This bill amends Iowa's marriage laws to allow couples applying for a marriage license to jointly waive the grounds for dissolution of marriage based solely on a breakdown of the marriage relationship. The waiver must be voluntarily signed by both parties and filed with the county registrar at the time of the marriage license application. If a waiver is executed, it establishes that the parties will be subject to specific grounds for dissolution as outlined in the new section 598.4A, which includes adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, abuse, or living separately for two years.

Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to existing laws regarding the dissolution of marriage to reflect the new waiver process. It specifies that if a waiver is in place, the grounds for dissolution will differ from those applicable when no waiver is filed. The waiver is presumed valid unless proven otherwise by clear and convincing evidence. Overall, the bill aims to clarify the legal framework surrounding marriage and its dissolution in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 595.4, 598.4A