Free Application to Modify Child Support only - Iowa


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Date: May 21, 2008
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State: Iowa
Category: Family Law
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Preview Application to Modify Child Support only
Iowa Court Forms and Instructions for an

Application.
to Modify Child Support Only
Approved by the Iowa Supreme Court and State Court Administrator, Des Moines, IA

You may use the forms in this packet if: · You want to start a court case to modify child support only, · There is a current child support order from an Iowa court that says how much you pay or receive for child support ­ and ­ · You want to increase, decrease or stop child support only. You must use the forms in this packet if you do not have an attorney to help you with the case. You cannot use these forms to change child custody or visitation Before you fill in a form, carefully read the form and instructions. Read the Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court in a Case to Modify Child Support Only (included in this packet). It provides step-by-step instructions on which forms to use and how to file them. After you read the instructions and Guide, if you still do not understand how to fill in or what to do with a form, you should contact an attorney. Clerks and court staff are not allowed to answer questions about these forms.

Contents of this packet
1. A Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court in a Case to Modify Child Support Only 2. Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts 3. Forms for use by an Applicant ­ the person who starts a case to modify child support only
Form number (FL = Family Law)

FL-301* FL-302* FL-303 FL-304* FL-305* FL-306* FL-309*

Application to Modify Child Support Only Coversheet for an Application to Modify Child Support Only Confidential Information Form Original Notice for Personal Service Acceptance of Service of Original Notice Directions for Service of Original Notice Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs (Optional)

4. Forms and instructions that either party may use in a case to modify child support only:
FL-322* FL-323* FL-324* FL-325 FL-326 FL-327* FL-328* Motion Response to a Motion Child Support Financial Statement ­ Each party must complete one of these Affidavit of Mailing Notice Notice of Intent to File a Written Application for Default Decree Request for Relief (Final Decree) in an Application to Modify Child Support Only Settlement Agreement for Application to Modify Child Support (Use if both parties agree.)

NOTE: There is no final "Decree" form in this packet. A judge will complete the final "Decree."
*Forms with an asterisk (*) include an individual set of instructions in this packet. Copyright © 2008 Iowa Judicial Branch (5-12-08)

A Guide to Representing Yourself in Iowa in a Case to Modify Child Support Only
Things You Should Know Before Using Court Forms to Modify Child Support · Please read this Guide carefully. Even if you both agree, you must still go through several steps in the
court process to modify child support. This Guide will help you get through each step.

· The forms identified in this Guide are for changing child support only. You cannot use these forms
to change child custody, physical care, or visitation. If you want to change one of these, you should talk to an attorney.

· If you are not sure what to do after reading this Guide, you should talk with an attorney. An
attorney can help you with all or just some of the steps in a case to modify child support.

· The term "modification" means "a change." The "Applicant" is the person who files the first paper (an
Application) to start a case to modify child support. In the original case the parties involved may have been Petitioner or Respondent. The "Respondent" is the person the case was filed against. You keep these titles for the rest of your case. The Applicant and others in the case are also called the "parties" involved in the case to modify child support.

· Part E. of this Guide defines many other legal terms you need to know. · Page 3 is a list of forms approved by the Iowa court system. You can get them from:
The district court clerk's office in each county (see part F. in this guide) ­ OR ­ The Iowa court system's website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/

· Carefully read the specific instructions for each form. You should also read: Tips on Handling Your
Own Case in Iowa's Courts. It is available from the district court clerk or the state court website (see above).

· Form numbers: The official court forms are in Chapter 17 of the Iowa Court Rules. The official form
numbers include three parts. For example, the "Application to Modify Child Support Only" is form "FL-17.301." The FL stands for "Family Law;" 17 stands for Chapter 17 of the Iowa Court Rules; 301 is the actual form number. To make the Guide somewhat easier to use, the Guide does not include the 17 in the form numbers. They include just the FL and the form number. For example: FL-301 is the Application to Modify Child Support Only.

· Whenever you file a paper at the district court clerk's office, you must deliver a copy of that paper to the
other parties, or to the attorneys. You should also keep a copy for yourself. The only exceptions are the Confidential Information Form (FL-303) and the Civil Coversheet (FL-302). Do not give a copy of these to the other person.

· If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your child support modification case, you must
also mail a copy of each form you file to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support case is filed. (See section G. of this Guide for a list of the CSRU offices in Iowa.)

· It is illegal to sign another person's signature on any court form or other legal paper. · Court staff cannot give you legal advice. They can tell you where to find a set of court forms and the
written instructions for those forms. Almost everything else is up to you.

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· · · · ·

You cannot modify child support by publishing Notice. The law says parents must support their children, whether the parents of a child live together or not. A person can ask the court to change child support if something changes so that the current amount is wrong. You can use the court forms to increase, decrease, or stop child support payments. You can use the forms to stop child support payments if you have been paying child support, but you now have custody of the child or children ­ or ­ if the child or children are no longer eligible to receive child support. (For example, the child turned 18 years of age and is no longer in school.) Child support can be set in a divorce decree. Child support can also be set in a custody lawsuit. The Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) can also file a case to set child support. Judges and CSRU use the income on charts called the Uniform Child Support Guidelines (Guidelines) to set support. To use the Guidelines, you have to know each parent's "net monthly income" and how many children there are. The net monthly income is the gross income (before taxes are taken out) with some expenses subtracted. The child support Guidelines must be used unless there is a very good reason for using a different amount. You can use the child support estimator that CSRU has on its website to give you an estimate of support. The website is: https://dhssecure.dhs.state.ia.us/changechildsupport/asppages/CSChdEst_Dis.asp

· · · ·

· ·

· The child support laws are very complicated. They are in Chapters 252A to 252K of the Code of Iowa.
You can find the Code of Iowa in public libraries ­ OR ­ at: www.legis.state.ia.us/IowaLaw.html (click on "Merged Iowa Code and Supplement). Other statues and rules also deal with child support, including Iowa Court Rules Chapter 9, on the Internet at: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Rules2.html Page

Table of Contents for this Guide
List of Approved Court Forms for a Modification of Child support Only A. How to Begin an Application to Modify Child Support Only B. What Other Parties Must do After Receiving an Original Notice and Application to Modify Child Support Only C. Next Steps D. How to Get a Final Decree E. Terms Used in the Court Process F. District Court Clerks' Offices in Each County in Iowa G. Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) Offices in Iowa

3 4 6 7 8 11 14 16

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List of Approved Court Forms & Instructions to Help Self-Represented Parties Modify Child Support Only*
Read These Two Guides Before Using Any Iowa Court Forms Listed Below. A Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court in a Case to Modify Child Support Only Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts

Forms an Applicant can use to start the process to modify child support process:
FL-301* FL-302* FL-303 FL-304* FL-305* FL-306* FL-309* Application to Modify Child Support Only Coversheet for an Application to Modify Child Support Only (Do not give to the other party) Confidential Information Form Original Notice for Personal Service Acceptance of Service of Original Notice Directions for Service of Original Notice Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs -- Optional: Use if you cannot afford
to pay the court filing fees.

Forms another party (a person who receives a copy of an Application to Modify Child Support) can use to answer the Application:
FL-315* FL-316* Answer to Application to Modify Child Support Only -- Use this if the Applicant uses FL-301. General Answer ­ Use this if Applicant does not use form FL-301.

Forms either party can use in a case to Modify Child Support Only:
FL-322* FL-323* FL-324* FL-325 FL-326 Motion -- Optional; use this to ask a judge to take some action in your case. See the instructions
for this form.

Response to a Motion -- Use this if a party files a Motion (FL-322) and you disagree with
something asked for in the Motion.

Child Support Financial Statement ­ Each party must fill out one of these. Affidavit of Mailing Notice -- Applicant must file this if he or she asks the court for a Modification
of Child Support Only default.

Notice of Intent to File a Written Application for Default Decree -- Applicant uses this if
the other party has not filed an Answer to the Application and the Applicant wants to ask the court for a final Decree.

FL-327*

Request for Relief (Final Decree) in an Application to Modify Child Support Only -- Either party can use this. Usually the Applicant uses this if the other party has not filed an Answer to the Application and the Applicant wants to move forward and ask the court to sign a Decree to Modify Child Support. Settlement Agreement for Application to Modify Child Support Only (Use this if both parties agree.)

FL-328*

*Includes a specific set of instructions

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A. How to Begin an Application to Modify Child Support Only 1. The Applicant must fill in and sign the forms required to start the process to modify child
support.

·

You can get the forms you need from the district court clerk's office in your county. (See part F. at the end of this guide for the addresses and phone numbers of the district court clerk's office in each county in Iowa.) You can also get the forms and instructions from the Iowa court system's website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/ Carefully read the specific instructions for each form. If you don't understand something, you should contact an attorney. Do not contact court staff. Type or print clearly on each form. You should use a blue ink pen to sign each form (if possible).

· ·

Here is a list of the four forms a self-represented Applicant must use to start the process:
Document # Document name

FL-301* FL-302* FL-303 FL-304*

Application to Modify Child Support Only Coversheet for an Application to Modify Child Support Only (Do not give a copy to the other parties) Confidential Information Form (Do not give a copy to the other parties.) Original Notice for Personal Service

*NOTE: Each form with an asterisk [*] includes a specific set of instructions.

The district court clerk in your county can tell you what the filing fee will be. If you think you cannot pay the court filing fee, the court might allow you file without prepaying the fee. To ask the court to allow you to file without prepaying the filing fee, fill in and file form FL-309 (see below). FL-309* Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs -- Optional: Use this if you cannot afford to pay the court filing fees.

*Includes a specific set of instructions

2. Make photocopies of the forms you filled in. ·
FL-301 and FL-304: Make four photocopies if you can deliver copies of these forms to the other parent or parties in-person or by mail. Make three photocopies if you are going to ask the county sheriff or a civil process server to deliver these forms to the other parent or party (See step 4, below.) FL-302 and FL-303: You do not have to make photocopies of these forms.

·

Note about making photocopies: You should make your photocopies before you go to the courthouse to file your papers. It is expensive to make photocopies at the district court clerk's office. It's cheaper to make the copies at a business that makes photocopies or at a public library.

3. Take the original forms you filled -- and photocopies -- to the district court clerk's office in your
county. (See part F. of this guide for the addresses of the district court clerks' offices.)

· ·

Tell the clerk at the counter you are filing an Application to Modify Child Support Only. Give the clerk at the counter the original forms and the photocopies of these forms: FL-301 Application to Modify Child Support Only

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FL-302 Coversheet for an Application to Modify Child Support Only (Do not make copies of this form) FL-303 Confidential Information Form (Do not make copies of this form) FL-304 Original Notice

·

Pay the filing fee ­ or file form FL-309. (See above.) The clerk at the counter can tell you the amount of the filing fee. (See the term "Fees" in part E. of this guide for a list of the fees you might have to pay during the process.) The district court clerk will sign the Original Notice form FL-304. You will have to serve this form on (deliver it to) the other parent or party. (See step 4, below.) The clerk at the counter will time-stamp each of the copies (original and photocopies).

· ·

4. Serve (deliver) the Original Notice FL-304 and a copy of the Application FL-301 on the other
parent or party. Then file your "proof of service." (This is a paper that proves you delivered the Original Notice to the other parent or party.) · You must notify the other parent. · Some person other than a parent may get child support in your case, for example a grandparent or a sibling who is caring for the child. · If someone else gets child support for your child, you have to give that person a copy of the Original Notice of the Application and copies of papers that you file. · If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must also serve CSRU a copy of the Original Notice FL-304 and of the Application FL-301. IMPORTANT: The Applicant has 90 days after filing the Application at the district court clerk's office to serve the Application on the other parent or party. If the Applicant fails to meet this deadline the Application to Modify Child Support Only will be dismissed.

a. Options for completing step 4. (above): You have two options for serving the Original Notice and
Application on the other parties: Option 1: You can hand the forms to the other parties yourself ­ or send the forms to the other parties by regular mail. You must also get the other parties to sign an FL-305 "Acceptance of Service" form. After the other party signs the Acceptance of Service form, you must: Make a photocopy of the Acceptance of Service form for your records ­ and ­ Take the original Acceptance of Service form (the one signed by the other party) to the district court clerk's office. This meets the requirement for "proof of service." FL-305* Acceptance of Service of Original Notice ­ Applicant uses this when the Applicant personally delivers the Original Notice and a copy of the Application to the other parties and the other parties are willing to sign the "Acceptance of Service" form.

*Includes a specific set of instructions

Option 2: You can ask the county sheriff or other civil process server to serve the forms on the other parties. (Note: If you filed an Application & Affidavit to Defer Costs FL-309 and the court approved it, you must have the county sheriff serve the forms.) If you choose option 2, you must fill in two forms: FL-304 and FL-306 FL-306* Directions for Service of Original Notice ­ Use this if you know where the other parties live or work, but you want the county sheriff or other civil process server to deliver the Application (FL-301) and Original Notice (FL-304) to the other parties

*Includes a specific set of instructions

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Give the county sheriff or other process server two copies of the: o Original Notice FL-304, o Application FL-301, and o Directions for Service FL-306. Tell him or her to deliver the Original Notice and Application to the other parties. The sheriff or other process server will file the "proof of service" with the district court clerk after you pay the service fee. If the court granted your Application to Defer Costs FL-309, the county sheriff must be the one who delivers the forms to the other parties. b. If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must serve CSRU a copy of the Original Notice FL-304 and of the Application FL-301. You should also include an Acceptance of Service form FL-305. Mail copies of these three forms to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support modification case is filed. CSRU offices are very busy. You should wait a reasonable number of days for CSRU to file the Acceptance of Service. Then check with the district court clerk's office where the case is filed to learn whether the CSRU filed an Acceptance of Service form. If CSRU did not file an Acceptance of Service form, then you must have the Polk County Sheriff (in Des Moines) or a civil process server deliver the Original Notice FL304 and the Application FL-301 to the Iowa Attorney General's office in Des Moines. The addresses for all the CSRU's regional offices, the Attorney General's office, and the Polk County Sheriff's office are at the end of section G. of this Guide.

.B.

What the Other Parties Must Do After Receiving an Original Notice and Application to Modify Child Support Only

1. Carefully read the papers served on you (an Application and Original Notice) ·
It is very important that you read the papers carefully so you understand what the Applicant is asking for. You might also receive other papers (court "orders") that tell you about important things you must do as part of the process. Examples of these orders are: Setting the date for the pretrial conference, Requiring each party to give financial or other information to the court, or Requiring attendance at mediation (in some counties)

2. Get an Answer form, fill it in, and make four photocopies. ·
Within 20 days after receiving a copy of the Application and Original Notice, you must file an Answer to the Application at the district court clerk's office. You can get the forms you need by contacting the district court clerk's office in your county ­ or ­ from the Iowa judicial branch's website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/ Almost every form comes with a specific set of instructions. You should carefully read the instructions for filling in the form. If you still don't understand something after reading the instructions, you should contact an attorney. Use one of these forms to answer the Application: FL-315* FL-316* Answer to an Application to Modify Child Support Only -- Use this to file an Answer if you received Application form FL-301. General Answer -- Use this if you received an Application to Modify Child Support, but it was not form FL-301.

