer’s involvement may vary based on the complexity of the divorce and the cooperation of the parties involved.