I am proud to have the opportunity to share with you the thoughts of a State Representative who has become known and respected for his work in the area of family law.
Gerald L. Rowles, Ph.D.
Touchstone Mediation Services

A WORD
from The Honorable Dan Boddicker

Q: What is the future of family policy in Iowa?
A: More emphasis on strengthening families and ensuring that children have access to both families.
In an effort to reduce the number of divorces that Iowa couples are experiencing, the focus on policy changes has been towards eliminating no-fault divorce.

Because of the difficulty in building a consensus toward this change, as well as a recognition that the effects of eliminating no-fault may be minimal, the new emphasis has been more towards mediated settlement. Mediation makes sense because it is less confrontational and in the long run, much more economical.

In several areas of Iowa, mandatory mediation for divorce cases has been working on a pilot project basis and the results are encouraging. Some couples have realized they were able to work out their differences, and reconciled. Some were able to come to much more child friendly custody and visitation arrangments. Most cases were handled with minimal confrontation and legal cost.

In the next legislative session, I look for a very strong push to make mandatory mediation a requirement for potential divorce cases. It makes sense, especially when considering the impact that a divorce can have on children... and a person's financial well being.

Dan Boddicker
State Representative

Dads Against the Divorce Industry