§ 598.8

598.8 Hearings — exceptions. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, hearings for dissolution of marriage shall be held in open court upon the oral testimony of witnesses, or upon the depositions of suchwitnesses taken as in other equitable actions or taken by a commissioner appointed by thecourt. The court may in its discretion close the hearing. Hearings held for the purpose ofdetermining child custody may be limited in attendance by the court. Upon request of eitherparty, the court shall provide security in the courtroom during the custody hearing if a historyof domestic abuse relating to either party exists. 2. The court may enter a decree of dissolution without a hearing under either of the following circumstances: a. All of the following circumstances have been met:(1) The parties have certified in writing that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed andthere remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. (2) All documents required by the court and by statute have been filed.(3) The parties have entered into a written agreement settling all of the issues

likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. (2) All documents required by the court and by statute have been filed.(3) The parties have entered into a written agreement settling all of the issues involved in the dissolution of marriage. b. The respondent has not entered a general or special appearance or filed a motion or pleading in the case, the waiting period provided under section 598.19 has expired, and all ofthe following circumstances have been met: (1) The petitioner has certified in writing that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed andthere remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. (2) All documents required by the court and by statute have been filed.[C73, §2222; C97, §3173; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §10472; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §598.5; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §598.8] 95 Acts, ch 165, §1; 95 Acts, ch 182, §21; 2000 Acts, ch 1034, §1, 2 Sat Dec 23 11:09:58 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 598.8 (17, 0)