The bill amends Section 598.41 of the Iowa Code to establish clearer requirements for parents seeking joint physical custody of a child. It mandates that if joint legal custody is awarded, the court shall require both parents to submit a proposed joint physical care parenting plan before ruling on joint physical care requests. This plan must address various aspects of child-rearing, including decision-making, living arrangements, and financial responsibilities. Additionally, if a request for joint physical care is denied, the court must provide specific findings and outline the requirements that the non-awarded parent must meet to be considered for joint physical care in the future.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that a parent's fulfillment of the court's requirements will be regarded as a significant change in circumstances for custody modification purposes. The court retains discretion to deny custody modifications even after a parent meets these requirements if it determines that joint custody is not in the child's best interest, supported by specific findings. The bill also emphasizes that the parent awarded physical care must not obstruct the other parent's ability to meet the court's requirements, ensuring that both parents maintain their rights and responsibilities as joint legal custodians.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 598.41
Reprinted: 598.41