·

·

*Includes a specific set of instructions

·

Decide which form you need. Then do the following:

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Fill out the form. Print clearly. Sign the form using blue ink (if possible). Make four photocopies of the original.

3. Take your original Answer form and the photocopies to the district court clerk's office in the
county where the Application was filed. (The county is listed at the top of the Application form.)

· · ·

The clerk will time-stamp your forms and copies. The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. Keep one of the copies for your records.

4. Serve one of the copies of your Answer on each of the other parties. · You can hand one of the copies of the Answer form to the Applicant ­ OR ­ mail a copy to the · ·
Applicant at the address shown on the Application. If any of the other parties has an attorney, mail or deliver a copy to the attorney. If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your child support modification case, you must also mail a copy to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support modification case is filed. (The addresses for all CSRU offices in Iowa are in section G. of this Guide.)

.C.

Next Steps

Here is a list of forms that either the Applicant or other parties can use to complete the steps necessary to get a final Decree signed by a judge to modify child support. FL-322* FL-323* FL-324* FL-325 Motion -- Use this to ask the court to do something in your case (optional); see instructions for this form. Response to a Motion -- Use this if the other party filed a Motion FL-322 and you disagree with something that person is asking for in the Motion. Child Support Financial Statement -- Each party must fill out one of these forms. Affidavit of Mailing Notice -- Applicant must file this if he asks the court for a Decree by default. Notice of Intent to File a Written Application for Default Decree -- Applicant uses this form if the other party is "in default" --- which means he or she has not filed an Answer to the Application and the Applicant wants to ask the court to sign a Decree to Modify Child Support. Request for Relief (Final Decree) in an Application to Modify Child Support Only -- Either party can use this. Usually the Applicant uses this if the other party has not filed an Answer to the Application and the Applicant wants to move forward and ask the court to sign a decree to Modify Child Support. Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only -- Use this if both parties agree on the child support amounts and other issues

FL-326

FL-327*

FL-328*

*Includes a specific set of instructions

Other things parties can or must do before getting a final decree in the case.

·

All parties must complete a Child Support Financial Statement Each parent must fill out, sign, and file a Child Support Financial Statement form FL-324 at the district court clerk's office. This gives the court information about your income. You will not get a final Child Support Decree until you complete the Child Support Financial Statement.

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·

The Child Support Guidelines set the amount of child support. To use the Guidelines, you have to know each parent's "net monthly income" and how many children of the relationship the parent supports. The net monthly income is the gross income (before tax income) with taxes and some expenses subtracted. The Guidelines must be used unless there is a very good reason for using a different amount If the parties agree how to change child support, you must complete a Settlement Agreement FL-328. Work together to fill it out and sign the form. Make a photocopy for each person. File the original Settlement Agreement form FL-328 with the district court clerk. You may file a Motion for a Temporary Order (Optional). You might need something that requires a temporary order from the court. If so, file a Motion FL-322 with the district court clerk to ask the court for what you want. Make four copies of the Motion. Take the original and all copies to the district court clerk's office. The clerk will time-stamp your form and copies. The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. Keep one of the copies for your records. Deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each of the parties or attorney ­ and the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part B.4, above). The court might schedule a hearing on your Motion. If another party files a Motion (see above) ­ and you disagree with what the other party is asking the court to do ­ you should fill in and file a Response to the Motion form FL-323. This form allows you to tell the court that you oppose the Motion. After you fill it in you must: Make four copies of the Motion. Take the original and all copies to the district court clerk's office. The clerk will time-stamp your form and copies. The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. Keep one of the copies for your records. Deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each of the parties or attorney ­ and the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part B. 4. above). If the court schedules a hearing on the Motion, the clerk's office will send you a notice telling you the date and time of the hearing. · You must go to the hearing.

·

·

·

You might have to attend educational or mediation programs. (This varies by judicial district.)

.D. Getting a Final Decree
Child support is not changed until a judge signs a final Decree. A judge writes the final Decree. You can get a final Decree by: (1) default, (2) written agreement, or (3) trial.

1. Modification of Child Support Decree by Default
An Applicant can ask the court for a Decree by default if the other parties did not file an Answer within the 20-days after:

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The date the Original Notice FL-304 and a copy of the Application FL-301 were served on the other parties by the county sheriff or other civil process server. ­ OR ­ The date you filed the Acceptance of Service FL-305 at the district court clerk's office. If the other parties did not file an Answer within the 20-day period -- you can ask the court for a Decree by default. Before you can do that, you must first give 10 days notice in writing that you intend to ask the court for a Decree by default. To give 10 days notice, you must: Fill in and file FL-326 (Notice of Intent to File a Written Application for a Default Decree). o Make four photocopies of this form. o Take the original and copies to the district court clerk's office. o The clerk will time-stamp your form and copies. o The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. o Keep one of the copies for your records. o Promptly deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each of the parties or attorney ­ and the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part B.4, above). After you file and serve FL-326, wait 10 days. If the other party does not file an Answer within 10 days, you can ask the court for a Decree by default. To do this, you should: Fill in a Motion FL-322 to set a hearing date. On the Motion form, check item C.2.b. ("Set a hearing date for a modification of child support Decree by default."). o Make four copies of the form. o Take the original and copies to the district court clerk's office. o The clerk will time-stamp your form and copies. o The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. o Keep one of the copies for your records. o Promptly deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each party or the party's attorney ­ and to the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part B.4. (above) and part G. for a list of CSRU offices in Iowa.) The district court clerk will let you know the date, time, and location of the hearing.

·

Before you go to the hearing: Fill in a "Request for Relief" FL-327. This form tells the judge what you want o Make four photocopies of the original form. o Take the papers to the district court clerk's office. o The clerk will time-stamp your form and copies. o The clerk will take the original one and give the copies back to you. o Keep one of the copies for your records. o Deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each of the parties or attorney ­ and the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part G. for a list of CSRU offices in Iowa.) o Bring the original form and your photocopy with you to the hearing. Read: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Court (available at the district court clerk's office and on the judicial branch website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/ On the date of your hearing, go to the courthouse early and ask the district court clerk if the file for your case has been delivered to the judge At the hearing: Be on time. Follow the advice in: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts. Bring your copy of the completed Financial Statement FL-324 The original should be completed and filed with the clerk. Give the judge the original copy of your "Request for Relief" FL-327 After the hearing: · If the judge determines that your case is ready for a Decree, the judge will fill out a final Decree and file it at the district court clerk's office. The district court clerk will either give you

·

·

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a copy or mail a copy to you.

2. Modification of Child Support by Written Agreement
If you and the other party agree on how to change child support, you can work together to fill in a Settlement Agreement form FL-328. After you complete the form, you should: Make four photocopies of the original (one copy for each party). Take the original Settlement Agreement (the one with your original signatures) to the district court clerk's office. Ask the clerk to time-stamp the original and all copies. The clerk will keep the original and give you the copies. Ask the district court clerk when a judge can meet with you about your Settlement Agreement. Because most courts have very busy schedules, it might be one week (or more) before you can meet with a judge. The clerk will tell you or mail you a notice with the date and time when you can meet with the judge. Soon after you leave the clerk's office, deliver a copy (by mail or in-person) to each of the parties or the other party's attorney ­ and the CSRU, if it is involved in the case. (See part B.4. (above) and part G. for a list of CSRU offices in Iowa.) Keep a copy for your own records.

·

Before you see the judge: Ask the clerk if the judge has your case file. Read: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts. (This is available at the district court clerk's office and on the judicial branch website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/ .) When you see the judge: Be on time. Follow the advice in: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts. Bring (1) a completed Child Support Financial Statement FL-324 (it should already be in the court file) ­ and (2) the original Settlement Agreement FL-328 signed by you and the other parties. The judge will probably ask you some questions about your Settlement Agreement. After you see the judge: If the judge decides your case is ready for a Decree, the judge will fill out a final Decree and file it at the district court clerk's office. The district court clerk will either give you a copy or mail a copy to you.

·

·

3. Modification of Child Support Decree after Trial
If the other parties and you do not agree on how to change the child support, ask the district court clerk how you can have your case scheduled for trial. Follow the district court clerk's instructions. You may need to file a Motion FL-322 to have a hearing set.

·

Before you go to court for the trial: Read: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts. Prepare to tell the judge what you want. Each party should complete a separate "Request for Relief" form FL-327. When you appear before the judge at trial: Be on time. Follow the advice in: Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts Bring copies of: o The "Request for Relief" form FL-327. (Each party should have completed his or her own form.) o The "Child Support Financial Statement" form FL-324.

·

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o Any other forms and papers you and the other parties filed with the district court clerk. The judge will ask questions about the issues you disagree about. The judge will make a final decision on child support. ·
After the hearing: The judge will fill out and sign a final Decree and deliver it to the district court clerk's office. The district court clerk will either give you a copy or mail a copy to you.

.E. Terms Used in the Court Process
Acceptance of Service: FL-305 This is a paper the other party can sign to acknowledge (admit) that he or she has received a copy of the Application to Modify Child Support Only and Original Notice from the Applicant Signing this paper does not mean the other party agrees to the modification or anything else that is in the Application. (Note: the county sheriff or other civil process server does not need to serve the Application and Original Notice if the other party signs this Acceptance of Service.) Answer: FL-315 or FL-316 The other parent or party uses this paper to respond to what the Applicant asks for in the Application. Applicant: The person who files an Application to Modify Child Support Only (FL-301) to ask the court to change a child support order. Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs: FL-309 This is a paper that asks the court for an order to allow you to file the Application with the district court clerk without paying the filing fee at that time. You might be required to pay the fee later. Application to Modify Child Support Only: FL-301 is the paper filled in by an Applicant (the person asking the court to change the child support). It asks for a change only in child support, not a change in custody or visitation. It is the first paper filed in court to begin a case to change child support. It gives the court information about the parties involved in the case; and it tells the court what the Applicant wants the court to do. See instructions for form FL-301. Child Support: Money paid to the parent or other person for the support of children. Child Support Financial Statement: FL-324 provides information to the court about your income. This form is available from the district court clerk and on the Iowa judicial branch website at: www.judicial.state.is.us/Self_Help/ Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU): This is a state agency that helps custodial parents obtain child support orders and collect child support payments. If the CSRU is involved in your case, you must mail a copy of any form or document you file to the CSRU. See section G. of this Guide for a list of the CSRU offices in Iowa. Cover Sheet: FL-302 is a form available from the district court clerk. It identifies the type of lawsuit you have filed (Application to Modify Child Support Only). Confidential Information Form: FL-303.. This is information required by Iowa law. It is not a public record.

Decree of Modification of Child Support: A paper signed by the judge that changes your child support. By getting together with the other parties and filling out a Settlement Agreement FL-328, you can tell the judge what you both want the final Decree to say. If you and the other parties do not agree, you can tell the judge what you want the final Decree to say by filling out a Request for Relief FL-327. But the judge will always make the final decision on what the Decree will say. Default: A ruling by the court that a party (or you) did not do something that was required during the process. For example, the judge could enter a default judgment if the other party did not file an Answer after

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receiving an Original Notice. Once the court enters a judgment of default, the court may then issue other orders, including an order to Modify Child Support. See forms FL-326 and FL-327, which can be used to get a "Decree by Default" (see p. 7 of this guide). Directions for Service of Original Notice: FL-306 A paper which gives information to the county sheriff or other civil process server on how and where to serve the Application on the other parties. Discovery: The parties give each other information (usually in writing) which explains the facts about child support. Fees: Money you must pay to the district court clerk when you file your Application and at other times. (NOTE: The fees listed below are set by the state legislature, which sometimes changes the fees.) 1. Court fees are paid to the district court clerk in the county where the case is filed. a) Filing fee to start a case ($100) b) Court reporting fee for each hearing in court ($15) Note on payment of court fees: At the end of your case the court can determine, or the parties can agree, who will pay the fees. This would include the filing fee, court fees, service fees and costs of things such as a subpoena or a deposition. 2. Service fees: Money you must pay to a process server, such as the county sheriff, to serve an Original Notice. (The amount varies by county.) File: This word has two meanings: · It is the act of giving something in writing to the district court clerk. The clerk will stamp the date and time that a filed document was received by the district court clerk. · It also means the folder(s) in which the district court clerk places the documents for a court case. Gross Monthly Income: This is the total of your income before subtracting for anything else, such as taxes, retirement account contributions, health insurance, etc. Guardian Ad Litem: A person, usually an attorney, appointed to look out for the interests of someone in a lawsuit. For example, a guardian ad litem might be appointed for a child or someone who is in prison. Local Rules: Each court has local rules which must be considered while processing your case. The district court clerk can provide you with copies of the local rules. They are also available on the website of the Iowa state courts at: www.judicial.state.ia.us Motion: FL-322 is a paper in which one of the parties asks the court to order something to be done while a case is going on. For example, a party might ask to schedule a hearing. Net Monthly Income: This is the amount of income which you have available to spend after the deductions from your gross monthly income. You net monthly income might be the net amount of your paycheck. Order: A paper signed by the judge telling a party or both parties to do something. Original Notice: FL-304 A paper prepared by the Applicant and signed by the district court clerk. The Applicant serves this paper on the other parties along with the Application. This tells the other party that the Applicant has filed an Application to Modify Child Support Only. See Instructions for Original Notice FL304. Party: This refers to a person, agency, or business in a court case. In a case to modify child support, you and the other people in the case are the "parties" in the lawsuit.

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Petition: The first paper filed in court to start a new civil or family law case. In a divorce (dissolution of marriage), it gives the court information about the parties involved in the case and asks the court to end the marriage. Petitioner: The person who files the Petition to start a family law or other civil case in court. Pro se (pronounced "pro say"): This is a Latin term, which means "for or on behalf of oneself." It is used to describe a person who handles his or her own court case with little or no assistance from an attorney (a pro se party). A pro se party is sometimes called a self-represented party. Process Server: This is a person, other than you, who personally delivers a paper to the other parties. Often this process server is the county sheriff, but it may be another person who delivers legal papers. See "Service" (below). Respondent: The person who receives a Petition in a new court case. In a case to Modify Child Support, the person who receives a copy of the Application to Modify Child Support is the "Respondent" in the case to modify child support. Return of Service: In this paper, the county sheriff or civil process server tells the court that the other party has received a copy of the Application and the Original Notice, or some other paper. Self-represented Party: This refers to a person who handles his or her own court case with little or no assistance from an attorney. A self-represented party is sometimes called a "pro se" (pronounced "pro say") party. Serve (Service): To give the other parties a copy of a paper, like the Application and Original Notice. Some papers must be given in-person and some papers can be sent by mail.

