Full question:
My wife is suffering from dementia and severe depression due to which I filed for dissolution of marriage in the family court of Iowa. If our marriage is dissolved, will the court order me to provide spousal support to my mentally sick wife?
- Category: Divorce
- Subcategory: Spousal Support
- Date:
- State: Iowa
Answer:
In Iowa, if a marriage is dissolved and one of the spouses has mental sickness, the other spouse may not be relieved of the obligations imposed by law as a result of the marriage. Thus, the other spouse may be obligated to provide support to the spouse suffering from any mental sickness. The relevant statutory section in this regard is stated below.Iowa Code § 598.17 reads:
“1. A decree dissolving the marriage may be entered when the court is satisfied from the evidence presented that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. The decree shall state that the dissolution is granted to the parties, and shall not state that it is granted to only one party.
2. If at the time of trial petitioner fails to present satisfactory evidence that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved, the respondent may then proceed to present such evidence as though the respondent had filed the original petition.
3. A dissolution of marriage granted when one of the spouses has mental illness shall not relieve the other spouse of any obligation imposed by law as a result of the marriage for the support of the spouse with mental illness. The court may make an order for the support or may waive the support obligation when satisfied from the evidence that it would create an undue hardship on the obliged spouse or that spouse's other dependents.”
Thus, when your marriage is dissolved, you may be obligated to provide support to your wife suffering from mental sickness.
2. If at the time of trial petitioner fails to present satisfactory evidence that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the legitimate objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved, the respondent may then proceed to present such evidence as though the respondent had filed the original petition.
3. A dissolution of marriage granted when one of the spouses has mental illness shall not relieve the other spouse of any obligation imposed by law as a result of the marriage for the support of the spouse with mental illness. The court may make an order for the support or may waive the support obligation when satisfied from the evidence that it would create an undue hardship on the obliged spouse or that spouse's other dependents.”
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
