
Child custody in the case of a married couple differs from that of the unmarried couple in Iowa child custody laws and
the laws, in general, are as follows.
Custody in unmarried cases:
If a child is born to an unmarried mother,
- Then the mother has all the rights of the child, and she takes custody.
- Father can acknowledge paternity before seven years of the child’s birth. It can be done by
Ø Signing an affidavit,
Ø Birth certificate of the child or
Ø By supporting the mother of the child.
If done so within a reasonable period,
the court may establish parental rights of the child to the father along with the mother.