·

Personal Service: This is where a paper (legal document) is delivered to a party in a court case by a sheriff or other civil process server. See forms FL-305 (Acceptance of Service) and FL-306 (Directions for Service). Mailed Service: This is where a paper (legal document) is delivered through the mail to a party in a court case to that party's last known address.

·

Settlement Agreement: A paper with the final agreement between you and the other parties on how to settle the child support. It is filed with the district court clerk and then given to the judge. The Settlement Agreement (FL-328) will include the details of the modification of child support, if the judge agrees.

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F. District Court Clerks' Offices in Each County in Iowa (Updated: December 12, 2006)
Mailing Address County (District) Adair (5B) ............. 400 Public Square, PO Box L, Greenfield 50849.......... Adams (5B)........... 500 9th St., Corning 50841............................ Allamakee (1A)....... 110 Allamakee Street, PO Box 248, Waukon 52172.... Appanoose (8A)........PO Box 400, Centerville 52544................................... Audubon (4)..............318 Leroy Street #6, Audubon 50025......................... Benton (6).................111 E 4th Street, PO Box 719, Vinton 52349............... Black Hawk (1B).......P.O. Box 9500, Waterloo 50704-9500........................ Boone (2B)............... 201 State Street, Boone 50036................................... Bremer (2A)..............415 E Bremer Avenue, PO Box 328, Waverly 50677.... Buchanan (1B)..........210 - 5th Ave NE, PO Box 259, Independence 50644.. Buena Vista (3A)...... 215 E Fifth Street, PO Box 1186, Storm Lake 50588.... Butler (2A)................ 428 Sixth Street, Box 307, Allison 50602.................... Calhoun (2B)............ 416 Fourth St, Rockwell City 50579............................ Carroll (2B)............... Sixth and Main Streets, PO Box 867, Carroll 51401..... Cass (4)....................Five West Seventh Street, Atlantic 50022................... Cedar (7).................. 400 Cedar St., PO Box 111, Tipton 52772.................. Cerro Gordo (2A)..... 220 North Washington, Mason City 50401.................. Cherokee (3A).......... 520 West Main Street, Cherokee 51012..................... Chickasaw (1B)........ 8 East Prospect, PO Box 467, New Hampton 50659... Clarke (5B)............... 100 S. Main, Osceola 50213....................................... Clay (3A)...................215 West Fourth Street, Spencer 51301-3890............. Clayton (1A)..............111 High Street NE, PO Box 418, Elkader 52043......... Clinton (7)................ 612 N Second Street, PO Box 2957, Clinton 52732..... Crawford (3B)........... 1202 Broadway, Denison 51442................................. Dallas (5A)................801 Court Street, Adel 50003..................................... Davis (8A)................ 100 Courthouse Square, Bloomfield 52537................ Decatur (5B)............. 207 North Main Street, Leon 50144............................ Delaware (1A)...........301 E Main Street, PO Box 527, Manchester 52057.... Des Moines (8B).......513 North Main St, PO Box 158, Burlington 52601....... Dickinson (3A).......... Hill and 18th Street, Drawer ON, Spirit Lake 51360...... Dubuque (1A)........... P.O. Box 1220, Dubuque 52004-1220........................ Emmet (3A).............. 609 First Avenue North, Estherville 51031-2194.......... Fayette (1B)............. 114 North Vine St, PO Box 458, West Union 52175..... Floyd (2A).................101 South Main Street, Charles City 50616................ Franklin (2A).............12 First Avenue NW,PO Box 28, Hampton 50441....... Fremont (4)...............Square, PO Box 549, Sidney 51652............................ Greene (2B)..............14 North Chestnut, Jefferson 50129-2144................ Grundy (1B)..............706 G Ave, Grundy Center 50638................................. Guthrie (5A)..............200 North Fifth Street, Guthrie Center 50115............. Hamilton (2B)............PO Box 845, Webster City 50595-0845..................... Hancock (2A)............855 State Street, PO Box 70, Garner 50438............... Hardin (2B)............... Pioneer Plaza, PO Box 495, Eldora 50627.................. Harrison (4)...............111 N. 2nd Avenue, Logan 51546.............................. Henry (8B)................ 100 E Washington, PO Box 176, Mt Pleasant 52641.... Howard (1B)............. 137 North Elm Street, Cresco 52136.......................... Humboldt (2B).......... PO Box 100, Dakota City 50529................................. Ida (3B).....................401 Moorehead Street, Ida Grove 51445.................... Iowa (6).....................901 Court Avenue, PO Box 266, Marengo 52301......... Jackson (7)...............201 West Platt Street, Maquoketa 52060................... Jasper (5A)...............101 First Street North, Room 104, Newton 50208....... Jefferson (8A)...........51 West Briggs, PO Box 984, Fairfield 52556.............. Johnson (6)...............417 S Clinton St, PO Box 2510, Iowa City 52240......... Jones (6)...................Main Street, PO Box 19, Anamosa 52205................... Keokuk (8A)..............101 South Main Street, Sigourney 52591................... Kossuth (3A).............114 West State Street, Algona 50511......................... Lee (8B)....................PO Box 725, Keokuk 52632........................................ Lee (8B)....................PO Box 1443, Fort Madison 52627............................. Linn (6)..................... Third Ave Bridge, PO Box 1468, Cedar Rapids 52406 Phone # 641-743-2445 641-322-4711 563-568-6351 641-856-6101 712-563-4275 319-472-4205 319-833-3331 515-433-0561 319-352-5661 319-334-2196 712-749-2546 319-267-2487 712-297-8122 712-792-4327 712-243-2105 563-886-2101 641-424-6431 712-225-6744 641-394-2106 641-342-6096 712-262-4335 563-245-2204 563-243-6210 712-263-2242 515-993-5816 641-664-2011 641-446-4331 563-927-4942 319-753-8272 712-336-1138 563-589-4418 712-362-3325 563-422-5694 641-228-7777 641-456-5626 712-374-2232 515-386-2516 319-824-5229 641-747-3415 515-832-9600 641-923-2532 641-858-2328 712 644-2665 319-385-2632 563-547-2661 515-332-1806 712-364-2628 319-642-3914 563-652-4946 641-792-3255 641-472-3454 319-356-6060 319-462-4341 641-622-2210 515-295-3240 319-524-2433 319-372-3523 319-398-3411

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District Court Clerks' Offices in Each County in Iowa (continued)
County (District) Mailing Address Louisa (8B)............... P.O. Box 268, Wapello 52653..................................... Lucas (5B)................ 916 Braden Avenue, Chariton 50049.......................... Lyon (3A)................. 206 South Second St, Rock Rapids 51246............ Madison (5A)............ PO Box 152, Winterset 50273.................................... Mahaska (8A)........... 106 South 1st Street, Oskaloosa 52577..................... Marion (5A)...............PO Box 497, Knoxville 50138..................................... Marshall (2B)............ 17 East Main Street, Marshalltown 50158................... Mills (4).....................418 Sharp Street, Glenwood 51534............................ Mitchell (2A)............. 508 State Street, Osage 50461-1250......................... Monona (3B)............ 610 Iowa Avenue, Onawa 51040............................... Monroe (8A)............. 10 Benton Avenue East, Albia 52531......................... Montgomery (4)........ 105 Coolbaugh Street, PO Box 469, Red Oak 51566... Muscatine (7)........... 401 East 3rd Street, PO Box 8010, Muscatine 52761... O'Brien (3A)............. 155 South Hayes Avenue, Primghar 51245................ Osceola (3A).............300 Seventh Street, PO Box 156, Sibley 51249-0156.. Page (4)....................112 East Main St, PO Box 263, Clarinda 51632.......... Palo Alto (3A).......... 1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg 50536.......................... Plymouth (3B) ......... 215 Fourth Avenue SE, LeMars 51031-2194.............. Pocahontas (2B)...... 99 Court Square, Pocahontas 50574.......................... Polk (5C)...................500 Mulberry Street, Room 212, Des Moines 50309.... Pottawatttamie (4).... 227 S. 6th Street, PO Box 476, Council Bluffs 51502... Poweshiek (8A)........ 302 East Main Street, Montezuma 50171................... Ringgold (5B)........... PO Box 523, Mount Aye 50854................................... Sac (2B)................... PO Box 368, Sac City 50583...................................... Scott (7)................... 400 West Fourth Street, Davenport 52801................. Shelby (4)................ 612 Court Street, PO Box 431, Harlan 51537.............. Sioux (3B)............... PO Box 47, Orange City 51041-0047......................... Story (2B)................. 1315 South B Ave, PO Box 408, Nevada 50201........... Tama (6)...................100 West High Street, PO Box 306, Toledo 52342....... Taylor (5B)................403 Jefferson St, PO Box 306, Bedford 50833....... Union (5B)................ 300 North Pine, Creston 50801................................... Van Buren (8A).........Fourth & Dodge, Keosauqua 52565............................ Wapello (8A).............101 West Fourth Street, Ottumwa 52501.................... Warren (5A)..............PO Box 379, Indianola 50125..................................... Washington (8A).......PO Box 391, Washington 52353................................. Wayne (5B)...............Town Sq, PO Box 435, Corydon 50060...................... Webster (2B)............ 701 Central Avenue, Fort Dodge 50501..................... Winnebago (2A)........126 South Clark St., Ste. 6, Forest City 50436............ Winneshiek (1A)....... 201 West Main Street, Decorah 52101....................... Woodbury (3)............620 Douglas, Room 101, Sioux City 51101................ Worth (2A)................ 1000 Central Ave, Northwood 50459.......................... Wright (2B)............... 115 North Main Street, PO Box 306, Clarion 50525..... Phone # 319-523-4541 641-774-4421 712-472-2623 515-462-4451 641-673-7786 641-828-2207 641-754-1603 712-527-4880 641-732-3726 712-423-2491 641-932-5212 712-623-4986 563-263-6511 712-957-3255 712-754-3595 712-542-3214 712-852-3603 712-546-4215 712-335-4208 515-286-3772 712-328-5604 641-623-5644 641-464-3234 712-662-7791 563-326-8648 712-755-5543 712-737-2286 515-382-7410 641-484-3721 712-523-2095 641-782-7315 319-293-3108 641-683-0060 515-961-1033 319-653-7741 641-872-2264 515-576-7115 641-585-4520 563-382-2469 712-279-6611 641-324-2840 515-532-3113

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G. Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) Offices in Iowa Important: If the CSRU is involved in your child support modification case you must mail copies of legal papers or forms you file in your child support case to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support modification case is filed.
If you have questions, call CSRU toll free: 1-888-229-9223 (weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Additional information is available on this website: https://childsupport.dhs.state.ia.us/welcome.asp Burlington Child Support Recovery Unit 409 N. 4th St. Burlington, IA 52601-5245 Counties: Des Moines, Henry, Lee, Louisa Carroll Child Support Recovery Unit 625 N. West St. Carroll, IA 51401 Counties: Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Sac, Shelby Cedar Rapids Linn County Child Support Recovery Unit 411 3rd St. S.E., Ste. 200 Cedar Rapids, IA 52404-1811 Counties: Linn

Council Bluffs Child Support Recovery Unit 300 W. Broadway, Ste. 32 Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Counties: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Taylor Cedar Rapids (Surrounding Linn County) Child Support Recovery Unit 411 - 3rd St. S.E., Ste. 600 Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1805 Counties: Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones Creston Child Support Recovery Unit 215 W. Adams Creston, IA 50801 Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Union Decorah Child Support Recovery Unit 317 Washington St., Ste. 2 Decorah, IA 52101 Counties: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek Dubuque Child Support Recovery Unit 960 Main St. Dubuque, IA 52001-6709 Counties: Dubuque

Clinton Child Support Recovery Unit 121 6th Ave., PO Box 1175 Clinton, IA 52733-1175 Counties: Cedar, Clinton, Jackson Davenport Child Support Recovery Unit 3911 W. Locust Davenport, IA 52804-3021 Counties: Muscatine, Scott

Des Moines Child Support Recovery Unit 1901 Bell Ave., Ste. 14 Des Moines, IA 50315 Counties: Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, Warren Fort Dodge Child Support Recovery Unit 330 1st Ave. No.; PO Box 1530 Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Counties: Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster, Wright

Continued on the next page

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Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) Offices in Iowa (Continued)
Marshalltown Child Support Recovery Unit 204 1/2 W. State St., PO Box 755 Marshalltown, IA 50158 Counties: Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama Ottumwa Child Support Recovery Unit 127 E. Main, Ste. 100 Ottumwa, IA 52501-2915 Counties: Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne Spencer Child Support Recovery Unit 20 W. 6th St., Ste. 200 Spencer, IA 51301 Counties: Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Sioux Mason City Child Support Recovery Unit Mohawk Square, 22 N. Georgia Mason City, IA 50401 Counties: Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth Sioux City Child Support Recovery Unit 520 Nebraska St., Ste. 218 Sioux City, IA 51101 Counties: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Woodbury

Waterloo Child Support Recovery Unit 501 Sycamore St., Ste. 400; PO Box 7200 Waterloo, IA 50704-7200 Counties: Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Delaware

Other Addresses You Might Need For Serving Notice on the CSRU
See page 3 of the instructions for forms FL-304/ 305 / 306. If CSRU office did not file an Acceptance of Service form, then you must have the Polk County Sheriff in Des Moines (see address below) or a civil process server deliver the Original Notice FL-304 and the Application FL-301 to the Iowa Attorney General's office in Des Moines (see address below). Iowa Attorney General's Office 1305 E. Walnut Des Moines IA 50319 Phone: 515-281-5164 Polk County Sheriff's Office 206 6th St., Suite 112 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 515-286-3800

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Tips on Handling Your Own Case in Iowa's Courts
1. Judges and court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· They cannot tell you whether you should file a case, what you should put in your papers, or what you should say or ask in court. Why? Because: o Judges and court staff must not take sides in any case. It would be unfair for judges or court staff to give one person an advantage over another person in a court case. o If court staff gives you advice and it turns out to be wrong, you could lose your case. · Tell you what you should do about anything involving your court case. They cannot tell you; o Whether you should file a specific paper. o What words or phrases you should use in a paper. o What persons you should file a lawsuit against. o How much money to ask the other party for. o What questions to ask witnesses or other parties. o Whether to appeal a judge's decision. o How to fill in a form for a person involved in a case. [Exception: If a person has a physical disability or cannot read or write, and the person explains the disability to a clerk, then the clerk may fill in the form. However, the clerk must write down only the exact words provided by the person who requested help.] · Tell you the meaning of laws or court decisions. · Perform legal research for a person involved in a court case. · Predict the outcome of a case, a paper filed, or some other action in a case. · · · · Provide public information contained in: dockets, calendars, case files, indexes, and reports. Show or tell where to find laws or rules. Identify approved court forms that might meet the needs of a person who doesn't have an attorney. Answer questions about where to write in particular types of information on court forms -- but not what words to use when filling in the forms. · Define terms commonly used in court. · Provide phone numbers for lawyer referral services.

