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.