2. Court staff cannot:

3. Court staff can:

4. You cannot talk to the judge unless all parties and attorneys are present.

· You cannot communicate with the judge about your case by email or regular mail ­ unless you send copies of your email or regular mail to the other people involved in your case. · You cannot talk with the judge about your case by telephone or in-person unless all other parties are on the phone at the same time or in the same room together. · This rule is important because it prevents a person or an attorney from giving information to a judge that the other side does not know about. This would be unfair to the other side. · If you want to give the judge information you think is important for your case ­ or you want the judge to take some action related to a case ­ you must: o Put the request in writing. (See approved Iowa court forms for examples of how to do this.) o Make enough copies for you and all the other parties. o Take the papers to the district court clerk's office. The clerk will stamp each copy and keep one. o Deliver a copy to each of the other parties or their attorneys. Keep a copy for yourself.

5. Be prepared

· Keep copies of all the papers you file in court and the ones you get from the other party. · Know what evidence you need to prove your case. If possible, ask an attorney what you need to do before you go to court and what to do at the court hearing. · Bring papers and witnesses that will help you win your case. · Bring at least three copies of each document you want to use as evidence -- one for you, one for the other party, and one for the judge. ----- Continued on page 2 -----

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· If a witness refuses to come to court to testify, you can ask the court to issue a subpoena (pronounced "suh - peena.") It's an order requiring a person to come to court. Be sure to ask the clerk's office for a subpoena several days before your court hearing. · Bring physical evidence, if there is any. This might include a canceled check, contract, or invoice. If your case involves damaged property, bring the damaged item or a photograph of it.

6. Be on time

· If you are not in court when your case is called, and the other party is present, the judge might enter a judgment against you. · If neither party is on time, your case might be skipped. You might have to wait until the very end of the court session that day before your case is called again. Or you might even have to come back on another day -- possibly a few weeks later. · Judges cannot make exceptions for people without attorneys. You could lose your case if you do not follow the correct procedures. · When you file a paper at the district court clerk's office, you must mail or deliver a copy of that paper to the other party (or parties) or the other party's attorney. Always keep a copy for your records. · Make a good impression on the judge. A judge can hold a person "in contempt of court" for bad behavior. This could result in a fine or time in jail. · Wait for your turn to speak. Do not interrupt the judge or the other party. If you interrupt others in court, the judge will stop you and instruct you to wait your turn. · Turn off your cell phone. · You should wear a suit or sport coat, if you have one. Otherwise, wear nice, clean casual clothes and shoes. Remove your hat or cap while you are in the courtroom or in the judge's office. · Judges and the other parties in court need to hear the facts correctly. The judge needs to hear you clearly so that he or she can make a correct decision. · You must have a very good reason to reschedule any court hearing. · To reschedule a hearing at the last minute, there must be an emergency. o You should immediately call the district court clerk's office where your hearing is scheduled. o Calmly explain your problem, and ask to reschedule the hearing or trial. Court staff will write down the request and contact the judge. The judge will decide whether your reason for changing the hearing or trial date is serious enough to grant your request. o Give the clerk your phone number where you can be contacted that day. · If something very important comes up two or more days before the hearing ­ like a death in the family or an accident that puts you in the hospital ­ you must submit your request for a new hearing date or time in writing and file it with the district court clerk. In a divorce case without minor children, use the family law Motion form (FL-122) to ask the court for a new hearing date. o Do this as soon as you know you need to reschedule the hearing. o After you file the Motion at the clerk's office, deliver a copy of your request to the other party. o It's more likely a judge will agree to your request if you get the other party to sign a written agreement to change the hearing time or date ­ and include it with your Motion for a new hearing date. o The clerk will give your request to a judge. Because judges are busy, you probably won't get an answer right away. · NOTE: If you do not show up for the trial at the time it is scheduled -- and the other party does show up -- the judge may enter a judgment in favor of the other party.

7. Know and follow court rules

8. Be courteous and respectful

9. Dress appropriately

10. Speak loudly and clearly so everyone in the courtroom can hear you.

11. If you can't attend a court hearing ­ or can't be on time ­ you must inform the court.

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FL-301 APPLICATION TO MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT ONLY

PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
(County where the current child support is ordered) Equity case number:

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the original case)
VS

___________________________ Application to Modify Child Support Only (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

____________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the original case) Stop! You must file this form in the same county where your current child support order is entered. If you cannot file it in the same county, see an attorney.

C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Applicant's (your) name, year of birth and present residence: _______________________________________________
(Full name)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

(________)____________________
(Phone number)

2. Other parent's name, year of birth, and present residence: _______________________________________________
(Full name)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

(________)____________________
(Phone number)

3. If someone other than a parent gets child support in this case, write the person's name, year of birth, and present address: _______________________________________________
(Full name)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

(________)____________________
(Phone number)

Form FL-301, page 1 of 4

D.. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE
4. Information about the current child support order: a. Date entered: _____ /_____/ _________
(Month) (Day) (Year)

b. County and state where the current order is entered: _________________________________ c. Case number on the current child support order: ____________________________________ d. (Name) _______________________________________ pays child support in this case. (Name) _______________________________________ receives child support in this case. e. The current child support payment is: $__________ per _________________.
(Week or month)

5. (Check if true.)

A copy of the current child support order is attached.

6. (Check all that are true.) The Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in this case. The Collection Services Center (CSC) is involved. The CSC number is: ________________ 7. (Check if true.) There are other child support orders for the child or children involved in this case. They are: (If you check this box, write in the following information.)
Case # ____________________________ County & State ___________________________________. Case # ____________________________ County & State ___________________________________.

8. The following children are covered by the current child support order:
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

Note: If you need more lines to list the children, attach a separate sheet and check this box:

Stop! If there is a court order that sets up custody and you need to change custody, you cannot use this form. Talk to an attorney if you need to change custody

Form FL-301, page 2 of 4

7.
9. Child support should be changed because: (Check all that are true.) a. There is a juvenile court order that changed where the child or children were living. The person paying support has custody of the children. (If you check a., write in the county where the juvenile court order was entered and the case number.) County: ________________________________ Case #: _________________________ b. c. d. e. f. One or more of the children live with the parent who is paying support. There is no court order that sets up custody. One or more of the children no longer qualify for child support. My income has gone down. The other parent's income has gone up. Other reason (explain): ____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Child support should be: (Check all that apply; if you check more than one please explain on the
blank lines.)

a. b. c.

Raised Lowered Stopped

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

11. Tax deduction for the child or children. (Check the one that is true.) a. There is no court order at this time on tax deductions. b. A court order currently says who gets the tax deduction for the child or children and it should stay the same. c. A court order currently says who gets the tax deduction for the child or children and it should be changed. 12. Health care expenses for the child or children. (Check the one that is true.) a. There is no court order at this time on who pays health care expenses. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses for the child or children b. and it should stay the same. c. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses and it should be changed. (If you check this box, explain what you want in 15 below.) 13. The other party is: (Check all that are true.) (If you check a. or b. see the instructions.) a. b. In the military service. (Give the location.) ____________________________________ In prison or jail. (Give the location.) __________________________________________

14. (Check if true.) There is a "protective order" or a "no contact order" between any of the parties and me. If you check the box, write in the following information (Required): a. County and state where the order came from: ______________________________________ b. Court case number: __________________________________
Form FL-301, page 3 of 4

15. Other information: _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

E.. REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT

(You are the Applicant)

16. Applicant asks the court to: (Check all that apply.) a. Raise the current child support payment. b. Lower the current child support payment. c. End the current child support payment. d. Set child support for the parent who does not have the children. e. Change who gets the tax deduction for the child or children. f. Change who pays for health care expenses for the child or children. g. Order that the other party pay the court fees. h. Order that the other party pay my attorney fees. i. Other request: ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

F.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.) a.

b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper.
(If you check b., you must fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

G.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________, certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that the information I have provided in this Application is true and correct.
(Your signature ­ Required)
______________________________________________________________

_________________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

_______________________
(City ­ Required)

___________________
(State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number­ Optional)

NOTICE TO APPLICANT: You must serve this form and an Original Notice (FL-304) on the other parties. If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in this case (see item 6, above), you must also serve both forms on the CSRU. See the instructions for forms FL-301 and FL-304. Form FL-301, page 4 of 4

Instructions On How to Complete an Application to Modify Child Support Only (FL-301.)
Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office. Use this form only if all of these are true:
· · There is a current Iowa child support order in effect You would like to increase, decrease or stop child support

Do not use this form if:
· · There is a court order that sets up custody and you need to change custody. There is no current child support order.

Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· · You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use this form.

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Application and fill in the information. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-301

FL-301 Instructions for Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 1 of 5

How to Fill in Form FL-301
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· In the District Court for: Print the name of the county where the current order for child support was filed.

Part .B.. UPON THE PETITION
· On the first blank write the name of the Petitioner as stated in the current child support order. · On the second blank write the name of the Respondent as stated in the current child support order. · In the box on the right side of the page, write the equity case number as stated in the current order. This number goes on the first page of every form or other legal paper filed in your case. · Do not write anything in the box below the words "Clerk Stamps Here." The district court clerk uses that box. · The district court clerk will stamp the date your case is filed.

Part .C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Applicant's information. The person who files the Application to Modify is the Applicant. On the blank lines write in your name, year of birth, present street address, city, state, ZIP Code, county and telephone number. Make sure the information is correct. If you have a protection order for your safety, you may leave your address and phone number blank. However, in Part G on the form, you must provide an address where you can receive mail. 2. Other parent's information. On the blank lines write in the other parent's name, year of birth, present street address, city, state, ZIP Code, county and telephone number. If you do not know all of the information, fill in what you do know. 3. Some person other than a parent may get child support in this case, for example a grandparent or a sibling who is caring for the child. If there is a person like this who gets child support in this case, on the blank lines write in the name, year of birth, present street address, city, state, ZIP Code, county and telephone number of that person, other than a parent. If you do not know all of the information, fill in what you do know.

Part .D.. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE
4. The court must know about the current child support order. List the date, location where order was filed and case number. Write the name of the person who pays child support and the person who gets child support in this case. STOP! If the child support order was not entered in Iowa, an Iowa judge may not be able to change your child support. You should contact an attorney if the support was not entered in Iowa.
FL-301 Instructions for Application to Modify Child Support Only Page 2 of 5

5. Attach a copy of the current child support order. If you do not have a copy of the current order, you should contact the clerk of the county where the order was filed and request a copy. You will probably be charged a fee for a copy of the current order. 6. Read the two boxes carefully and check the correct box. The Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is a state agency that sets and collects support. CSRU may be involved if the child got public benefits or if one parent asked CSRU to set or collect support. The Collection Services Center (CSC) is a billing and collection center. It has information about how much support is owed and how much has been paid. Most child support cases have a CSC number. This is a six digit number, usually found on the upper right hand side of the first page of the papers you get. It may say CSC number, or just case number. This six digit number is different from the court case number. 7. List any other child support orders for the child or children involved in this case. Write the court case number for any other orders. 8. Look at the current order involving child support and list the children (by initials only) and birth year. Be sure and list all children listed in the current order. 9. Check any of these boxes that apply: a. Check this box if the juvenile court has changed where the children live and the children now live with the person paying support. Write the case number and the county of the juvenile court case. b. Check this box if one or more of the children now live with the parent who is paying support, and there is no custody order. c. Check this box if one or more of the children no longer qualifies for child support. Examples: A child is at least 18 years old AND has graduated from high school. A child is now married.

If you do not know whether a child qualifies for child support, you should contact an attorney. d. Check this box if your income has gone down (decreased) since the current order was entered. You can only change support if the new support is 10% less than the current support. You could contact an attorney or go to the CRSU web site to do the calculation. https://dhssecure.dhs.state.ia.us/changechildsupport/asppages/CSChdEst.asp e. Check this box if the other parent's income has gone up (increased) since the current order was entered. This will be a reason to change child support only if the newly calculated child support is at least 10% more than the child support in the current order. You could contact an attorney or go to the CRSU web site to do the calculation. https://dhssecure.dhs.state.ia.us/changechildsupport/asppages/CSChdEst.asp f. If you have any other reason why you believe child support should be changed, write it on the blank lines.

FL-301 Instructions for Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 3 of 5

10. Check all that apply: a. Check this box if you are requesting that the court raise (increase) child support. b. Check this box if you are requesting that the court lower (decrease) child support. c. Check this box if you are requesting that the court stop (terminate) child support. 11. Check only one of these boxes: a. The current order does not state which party gets to claim the child or children as dependants for state and federal taxes. b. The current order does state which party claims the child or children as dependants for state and federal taxes and you do not want to change that part of the order. c. The current order does state which party claims the child or children as dependants for state and federal taxes and you do want to change that part of the order. 12. Check only one of these boxes: a. The current order does not state which party pays for health insurance for the child or children. b. The current order does state which party pays for health insurance for the child or children and you do not want to change that part of the order. c. The current order does state which party pays for health insurance for the child or children and you do want to change that part of the order. 13. a. You must check the box if the other party is in the military. On the line write the location where stationed. · There are special rules that may prevent your case from going forward if the other party is in the military. You should talk to an attorney. b. You must check the box if the other party is in prison or in jail. On the line write the location. · A party in prison or jail may be entitled to a "guardian ad litem." · A guardian ad litem is an attorney appointed to protect the interests of an incarcerated party in some cases. 14. Check the box if there is a "no contact" order or a "protective" order in effect. 15. If there is anything else you want to tell the court ­ write it on the blank lines at 15. · · All the basic information you need to tell the court is listed in 1 through 14 on the Application. You should write something at 15 on the Application only if you need to explain something.

Part .E.. REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT
16. Be sure to read each choice carefully. Check only the boxes you want the court to consider. If you do not know what you want, you should talk to an attorney.
Page 4 of 5

FL-301 Instructions for Application to Modify Child Support Only

·

If there is something else you want that isn't listed in 16, check box "i." and write a brief statement.

Part F.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write on these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part G.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
Fill in all the blank lines in section .G.. Write the address where you want the court and the other party to send mail to you. This does not have to be your home address. By signing this form you are stating that the information on this form is true. The court may punish you if you lie on this form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Application form:
Carefully check your Application. Be sure you've answered all questions. Make four photocopies of the original Application. Take all five (the original and the four photocopies) to the district court clerk's office; ask them to time-stamp all five papers. File the original Application at the district court clerk's office. Serve a copy of the Application FL-301 and Original Notice FL-304 on: · The other parent ­ AND ­ · Any other person who is getting child support in this case (like a grandparent or uncle). If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must serve CSRU a copy of the Original Notice FL-304 and of the Application FL-301. See the instructions for forms FL-304, 305, and 306 for information on how to serve these forms on the other parties and the CSRU. Keep at least one copy of each form you file for your own records.

Keep these instructions. Do not file these instructions with the Application.

FL-301 Instructions for Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 5 of 5

.FL-302 APPLICATION COVERSHEET FOR A MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ONLY
FOR COURT USE ONLY

1. NAME & ADDRESS of Applicant
_________________________________________________________________________ Applicant's Name _________________________________________ Applicant's Street Address Applicant's Telephone Number: ( _____________________________ City, State, ZIP Code

CASE NUMBER: ______________________________________ COUNTY WHERE CASE WAS FILED: ______________________________________

) _______________________

2.

CASE NAME (As it is in the Application)

______________________________________________________________________ Petitioner

vs.
______________________________________________________________________ Respondent

3. NATURE OF THE CASE: Check the box to the left of the one case category that most accurately describes your primary
case. If you are making more than one type of claim, check the one that involves the largest amount of damages or the one you consider most important.
Check one in this column

LAW: Contract/ Commercial Claim
Debt collection (LA-C1) Employment-related claim (LA-C3) Other contract or commercial claim (LA-C9)

EQUITY - Domestic Relations
Dissolution -- children involved (CD-DC) Dissolution -- no children (CD-DN) Modification -- children involved (CD-MC) Modification -- no children (CD-MN)

EQUITY - Other
Mortgage foreclosure (EQ-EM) Other real property claim (EQ-ER) Other equity (EQ-EO)

LAW: Tort - Personal Injury (P.I.)
Motor vehicle accident (LA-T2) Premises liability / slip & fall (LA-T3) Malpractice: medical or dental (LA-T1) Products liability (toxic chem. / subst.) (LA-T8) Products liability (not toxic substance) (LA-T4) Wrongful death (LA-T7) Other negligent / intentional P.I. (LA-T9)

236 - Domestic abuse (DA-DA) 234 - Foster care (DR-D1) 252A -- Support action (FL-D2) 252A.18 - Foreign support (DR-D3) 252B.11 - Cost recovery (DR-D4) 252C - Administrative Order (DR-D5 ) 252D - Income withholding (DR-D6 ) 252E - Medical support (DR-D7) 252F/ 600B - Paternity (DR-D8)

OTHER CIVIL ACTIONS
Administrative appeal to dist. court (CV-V1) Change of name (CN-CN) Distress warrant (CV-V2) Foreign judgment entry (CV-V3 ) Lien (LN - IE, IH, IM or IO) Post conviction relief (PC-PC) Seized property / forfeiture (SP-SP) Transcript of judgment (TJ-TJ) Other civil action (CV-V9) FOR COURT USE ONLY

LAW: Tort - Other damages (no P.I. )
Professional malpractice - no P.I. (LA-T5) Fraud / business tort (LA - C2) Other tort - property/financial damages (LA-T6)

252K - UFISA (DR-R1) 598B - Out of state custody (DR-R2) 600 - Adoption (AT-AT) Other domestic relations action (DR-D9)

*NOTE TO APPLICANT: Pursuant to 1.301(2) of the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, a cover sheet must accompany each civil petition except: small claims, probate, or commitment actions. DO NOT SERVE THIS COVER SHEET ON THE RESPONDENT (the other parent). A cover sheet is not required when filing a counterclaim or cross-claim. This cover sheet is for statistical purposes only. It shall have no legal effect in the case.

FL-303 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FORM A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where Application is filed) Equity case number:

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)

___________________________ Confidential Information Form (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

VS

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. APPLICANT'S INFORMATION
Last Street Number

(The person who files the Application to modify child support)

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
First City Middle State ZIP Code

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ Soc. Security #: _________________________ Birth Date: _________________________ Drivers License #: ________________________ Telephone #: __________________________

Employer: _________________________________________________________________ Employer's Address: _________________________________________________________________
Street Number City State ZIP Code

Employer's Telephone #: ____________________________

D.. OTHER PARTY'S INFORMATION
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Last Street Number First City Middle State ZIP Code

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ Soc. Security #: _________________________ Birth Date: __________________________ Drivers License #: ________________________ Telephone #: __________________________

Form FL-303, page 1 of 2

FL-303 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FORM
Employer: _________________________________________________________________________ Employer's Address: _________________________________________________________________
Street Number City State ZIP Code

Employer's Telephone #: ____________________________

E.. CHILDREN'S INFORMATION
Fill in the name and other information for each child in this case: 1. Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle

Soc. Security #: ___________________________ Birth Date: _____________________ 2. Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle

Soc. Security #: ___________________________ Birth Date: _____________________ 3. Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle

Soc. Security #: ___________________________ Birth Date: _____________________ 4. Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle

Soc. Security #: ___________________________ Birth Date: _____________________ 5. Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle

Soc. Security #: ___________________________ Birth Date: _____________________
If there are more than five children, attach an additional sheet with this same information for the others and check here:

F.. SIGNATURE
The party or parties submit the above information in compliance with the Court's Order and with the knowledge the information will be used to enforce any support Order under the Code of Iowa, Chapters 234, 252A, 252C, 252F, 252H, 252K, or 600B, as provided for in Section 598. The parties must promptly file with the Clerk of the District Court or the Child Support Recovery Unit an update of this information if their address or employment change.
Information given by: __________________________________________________
(Print your full name)

_________________________________________________ _____
(Your signature)

_______________________
(Date)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT GIVE COPIES OF THIS FORM TO ANYONE EXCEPT THE CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT

Form FL-303, page 2 of 2

FL-304. ORIGINAL NOTICE FOR PERSONAL SERVICE
(County where the Application is filed)

PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR _____________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)
VS

Equity case number:

___________________________ Original Notice for Personal Service (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

____________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. TO (Print name(s) clearly): __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ · The Applicant (the other party) has filed a lawsuit asking for a change in child support. · A copy of the filed Application to Modify Child Support Only is attached to this Notice. · The Applicant is not represented by an attorney. ___________________________________
(Applicant's name)

____________________________________
(Applicant's address)

___________________________________
(Applicant's phone number)

____________________________________
(Applicant's fax number, if any)

· · · ·

You must file an Answer or a Motion with the clerk of district court in the above county within 20 days after you receive this Original Notice. If you received Application form FL-301 you may use Answer form FL-315. After you file your Answer or Motion, you must serve a copy of it on the other party or parties. If you do not file an Answer or Motion within 20 days after receiving this Notice, the court may enter a judgment against you granting the Applicant's requests in the Application. If you need assistance to participate in court due to a disability, immediately call your district ADA coordinator at ______________________________. If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942.

(seal)

Clerk of Court or Designee:

_____________________________________________
________________________________County Courthouse, in _____________________________________, Iowa

(city)

IMPORTANT:
YOU SHOULD TALK TO AN ATTORNEY AT ONCE TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS.
Form FL-304, page 1 of 1

FL-305 ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR _____________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application is filed)

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)

Equity case number:

___________________________ Acceptance of Service (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

VS

____________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE, OATH, AND SIGNATURE
I received a copy of the Original Notice and the Application for this case. I have read this Acceptance of Service. I certify, as required by Iowa law and under penalty of perjury, that the information I have provided is true and correct.

_________________________, 20_____
(Date)

___________________________________________
(Served Party's signature ­ Required)

___________________________________
(Served Party's mailing address)

___________________
(City)

________ ____________
(State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________
(Phone number, if available)

_______________________________
(Fax number, if available)

NOTICE
By signing this you are not agreeing to what the Applicant wants. You only agree that you received a copy of the Original Notice and Application.

Form FL-305, page 1 of 1

FL-306 DIRECTIONS FOR SERVICE OF ORIGINAL NOTICE
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. ___________________________
(County where Application is filed)

__________________________
(Equity case number)

B.. NAME AND LOCATION OF SHERIFF OR OTHER PROCESS SERVER (Check one and fill in blanks.)
SHERIFF: OTHER PROCESS SERVER:

______________________________ County _______________________________________
(Address) ________________________________________ (City, State, and ZIP Code)

______________________________________
(Name of other person serving the Notice) ______________________________________________ (Address)

______________________________________
(City, State, and ZIP Code)

C.. PERSON TO BE SERVED:
(Name of person being served)

D.. PERSON REQUESTING

SERVICE:

_____________________________________ ______________________________________
(Name of person requesting service)

_____________________________________ ______________________________________
(Address) (Address)

_____________________________________ ______________________________________
(City, State, and ZIP Code) (_________) ________________________ (Phone number) (City, State, and ZIP Code) (_________) ________________________ (Phone number)

E.. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE: __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

F..

COSTS OF SERVICE: (Check one.)

Applicant will pay the Sheriff or other process server. Deferred by court order:
______________________________________________________________

(Clerk of Court: Sign only if deferred by court order)

G..

AFTER COMPLETION OF SERVICE, NOTIFY THE PERSON REQUESTING SERVICE.

DATE & SIGNATURE:

________________, 20____
(Date)

___________________________________________

(Your signature)

Form FL-306, page 1 of 1

Instructions: How to Give Notice to the Other Parties That You Filed an "Application to Modify Child Support Only" Using FL-304, 305, and 306

Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office. Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
You do not know if you should use these forms ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use these forms

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
Court staff cannot tell you if you should, or how to use these forms. They also cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the forms.

If these are the forms you need:
Begin at the top of the page on each form. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the forms correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on any court form.

Instructions for .FL-304., .FL-305., and .FL-306

Page 1 of 3

How to Fill in the Original Notice form FL-304.
Parts A.. and B.. Fill in these two parts as they appear on the Application form (FL-301). Part C.. · On the line(s) after "TO:" -- fill in the name of the other parent and any other person receiving child support in this case. If the Child Support Recovery Unit is involved in your case, you must write "Child Support Recovery Unit" on the second line. · Fill in: your name; an address where you can receive mail; a phone number (if you have one); and a fax number (if you have one). · The district court clerk will sign the Original Notice when you file your Application. Directions: After the clerk of district court signs and stamps this form, attach a copy of the Application (FL-301) to the Original Notice for Personal Service (FL-304) and deliver them to the other person yourself ­ OR ­ ask the sheriff or other process server to deliver them. For additional directions, see the last page of these instructions.

How to Fill in the Acceptance of Service form FL-305
Parts A. and B. Fill in these two parts as they appear on the Application form (FL-301). Part C. The other person must sign and date this part. The other person must also give a mailing address, phone number, and fax number (if any). Important: File FL-305 at the district court clerk's office soon after the other person signs it.

How to Fill in the Directions for Service of Original Notice form FL-306
Part .A.. Fill in the county where the Application is filed and the "Equity case number." You can find these on the Application form (FL-301). Part .B.. Decide who will deliver the Original Notice (FL-304) and Application (FL-301) to the other person. Check either the "Sheriff" ­ OR ­ "Other Process Server." Fill in the name and address of the sheriff or other process server in the county where the other person is to be served (the county where the other person lives or works). Part .C.. Fill in the other person's name. Write the address where you want the sheriff or other process server to deliver the papers to the other person. Part .D.. Fill in your name and the address where you wish to receive mail. Part .E.. If you have information that will help the sheriff or process server, print this on the lines in this section. For example: · If you write the other person's work address in part C. of FL-306, you should put the hours the other person is at work on the lines in part E.

Instructions for .FL-304., .FL-305., and .FL-306

Page 2 of 3

·

If you write the other person's home address in part C. of FL-306, you should put the hours the other person is usually at home on the lines in part E.

Part .F.. You must pay the costs for service to the sheriff or other process server. · If you cannot afford the costs, you should file an Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs FL-309. If the court approves your Application, then check the second box (Deferred by Court Order). Ask the district court clerk to sign it. Part .G.. Date the form and sign it.

Things you should do after you complete these forms:
Carefully check your forms: FL-301, FL-304, and either FL-305 or FL-306, depending on how you will serve the Original Notice and Application. Be sure you've answered all the questions. Make four copies of each form. Take the originals and all copies of the forms to the district court clerk's office. Ask the clerk to time stamp the copies. The clerk will keep the forms with the original signatures. Serve the other parties a copy of your Application (FL-301) and the Original Notice (FL-304). Do this in one of two ways: Option 1: Deliver the Application (FL-301) and the Original Notice (FL-304) (in person or by mail) to the other party and get the other party to sign form FL-305 (Acceptance of Service). This proves the other party received the Application and the Original Notice. Be sure to make a copy of form FL-305 after the other party signs it, then promptly file the one with the original signature at the district court clerk's office. ­ OR ­ Option 2: Have the sheriff or other process server deliver the papers. (Use form FL-306) If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must serve CSRU a copy of the Original Notice FL-304 and of the Application FL-301. You should also include an Acceptance of Service form FL-305. Mail copies of these three forms to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support modification case is filed. CSRU offices are very busy. You should wait a reasonable number of days for CSRU to file the Acceptance of Service. Then check with the district court clerk's office where the case is filed to learn whether the CSRU filed an Acceptance of Service form. If CSRU did not file an Acceptance of Service form, then you must have the Polk County Sheriff (in Des Moines) or a civil process server deliver the Original Notice FL-304 and the Application FL-301 to the Iowa Attorney General's office in Des Moines. The addresses for all the CSRU's regional offices, the Attorney General's office, and the Polk County Sheriff's office are at the end of section G. of "A Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only." The Guide is included in the packet of forms and instructions for Modification of Child Support Only. It is also available on the Iowa courts' website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/Family_Law/ Keep one copy of each form for your own records.

Remember: Do not file these instructions with the forms.

Instructions for .FL-304., .FL-305., and .FL-306

Page 3 of 3

FL-309. APPLICATION AND AFFIDAVIT TO DEFER PAYMENT OF COSTS
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application is filed)

B.. UPON THE PETITION
______________________________________________________________

Equity case number:

____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)
VS

____________________________ Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. REQUEST
1. My name is: ___________________________________________________ (Print clearly.) 2. (Check all that apply.) I am unable to pay the filing fee or service costs or other court costs. a. b. I ask the Court for permission to proceed without prepayment of costs and fees. I am filing this application and affidavit in good faith. c. d. I believe I am entitled to what I am asking for in this case.

D.. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
3. Number of people living in my household: 4. My household income is $_______________ per month. (Put the amount of all income and benefits before deductions.) 5. List where your household income comes from (examples: employer or benefits such as unemployment, Title 19, FIP): ____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Form FL-309, page 1 of 2

6. My household has the following monthly expenses: a. Rent or mortgage b. c. d. Utilities Telephone Food $_______________ $_______________ $_______________ $_______________ $_______________

e. Transportation

7. I have $__________________ in cash, checking and savings.

E.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.)

a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must fill
in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________, certify that on __________________, 20_____,
(Print your name) (Month & day) (Year)

I mailed or gave a copy of this form to the other party or the other party's attorney at this address: ____________________________________________________
(Name of person to whom I delivered or mailed it)

_________________________________
(Person's street address)

____________________ _____
(City) (State)

___________
(ZIP Code)

I also certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read this form and that the information I have provided in it is true and correct.
(Your signature ­ Required)
_______________________________________________________

_________________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

____________________ ______________________
(City ­ Required) (State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number ­ Optional)

Form FL-309, page 2 of 2

Instructions on How to Complete an Application and Affidavit to Defer Payment of Costs (FL-309.)
Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office. Use this form if you cannot afford to pay the fees to file your Application You do not need to file this form if the court is not asking you to pay something.
· · · · · · Use this to ask to the court to let you file the case without prepaying costs or fees. o This includes the filing fee and the cost of serving the papers. o You may have to pay the costs later. You may need to provide proof of your income and assets and your expenses. Costs and fees paid to someone other than the court or sheriff are not waived. Such expenses include the costs to hire a private process server or an expert to testify. Use this form if your income is low and you do not have the money to pay the costs and fees. Use this form if it would cause you to suffer a hardship if you had to pay the costs and fees. If you are the party resisting a change in the case you do not have to pay costs to file your answer.

Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· · You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use this form

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Application and fill in the information. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-309

FL-309 Instructions for Application and Affidavit to Defer Costs

Page 1 of 3

How to Fill in Form FL-309
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· On the first line print the name of the county where the current order for child support was filed.

Part .B.. UPON THE PETITION
· · · Enter the names of the Petitioner and Respondent as they appear on the Application. In the box on the right side of this section, write in the "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (FL-301). If you are not sure of the case number, you may ask the district court clerk. The district court clerk will stamp the date your application to defer costs is filed in the box that says "CLERK STAMPS HERE".

Part .C.. REQUEST
1. Print your name clearly. 2. Read a., b., c., and d. -- and check all these boxes if they are true.

Part .D.. FINANCIAL INFORMATION You may be required to provide proof of all income and expenses to the court
3. Number of people in your household. · Write the number of all people living in your household, including you, all children, and any other adults. 4. Household income: · You must write the total income received by all members of your household. o Print the gross amount of income. Gross income is the income before any deductions such as taxes, insurance, or child support are taken out. · You must include all income even if you think it is "exempt" or does not count for some reason. The court will decide if the income should be counted. 5. Write the source of your income. The sources might be: Wages or salary, unemployment benefits, worker's compensation, SSI, Social Security disability, pension or Social Security retirement, Title XIX, FIP, any other money coming into your household. 6. Expenses: On the blanks next to each kind of expense, write the amount you pay each month for that item. 7. Write the total amount you have when you add your cash and money in bank accounts.
FL-309 Instructions for Application and Affidavit to Defer Costs Page 2 of 3

Part .E.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part .F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
Fill in the information on the blank lines and sign the form. By signing form FL-309 you are stating that the information is true. The court may punish you if you lie on the form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Application and Affidavit form:
Carefully check your Application and Affidavit form (FL-309). Be sure you've answered all questions. Make four photocopies of the original Application and Affidavit. Take all five copies (the original and the four photocopies) to the district court clerk's office; ask them to time-stamp all five papers. File the original Application and Affidavit form at the district court clerk's office. Deliver a copy (by mail or in person) to: The other parent or the other parent's attorney ­ and ­ Anyone else who is getting child support in this case If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, mail a copy to the CSRU office that serves the county where your child support modification case is filed. For a list of CSRU offices, see section G. of "A Guide to Representing Yourself in Iowa in a Modification of Child Support Only." The Guide is included in the packet of forms and instructions for Modification of Child Support Only. It's also available on the Iowa courts' website at: www.judicial.state.ia.us/Self_Help/ Keep at least one copy for your own records.

Remember:
Keep these instructions. Do not file these instructions with the Application.

FL-309 Instructions for Application and Affidavit to Defer Costs

Page 3 of 3

FL-322.

MOTION
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application is filed)

B.. UPON THE PETITION
______________________________________________________________

Case Number:

____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)
VS.

____________________________ Motion (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. REQUEST
1. My name is: ___________________________________________________________________ 2. I ask the court to: (Check all that apply.) a. Change the hearing date that has been set for ______________________, 20____. b. Set a hearing date for a modification of child support. Other request (explain):____________________________________________________ c. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. I am making this request because: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

D. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.)

a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must
fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ (Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization)

___________________________________
(Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

Form FL-322, page 1 of 2

E.. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________, certify that on __________________, 20_____,
(Print your name) (Month & day) (Year)

I mailed or gave a copy of this form to the other party or the other party's attorney at this address: ____________________________________________________
(Name of person to whom I delivered or mailed it)

_________________________________
(Person's street address)

____________________ _____
(City) (State)

___________
(ZIP Code)

I also certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read this form and that the information I have provided in it is true and correct.
(Your signature ­ Required)
_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

________________
(City ­ Required)

____________________
(State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number ­ Optional)

Form FL-322, page 2 of 2

Instructions On How to Complete a Motion Form (FL-322)
When to use form FL-322:
· If you want to ask the court to do something after your court case has already started, you must do this by filing a Motion.

Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office. Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· · You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use this form

Court staff cannot give you legal advice
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Motion and fill in the information. Use the information on the following page to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-322

Continued on the next page

FL-322 Instructions for a Motion

p. 1 of 2

How to Fill in a Motion Form (FL-322)
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· · · · On the first blank print the name of the county where the Application was filed.

Part .B.. UPON THE PETITION
Enter the names of the Petitioner and Respondent as they appear on the Application. Write in the court's "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (DR-301). If you are not sure of the case number, you may ask the district court clerk. The district court clerk will stamp the date your motion is filed in the box that says "CLERK STAMPS HERE".

Part .C.. REQUEST
1. Write your name in the blank line. 2. Check the box or boxes that tell the court what you want. 3. If you check any box, you must tell the court why you are making this request. Write your reason on the blank lines.

Part .D.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part .E.. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
· · Fill in the date you mailed or gave a copy of the Motion to the other party and sign the form at the bottom. Fill in the name and address where you sent the copy of the Motion.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Motion form:
Carefully check your Motion form. Be sure you've answered all the questions. Make three photocopies of the original Motion. Take all four papers to the district court clerk's office; ask them to time-stamp all the papers. File the original Motion at the district court clerk's office. Serve a copy (in-person or by mail) on the other parent or the other parent's attorney ­ and -anyone else who is getting child support in this case If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved, mail a copy to the CSRU. See the Guide for Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only (parts B.4. and G.) for information on how to serve these forms on the other parties and the CSRU. Keep the other copy for your own records.

Remember: Do not file these instructions with the Motion.
FL-322 Instructions for a Motion p. 2 of 2

FL-323

RESPONSE TO A MOTION
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where you're the Application is filed)

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
______________________________________________________________

Equity case number:

____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)
VS.

____________________________ Response to a Motion (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. RESPONSE TO THE MOTION
1. My name is ____________________________________________________________________ 2. The other party filed a Motion on (date stamped on Motion):________________________, 20_____.
(Month & day) (Year)

3. My response to the Motion: (Check one; if you check "a.," write your reason on the blank lines.) a. I object to the request(s) in the Motion because:

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ b. I do not object to the request(s) in the Motion

D.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.)

a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must fill
in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

Form FL-323, page 1 of 2

E.. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________ certify that on _______________, 20_____,
(Print your name) (Month & day) (Year)

I mailed or gave a copy of this form to the other party or the other party's attorney at this address: ____________________________________________________
(Name of person to whom I delivered or mailed it)

_________________________________
(Person's street address)

____________________ _____
(City) (State)

___________
(ZIP Code)

I also certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read this form and that the information I have provided in it is true and correct.
(Your signature ­ Required)
_______________________________________________________

_________________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

____________________ ______________________
(City ­ Required) (State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number ­ Optional)

Form FL-323, page 2 of 2

Instructions On How to Complete a Response to a Motion (FL-323)
When to use form FL-323
·

If the other party has filed a Motion and you want to respond to that Motion.

Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office. Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· · You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use this form

Court staff cannot give you legal advice
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Response to a Motion and fill in the information. Use the information on the following page to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-323

Continued on the next page

FL-323 Instructions: Response to a Motion

Page 1 of 3

How to Fill in a Response to a Motion (FL-323)
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· On the first blank print the name of the county where the Application to Modify Child Support Only was filed.

Part .B.. UPON THE PETITION
· · · Enter the names of the Petitioner and Respondent as they appear on the Application. In the box on the right, write in the court's "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (FL-301). If you are not sure of the case number, you may ask the district court clerk. The district court clerk will stamp the date your Response is filed in the box that says "CLERK STAMPS HERE".

Part .C.. RESPONSE TO THE MOTION
1. Write your name. 2. Fill in the date that the other party filed the Motion (probably form FL-322). Use the date that is stamped in the box that says: "CLERK STAMPS HERE". 3.. Check box "a" if you object to the request(s). Write the reason you object to the request(s) made in the Motion. (FL-322) Check box "b" if you do not object to the request(s).

Part .D.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part .E.. CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
· · Fill in the date you mailed or gave a copy of your FL-323 to the other party, and sign the form at the bottom. Fill in the name and address where you sent a copy of the form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete form FL-323:
Carefully check your Response to a Motion form. Be sure you have answered all questions. Make at least three photocopies of the original form (enough for each person who needs one). Take the original and the copies to the district court clerk's office. Ask the clerk to time-stamp all of them. The clerk will keep the original and give the copies back to you. Keep one for your records. Promptly after you leave the district court clerk's office, deliver (by mail or in-person) one copy to the other parent or that person's attorney.
FL-323 Instructions: Response to a Motion p. 2 of 3

If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must also deliver (by mail or in-person) a copy of your Response to the CSRU. See the Guide for Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only (page 8 and part G.) for information on how to serve these forms on the CSRU.

Remember: Do not give these instructions to the Clerk of District Court.

FL-323 Instructions: Response to a Motion

p. 3 of 3

FL-324 CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION FINANCIAL STATEMENT
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
(County where the Application is filed) Equity case number:

____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)

___________________________ Child Support Modification Financial Statement (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

VS

____________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application) I, (print your name)__________________________________, state that the following is a true and complete statement of the requested information:

C.. MY INCOME
(Because this financial statement will become public record, you are not required to list the name of your employer(s).) 1. Income from my employment a. Job / Title: ___________________________ Gross income: $ _____________ per _________
-- Before taxes
(week or month)

b. Job / Title: ____________________________ Gross income: $ _____________ per _________
-- Before taxes
(week or month)

Net income:
-- After taxes

$ _____________ per _________
(week or month)

Net income:
-- After taxes

$ _____________ per _________
(week or month)

2. Other Income: $____________ per ________ Describe source of income: __________________
(week or month)

3. Income from Social Security Disability (SSD) Benefits a. Total SSD benefits paid to you for your disability: (1) Amount paid for your expenses: $ _____________ per month (2) Amount paid for your children's expenses: $ _____________ per month

Form FL-324, page 1 of 6

b. List the initials (first, middle, last) and birth year of the children in your home who receive SSD benefits: Child's initials (first, middle, last) Birth year:
(1) ____________________________ ______________________ (2) ____________________________ ______________________ (3) ____________________________ ______________________ (4) ____________________________ ______________________ (5) ____________________________ ______________________

c. The following are my children who receive Social Security Disability benefits but live with someone else:
Child's initials (first, middle, last): Amount of SSD benefit: Name of person receiving payment: ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

(1) ____________________________ $ _______________ per month (2) ____________________________ $ _______________ per month (3) ____________________________ $ _______________ per month (4) ____________________________ $ _______________ per month (5) ____________________________ $ _______________ per month

d. Total SSD benefits paid to someone else for the children in "2.c.": $ ___________ per month e. Total SSD benefits paid to you because you are the spouse of the disabled parent:
$ _______________ per month

D.. MY DEDUCTIONS
4. Tax Status: a. I am currently married to the other parent. (Check one.) b. I have custody of the child or children in this case. (Check one.) 5. Number of exemptions: Yourself: 1 6. Income tax withheld: ...... Federal: State: 7. FICA (Social Security & Medicare): 8. Mandatory pension contribution: 9. Union dues: 10. Dependent health insurance premium: Children: ______ $________________ per _________ $________________ per _________ $________________ per _________ $________________ per _________ $________________ per _________ $________________ per _________ Yes Yes No No

Form FL-324, page 2 of 6

Name(s) of dependent(s) covered: __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Actual medical support paid for the child or children as required by court order: Paid to: Amount: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______

12. Parent's medical expenses that have not been paid by insurance: $_____________ per _______
(This includes individual health insurance premiums or individual health care expenses that are not covered by insurance but the amount cannot exceed $25 per month.)

13. Prior court-ordered child support or alimony: Paid to: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

Amount: $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______

14..Qualified additional dependent deduction List the name and birth year of each child you are the legal parent of. Do not include any children covered by the child support order involved in this case.
Child's initials (First, middle, last) a. ________________________________ b. ________________________________ c. ________________________________ d. ________________________________ e. ________________________________ Birth year: _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________

15. Actual child care expense due to employment (custodial parent only): $__________ per ______ 16. Extraordinary visitation Number of Court Ordered Overnights: _______________
NOTE: If the court ordered equally shared physical care for the children, this credit does not apply.

Form FL-324, page 3 of 6

E.. MY ASSETS
17. (1) Bank Name: _________________________________________________ Amount in: Checking account: $______________ Savings account: $______________ (2) Bank Name: _________________________________________________ Amount in: Checking account: $______________ Savings account: $______________
If you have additional bank accounts, attach an additional page and check this box.

18. Real Estate (street address): ________________________________________________ _____________________________ ______
(City) (State)

________
(ZIP Code)

Purchase Price: $___________________ Amount you still owe: $____________________
If you own additional real estate, attach an additional page and check this box.

19. Current value of: Stocks: $____________________ 20. Vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, boats):

Bonds: $____________________

a. Type: ________________ Year: _________ Model: ___________ Current value: $__________ b. Type: ________________ Year: _________ Model: ___________ Current value: $__________ c. Type: ________________ Year: _________ Model: ___________ Current value: $__________
If you own additional vehicles, attach an additional page and check this box.

F.. MY EXPENSES
(1) House payment or rent: (2) Utilities: (3) Meals or food: (4) Telephone: (5) Clothing: (6) Cable/satellite T.V.: (7) Medical/ Dental: (8) Car expenses: (9) Other expenses: (10) Other expenses: (11) Other expenses: $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ $_____________ per _______ Describe:____________________ $_____________ per _______ Describe:____________________ $_____________ per _______ Describe:____________________
Form FL-324, page 4 of 6

(Regular payments owed for borrowed money) (For example: credit cards, department stores, loan companies, banks, auto loans) (1) Payable to: (a)____________________ (b)____________________ (c)____________________ (d)____________________ (e)____________________ (2) Item or Service (3) Payment Amount (4) Balance Due

G. MY DEBTS

________________ $____________ per _______ ________________ $____________ per _______ ________________ $____________ per _______ ________________ $____________ per _______ ________________ $____________ per _______

$__________ $__________ $__________ $__________ $__________

If you have additional debts, attach an additional page and check this box

H.. CURRENT SPOUSE'S INCOME (If you are not currently married, skip to I.)
(1) Job / Title: ___________________________ (2) Job / Title: ___________________________ Gross income: $ _____________ per _________
-- Before taxes
(week or month)

Gross income: $ _____________ per _________
-- Before taxes
(week or month)

Net income:
-- After taxes

$ _____________ per _________
(week or month)

Net income:
-- After taxes

$ _____________ per _________
(week or month)

(3) Other Income: $____________ per ________ Describe source of income: ___________________

I.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.) a.

b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must fill in
the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

Continued on the next page

Form FL-324, page 5 of 6

J.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________, certify that on __________________, 20_____,
(Print your name) (Month & day) (Year)

I mailed or gave a copy of this form to the other party or the other party's attorney at this address: ____________________________________________________
(Name of person to whom I delivered or mailed it)

_________________________________
(Person's street address)

____________________ _____
(City) (State)

___________
(ZIP Code)

I also certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read this form and that the information I have provided in it is true and correct.
(Your signature ­ Required)
_____________________________________________________________

_________________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

____________________ ______________________
(City ­ Required) (State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number ­ Optional)

Form FL-324, page 6 of 6

Instructions on How to Complete Form FL-324: Child Support Modification Financial Statement
Each party in a case involving an Application to Modify Child Support Only must complete his or her own Financial Statement form (FL-324) Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· · You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ You do not understand how to use this form.

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Financial Statement and fill in the information. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the form correctly.

Remember: Do not file these instructions with the Financial Statement.

FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement

p. 1 of 6

How to Fill in Form FL-324: Child Support Modification Financial Statement
Fill out the Financial Statement as completely as you can.

A. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
On the first blank print the name of the county where the Application to Modify Child Support Only was filed.

B. UPON THE PETITION OF
· Enter the names of the Petitioner and Respondent as they appear on the Application. · In the box on the right, write in the court's "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (FL-301. If you are not sure of the case number, you may ask the district court clerk. · The district court clerk will stamp the date your financial statement is filed in the box that says "CLERK STAMPS HERE".
.

C. MY INCOME
1. Income from my employment: List your occupation/job title(s) and gross income (before any deductions), net income (after any deductions), and how often you are paid (weekly, monthly, etc.) 2. Other income: List any other type of income or benefits you receive (but not including Social Security Disability Benefits), and how often you receive this income (weekly, monthly, etc.). 3. Income from Social Security Disability (SSD) Benefits: Fill this in only if you or your child or children receive SSD benefits.

D. MY DEDUCTIONS
Only the items listed in this section are subtracted when determining net income. These are the deductions allowed by the Supreme Court. 4. Tax Status: a. Check "Yes" or "No" b. Check "Yes" or "No" 5. Exemptions: List the appropriate number of exemptions. · The Iowa Child Support Guidelines allow one exemption for the parent. · If you are the parent receiving support, you are allowed an additional exemption for each of your children unless the court awards this exemption to the other parent. 6. Withholding Tax: · List the amount of federal and state tax withholdings as shown on your pay stub or, if selfemployed, enter the amount listed on your tax returns. 7. FICA (Social Security & Medicare)
FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement p. 2 of 6

· List the sum of your Social Security and Medicare tax withholdings 8. Mandatory Pension: · List the amount of your required pension contributions. · Any amount you contribute above the required amount is optional and is not allowed as a deduction. · Examples of mandatory contributions are IPERS and TIAA/CREF. 9. Union Dues: · List the amount of your union dues. 10. Dependent Health Insurance Premium: · List the amount of your health insurance premium or your current spouse's health insurance premium and the names of the children who are covered under this policy. · You only receive a deduction for the children you listed if they are involved in this case. · If the children are not covered and you anticipate adding them to the insurance, list the amount of your expected health insurance premiums. 11. Actual medical support paid for the child or children as required by court order · Under "Paid to:" ­ write in the name of the person to whom you paid medical support. · Under "Amount:" ­ list the amount of medical support paid 12. Parent's medical expenses that have not been paid by insurance: · List the dollar amount of medical expenses actually paid that have not been covered by medical insurance, including any individual health insurance premiums. This should not be more than $25 per month. 13. Prior court-ordered child support or alimony · Under "Paid to:" ­ write in the name of the person or agency to which payments were made. · Under "Amount:" ­ list the amount of child support or alimony actually paid under a prior court order (an order filed before this action). · If the payments were not made through the Iowa Collection Services Center, attach proof of payments for the past 12 months. NOTE: · The Court will calculate your deduction based upon an average of the payments for the preceding 12 months. · Credit will not exceed the amount of your current monthly support obligation. If the order is less than 12 months old, the payments will be averaged over the number of months since the entry of the order. · You must attach a copy of the prior court order.

14. Qualified Additional Dependent Deduction:
FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement p. 3 of 6

List the name and birth year of each child you are the legal parent of. Do not include any children covered by the child support order involved in this case. · You must attach proof of legal responsibility for the children, such as a marriage certificate and birth certificate, a paternity affidavit, a court order establishing paternity, the mother's statement of maternity, or a statement made in court by the other parent admitting paternity (you can get the in-court statement from the clerk of court). 15. Actual child care expense due to employment: · This deduction is for the custodial parent only. · If you are the custodial parent of children involved in this case, list the amount of the expenses related to employment and the amount of income tax credit you claim. 16. Extraordinary Visitation: · The section is for the noncustodial parent only. · If you are the noncustodial parent, list the number of overnights you spend caring for the child in a year as ordered by the court. · The noncustodial parent will receive a credit if the visitation exceeds 127 days per year, but is less than equally shared physical care (the children spend half their time with each parent). · However, the credit will not reduce the obligation below the minimum amount required by the guidelines ($50 for one child, $75 for two children, $100 for three children, or $125 for four or more children). · To receive this credit you must attach a copy of the court order containing the visitation provision. · If the court ordered equally shared physical care, this credit does not apply. Days 128-147 148-166 167 or more but less than equally shared physical care. Credit 15% 20% 25%

E. MY ASSETS
17. Checking and savings: · List the amount in your savings and checking account(s) and the name of the bank(s). 18. Real Estate: · List the address of the real estate you own. · List the purchase price of the real estate and the amount you still owe on that property. 19. Stocks and Bonds: · List the value of any stocks and bonds in which you own an interest. 20. Vehicles · List the type, year, make, and model of your vehicle(s) (cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats):

FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement

p. 4 of 6

F. MY EXPENSES
· Expenses: List your living expenses.

G. MY DEBTS/INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS
· List the names of your creditor(s) ­ those to whom you owe money, the item purchased, the payment amount, and the remaining balance (the amount you still owe).

H. CURRENT SPOUSE'S INCOME
· List your current spouse's job title(s), gross income, net income (after deductions), and income from other sources. · This information will not be used to determine your child support obligation.

I. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

J. OATH AND SIGNATURE
· Fill in the date you mailed or gave a copy of the Financial Statement to the other party and sign the form at the bottom. · Fill in the name and address where you sent the copy of the Financial Statement. By signing this form you are stating that the information on this form is true. The court may punish you if you lie on this form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Financial Statement:
Carefully check your Financial Statement form. Be sure you have answered all questions. Make at least three photocopies of the original form (enough for each person who needs one). Take the original and the copies to the district court clerk's office. Ask the clerk to timestamp all of them. The clerk will keep the original and give the copies back to you. Keep one for your records. Promptly after you leave the district court clerk's office, deliver (by mail or in-person) one copy to the other parent or that person's attorney.

FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement

p. 5 of 6

If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must also deliver (by mail or in-person) a copy of your Financial Statement to the CSRU. See the Guide for Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only (part G.) for information on how to serve these forms on the CSRU.

Remember: Do not give these instructions to the Clerk of District Court.

FL-324 Instructions: Child Support Modification Financial Statement

p. 6 of 6

FL-325 AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING NOTICE
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application is filed)

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)

Equity case number:

___________________________ Affidavit of Mailing Notice (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

VS

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.)

a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must
fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

D.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
I, the undersigned, certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that on the _______ day of ___________________, 20____, I sent by ordinary mail, with proper postage affixed, the following paper or papers (check each that applies): Notice of Intent to File a Written Application for Default Decree Other document (describe): _________________________________________________ to the other party at his or her last known address as follows: Name: _______________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ______ ZIP Code: ___________

My signature: ___________________________________________________
Notice to the Applicant: You must file this form at the district court clerk's office if you ask the court for a final Decree for Modification of Child Support Only by default.
Form FL-325, page 1 of 1

FL-326. NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR DEFAULT DECREE
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application is filed) Equity case number:

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the Application)

___________________________ Notice of Intent to File an Application for Default Decree (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

VS

____________________________________________________
RESPONDENT (As it is in the Application)

C..
TO: ___________________________________________________________________
(Other party's name: first, middle, last)

DATE OF NOTICE: __________________________________

IMPORTANT NOTICE
YOU ARE IN DEFAULT BECAUSE YOU HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION REQUIRED OF YOU IN THIS CASE. UNLESS YOU ACT WITHIN TEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A DEFAULT DECREE OF CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATION WILL BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU WITHOUT A HEARING, AND YOU MAY LOSE IMPORTANT RIGHTS. YOU SHOULD SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ONCE. ______________________________________________________
Signature

__________________________________ ____________________ ______ ___________
Street Address City State ZIP Code

____________________________
Telephone Number

Instructions for the Applicant:
(1) Deliver a copy of this form to the other party by mail or in-person. (2) Complete an Affidavit of Mailing Notice (FL-325) and file the original at the district court clerk's office. (3) File the original of this form (FL-326) at the district court clerk's office. (4) Keep a copy of each form for your records.
Form FL-326, page 1 of 1

FL-327.

REQUEST FOR RELIEF IN AN APPLICATION TO MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT ONLY

PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application was filed) Equity case number:

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
_____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the application)
VS

___________________________ Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only (CLERK STAMPS HERE)

___________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the application)

C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Mother: ___________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

2. Father: _____________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

3. Person -- other than a parent -- who is receiving child support in this case: ________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

Form FL-327, page 1 of 5

D.. REQUEST FOR RELIEF
4. Child Support (Check all that are true and fill in the blanks for the ones you check.) a. Child support should be raised from $______ per month to $_____ per month beginning on the _____ day of __________________, 20____ for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________ b.

_________ _________ _________ _________

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

Child support should be lowered from $______ per month to $_____ per month beginning on the _____ day of __________________, 20____ for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________ c.

_________ _________ _________ _________

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

Check here if you want child support to be higher or lower than the Child Support Guidelines amount. (If you check this, write the amount you want and explain why.) (1) Amount requested: $___________ per month (2) Why it should be different than the Guidelines amount: __________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ d. Child support should be stopped beginning on the ____ day of _________________, 20____, for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________
Form FL-327, page 2 of 5

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

5. Tax dependency deduction (Check the one that is true; if you check c. -- fill in the blanks.) a. b. c. There is no court order at this time on tax dependency deduction. A court order currently says who gets the tax dependency deduction for the child or children and it should stay the same. A court order currently says who gets the tax dependency deduction for the child or children and it should be changed to the following:
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth Parent who will now claim child for the tax deduction

(1) _______________ (2) _______________ (3) _______________ (4) _______________ (5) _______________ (6) _______________

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

If there are more than six children, attach an additional sheet with this information ­ and check this box.

6. Health care expenses (Check the one that is true.) There is no court order at this time on who pays health care expenses. a. b. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses for the child or children and it should stay the same. c. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses for the child or children and it should be changed to the following:
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth Parent who should now provide health insurance coverage

(1) _______________ (2) _______________ (3) _______________ (4) _______________ (5) _______________ (6) _______________

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

If there are more than six children, attach an additional sheet with this information ­ and check this box.

(Fill in the blanks.) I should pay _____% of the out-of-pocket health care expenses. The other parent should pay _____% of the out-of-pocket health care expenses.

Form FL-327, page 3 of 5

7. Court Fees (Check one.) a. All court fees should be paid by me. b. All court fees should be paid by the other parent. c. The other parent and I should pay one-half of the remaining court fees. The other parent and I should pay one-half of the total court fees. d. 8. Attorney's Fee. (Check one.) I have no attorney's fees a. b. I will pay my own attorney's fees c. I ask that the other parent pay me $____________ for attorney's fees. 9. Necessary Documents. I ask that the court require each of us to sign and deliver to each other any papers that may be needed to carry out the terms of the order. 10. Other Request for Relief (Attach additional sheets if necessary.) _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

11. Statements of Understanding and Fact (Check all that apply.) a. b. c. I have made a full disclosure of my income to the court. This request for relief addresses all issues in the Application to Modify Child Support Only. I want this Request for Relief to be approved by the court and made part of the final order.

E.. ATTORNEY HELP
(Check one.)

a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you must
fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

Form FL-327, page 4 of 5

F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
I, ________________________________________, certify that on __________________, 20_____,
(Print your name) (Month & day) (Year)

I mailed or gave a copy of this form to all other parties and attorneys (list the names): ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ I also certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read the "Request for Relief" above and it accurately states how I would like the court to address the issues in the Application to Modify Child Support Only. I ask that this document be presented to a judge for approval and filing with the court.
(Your signature - Required)
_______________________________________________________

_________________________________
(Your mailing address ­ Required)

____________________ ______________________
(City ­ Required) (State, ZIP Code ­ Required)

__________________________________________________________ (E-mail address ­ Optional)

(________)____________________
(Fax number ­ Optional)

Form FL-327, page 5 of 5

Instructions for Completing a Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only (FL-327)
Use this form only if:
· You have already filed an Application to Modify Child Support Only ­ AND: o The other parent did not file an Answer to the Application ­ OR ­ o The other parent will not work with you to fill in FL-328 (Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only). · There is a current Iowa child support order in effect · You would like to increase, decrease or stop child support

Do not use this form if:
· There is a court order that sets up custody and you need to change that order

Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ · You do not understand how to use this form.

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Request for Relief and fill in the information. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-327. Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office.

FL-327. Instructions: Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 1 of 4

How to Fill In Form FL-327
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· On the first line print the name of the county where the Application was filed.

Part .B.. UPON THE PETITION
· Fill in the lines in part B. as they appear on the Application form (FL-301). · In the box on the right, write in the court's "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (FL-301). If you don't know the Equity case number, you may ask the district court clerk. · The district court clerk will stamp the date your Request for Relief is filed under "Clerk Stamps Here."

Part .C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION
If you have been assaulted by the other parent and you fear for your safety, you may leave your address and phone number blank. 1. On the blank write in the Mother's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct. 2. On the blank write in the Father's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct. 3. If a person has been named in section C. 3. of the Application form (FL-301), on the blank write in that person's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct.

Part .D.. REQUEST FOR RELIEF
4. Child Support. a. If you are requesting that the court raise (increase) child support, check the box. · In the first blank space: fill in the current child support amount per month. · In the second blank space: fill in the new dollar amount of child support. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the new child support amount to start · List the initials and year of birth for each child to whom this change in child support should apply. b. If you are requesting that the court lower (decrease) child support, check the box. · In the first blank space: fill in the current child support amount per month. · In the second blank space: fill in the new dollar amount of child support. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the new child support amount to start. · List the initials and year of birth for each child to whom this change in child support should apply.
FL-327. Instructions: Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only Page 2 of 4

c. If you are asking for an amount of child support that is either higher or lower than the amount the court would order based on the Child Support Guidelines, check the box. (1) Fill in the amount of child support you are requesting (2) Explain why you think it should be higher or lower than the amount in the Child Support Guidelines. d. If you are requesting that the court stop (terminate) child support, check the box. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the child support payments to stop. · List the initials and year of birth for each child for whom child support payments should stop. 5. Tax Dependency Deduction. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. · List the child or children (by initials only) and year of birth · For each child, list which parent will claim that child for the tax deduction 6. Health Care Expenses. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. · List the child or children (by initials only) and year of birth · For each child, list which parent will now provide health insurance coverage · Fill in the percentage of out-of-pocket health care expenses to be paid by Mother · Fill in the percentage of out-of-pocket health care expenses to be paid by Father 7. Court Fees. You may check only one of these to tell the court what you want. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. d. If this is true, check the box. 8. Attorney Fees. You may check only one of these to tell the court what you want. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. Fill in the dollar amount you want to be paid by the other parent. 9. Necessary Documents. This statement is required. You do not have to write anything else here. 10. Other Request for Relief. If you want something else that is not covered in the rest of the Request for Relief, write a brief description of what you want in the space provided.

FL-327. Instructions: Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 3 of 4

11. Statements of Understanding and Fact. Check all that are true. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box.

Part .E.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part .F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
Fill in all the blank lines in section F. By signing this form you are stating that the information on this form is true. The court may punish you if you lie on this form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Request for Relief:
Carefully check your Request for Relief form. Be sure you have answered all questions. Make at least three photocopies of the original form (enough for each person who needs one). Take the original and the copies to the district court clerk's office; ask the clerk to time-stamp all of them. The clerk will keep the original and give the copies back to you. Keep one for your records. Ask the district court clerk to give the Request for Relief to a judge for approval (or to set a hearing date when you can meet with a judge to discuss your Request for Relief). Promptly after you leave the district court clerk's office, deliver (by mail or in-person) one copy to the other parent or that person's attorney. If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must also deliver (by mail or in-person) to the CSRU a copy of the Request for Relief form FL-327. See the Guide for Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only (page 9 and part G.) for information on how to serve these forms on the CSRU.

Remember: Do not give these instructions to the Clerk of District Court.

FL-327. Instructions: Request for Relief in an Application to Modify Child Support Only

Page 4 of 4

FL-328.

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR AN APPLICATION TO MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT ONLY
PRINT CLEARLY

A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR ______________________________________ COUNTY, IOWA
(County where the Application was filed) Equity case number:

B.. UPON THE PETITION OF
_____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ PETITIONER (As it is in the application)
VS

____________________________ Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only
(CLERK STAMPS HERE)

___________________________________________________ RESPONDENT (As it is in the application)

C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Mother: ___________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

2. Father: _____________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

3. Person -- other than a parent -- who is receiving child support in this case: ________________________________________________________________
(Name)

_______________________________________ _____________________ ______ ___________
(Present street address) (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

_______________________________________
(County)

_____________________________
(Year of birth)

Form FL-328, page 1 of 6

D.. AGREEMENT
4. Child Support (Check all that are true and fill in the blanks for the ones you check.) a. Child support should be raised from $______ per month to $_____ per month beginning on the _____ day of __________________, 20____ for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________ b.

_________ _________ _________ _________

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

Child support should be lowered from $______ per month to $_____ per month beginning on the _____ day of __________________, 20____ for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________ c.

_________ _________ _________ _________

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

Check here if you want child support to be higher or lower than the Child Support Guidelines amount. (If you check this, write the amount you want and explain why.) (1) Amount requested: $___________ per month (2) Why it should be different than the Guidelines amount: _____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ d. Child support should be stopped beginning on the ____ day of _________________, 20____, for (list the children and birth year):
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth

(1)_______________ (2)_______________ (3)_______________ (4)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________
Form FL-328, page 2 of 6

(5)_______________ (6)_______________ (7)_______________ (8)_______________

_________ _________ _________ _________

5. Tax dependency deduction (Check the one that is true; if you check c. -- fill in the blanks.) a. b. c. There is no court order at this time on tax dependency deduction. A court order currently says who gets the tax dependency deduction for the child or children and it should stay the same. A court order currently says who gets the tax dependency deduction for the child or children and it should be changed to the following:
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth Parent who will now claim child for the tax deduction

(1) _______________ (2) _______________ (3) _______________ (4) _______________ (5) _______________ (6) _______________

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

If there are more than six children, attach an additional sheet with this information ­ and check this box.

6. Health care expenses (Check the one that is true.) There is no court order at this time on who pays health care expenses. a. b. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses for the child or children and it should stay the same. c. A court order currently says who pays for health care expenses for the child or children and it should be changed to the following:
First, middle & last initials of each child Year of birth Parent who should now provide health insurance coverage

(1) _______________ (2) _______________ (3) _______________ (4) _______________ (5) _______________ (6) _______________

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

If there are more than six children, attach an additional sheet with this information ­ and check this box.

(Fill in the blanks.) The mother should pay _____% of the out-of-pocket health care expenses. The father should pay _____% of the out-of-pocket health care expenses.

Form FL-328, page 3 of 6

7. Court Fees (Check one.) a. b. c. d. All court fees will be paid by the mother. All court fees will be paid by the father. Each parent shall pay one-half of the remaining court fees. Each parent shall pay one-half of the total court fees.

8. Attorney's Fee. a. Mother's attorney's fees. (Check one.) (1) Mother has no attorney's fees Mother will pay her own attorney's fees (2) (3) Father will pay $____________ for Mother's attorney's fees. b. Father's attorney's fees. (Check one.) (1) Father has no attorney's fees Father will pay his own attorney's fees (2) (3) Mother will pay $____________ for Father's attorney's fees. 9. Necessary Documents. We will sign and promptly deliver to each other any papers that may be needed to carry out this agreement. 10. Other Agreements (Attach additional sheets if necessary.) _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Statements of Understanding and Fact (Check all that apply.) a. b. c. We have made a full disclosure of our income to the court. This Settlement Agreement addresses all issues in the application to modify child support only. We want this request to be approved by the court and made part of the final order.

E.. ATTORNEY HELP
12. Mother (Check one.) a. b. An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you
must fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

Form FL-328, page 4 of 6

13. Father (Check one.) a. b.

An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. (If you check b., you
must fill in the following information.)

_________________________________________ ___________________________________
(Name of attorney or organization, if any) _________________________________________________ (Business address of attorney or organization) (Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney) _____________________ ________ ___________ (City) (State) (ZIP Code)

(________)_______________________
(Attorney's phone number ­ Required)

(________)__________________________
(Attorney's fax number, if there is one)

F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
This Settlement Agreement addresses all issues in the Application to Modify Child Support Only. We have made a full disclosure of our income to each other. We want this agreement to be approved by the court and made part of the final order. Mother's Oath and Signature: I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read the "Settlement Agreement" above and it accurately states how I would like the court to address the issues in the Application to Modify Child Support Only. I know I have the right to talk to an attorney about this agreement. I am voluntarily signing this agreement. I am asking that this document be presented to a Judge for approval and filing with the court. _____________________________________
Mother's signature

_______________________________
Date signed

_____________________________________
Mother's printed name

Father's Oath and Signature: I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the state of Iowa that I have read the "Settlement Agreement" above and it accurately states how I would like the court to address the issues in the Application to Modify Child Support Only. I know I have the right to talk to an attorney about this agreement. I am voluntarily signing this agreement. I am asking that this document be presented to a Judge for approval and filing with the court. _____________________________________
Father's signature

________________________________
Date signed

_____________________________________
Father's printed name

STOP! If the Child Support Recovery Unite (CSRU) is involved in this case, or if a person other than a parent receives child support in this case, he or she must sign this form (see below).
Form FL-328, page 5 of 6

Signature of Person Other than a Parent: ________________________________
Date signed

_____________________________________
Signature ­ Person other than parent

_____________________________________
Printed name

Signature of CSRU Representative: ________________________________
Date signed

_____________________________________
Signature ­ CSRU representative

_____________________________________
Printed name

Form FL-328, page 6 of 6

Instructions on How to Complete a Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only (FL-328)
Use this form only if all of these are true:
· There is a current Iowa child support order in effect · You would like to increase, decrease or stop child support · You have already filed an Application to Modify Child Support Only · You and the other parent both agree to this Settlement Agreement.

Do not use this form if:
· There is a court order that sets up custody and you need to change that order

Contact an attorney if one of these is true:
· You do not know if you should use this form ­ OR ­ · You do not understand how to use this form.

Court staff cannot give you legal advice.
· Court staff cannot tell you if you should use this form. They cannot tell you which boxes to check or what information you should write on the form.

If this is the form you need:
· Begin at the top of page 1 on the Settlement Agreement and fill in the information. Use the information on the following pages to help you fill in the form correctly.

Print clearly when you write information on form FL-328. It is illegal to sign another person's signature on any court form. Do not file or give these instructions to the district court clerk's office.

FL-328. Instructions: Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only

p. 1 of 4

How to Fill in Form FL-328
Part .A.. IN THE DISTRICT COURT
· On the first line print the name of the county where the Application was filed.

PART .B.. UPON THE PETITION
· Fill in the lines in part B. as they appear on the Application form (FL-301). · In the box on the right, write in the court's "Equity case number" for your case. It appears in this same location on the Application form (FL-301). If you don't know the equity case number, you may ask the district court clerk. · The district court clerk will stamp the date your Settlement Agreement is filed under "Clerk Stamps Here."

Part .C.. PERSONAL INFORMATION

If you have been assaulted by the other parent and you fear for your safety, you may
leave your address and phone number blank. 1. On the blank write in the Mother's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct. 2. On the blank write in the Father's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct. 3. If a person has been named in section C. 3. of the Application form (FL-301), on the blank write in that person's name, present address, city, state, ZIP Code, county, and year of birth. Make sure the information is correct.

Part .D.. AGREEMENT
4. Child Support. a. If you are requesting that the court raise (increase) child support, check the box. · In the first blank space: fill in the current child support amount per month. · In the second blank space: fill in the new dollar amount of child support. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the new child support amount to start. · List the initials and year of birth for each child to whom this change in child support should apply. b. If you are requesting that the court lower (decrease) child support, check the box. · In the first blank space: fill in the current child support amount per month. · In the second blank space: fill in the new dollar amount of child support. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the new child support amount to start. · List the initials and year of birth for each child to whom this change in child support should apply.

FL-328. Instructions: Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only

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c. If you are asking for an amount of child support that is either higher or lower than the amount the court would order based on the Child Support Guidelines, check the box. (1) Fill in the amount of child support you are requesting (2) Explain why you think it should be higher or lower than the amount in the Child Support Guidelines. d. If you are requesting that the court stop (terminate) child support, check the box. · Fill in the day, month, and year you want the child support payments to stop. · List the initials and year of birth for each child for whom child support payments should stop. 5. Tax Dependency Deduction. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. · List the child or children (by initials only) and year of birth · For each child, list which parent will claim that child for the tax deduction 6. Health Care Expenses. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. · List the child or children (by initials only) and year of birth. · For each child, list which parent will now provide health insurance coverage. · Fill in the percentage of out-of-pocket health care expenses to be paid by Mother. · Fill in the percentage of out-of-pocket health care expenses to be paid by Father. 7. Court Fees. You may check only one of these to tell the court what you want. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box. d. If this is true, check the box. 8. Attorney Fees. a. Mother's attorney fees. You may check only one of these: (1) If this is true, check the box. (2) If this is true, check the box. (3) If this is true, check the box and fill in the dollar amount to be paid by Father. b. Father's attorney fees. You may check only one of these: (1) If this is true, check the box. (2) If this is true, check the box. (3) If this is true, check the box and fill in the dollar amount to be paid by Mother.

FL-328. Instructions: Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only

p. 3 of 4

9. Necessary Documents. You must do what this statement says. You do not have to write anything on the form for 9. 10. Other Agreements. If Mother and Father have made other agreements that are not covered in the rest of the Settlement Agreement, write a brief description of these other agreements in the space provided. 11. Statements of Understanding and Fact. Check all that are true. a. If this is true, check the box. b. If this is true, check the box. c. If this is true, check the box.

Part .E.. ATTORNEY HELP
You should check one of these boxes. a. Check this box if an attorney did not help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. b. Check this box if an attorney did help you decide which boxes to check or what to write in any of the spaces on the form. If you check "b," you must fill in the information on the lines below "b." If you do not know what to write in these lines, contact the attorney who helped you with the form.

Part .F.. OATH AND SIGNATURE
Mother should sign her name on the line provided, then print her name on the line below it. Father should sign his name on the line provided, then print his name on the line below it. By signing this form you are stating that the information on this form is true. The court may punish you if you lie on this form.

Checklist of things you should do after you complete the Settlement Agreement:
Carefully check your Settlement Agreement form. Be sure you have answered all questions. Make four photocopies of the original form. Take the original and the copies to the district court clerk's office; ask the clerk to time-stamp all of them. The clerk will keep the original and give the copies back to you. Keep one for your records. Ask the district court clerk to give the Settlement Agreement to a judge for approval (or to set a hearing date when you can meet with a judge to discuss your Settlement Agreement). Immediately after you leave the district court clerk's office, deliver (by mail or in-person) one copy to the other parent or his/her attorney. If the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is involved in your case, you must also deliver (by mail or in-person) to the CSRU a copy of the Settlement Agreement form FL-328. See the Guide for Representing Yourself in an Iowa Court to Modify Child Support Only (page 10 and part G.) for information on how to serve these forms on the other parties and the CSRU.

Remember: Do not give these instructions to the Clerk of District Court.
FL-328. Instructions: Settlement Agreement for an Application to Modify Child Support Only
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