Coralville & Iowa law — frequently asked questions

No. Coralville has no courthouse. All Johnson County state court matters — traffic, criminal, civil, family, probate, small claims — are heard at the Johnson County Courthouse, 417 S Clinton St, Iowa City.

State cases go to the Johnson County Courthouse in Iowa City. Federal cases (federal crimes, federal civil rights, bankruptcy, immigration removal) go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, also in Iowa City.

No. Iowa state courts operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding state holidays. Emergency matters (protective orders, certain warrants) can sometimes be handled outside business hours through on-call judges.

No. The Johnson County Jail, operated by the Johnson County Sheriff, serves Coralville and the rest of the county. It's at 511 S Capitol St, Iowa City.

Yes. Iowa Courts Online at iowacourts.state.ia.us lets you search public state court records by name or case number for free. Federal cases use PACER (paid). See court records guide.

OWI = "Operating While Intoxicated" — Iowa's term for DUI/DWI. Covers alcohol (BAC 0.08%+), controlled substances, or any combination causing impairment. Statute: Iowa Code 321J.2.

0.08% general drivers, 0.04% commercial drivers (CDL), 0.02% drivers under 21 (zero-tolerance).

Serious misdemeanor: 48 hours minimum jail (up to 1 year), $1,250 minimum fine, 180-day license revocation, mandatory substance evaluation, drinking-driver course, and typically ignition interlock for a temporary restricted license. See OWI lawyer guide.

A deferred judgment lets a first-offense OWI defendant (under 0.15 BAC, no prior within 12 years, no injury) plead guilty, complete probation, and have the case dismissed without a conviction. Not all judges grant it. Some agencies (FAA, military) can still see deferred records.

You have 10 days from the date of OWI arrest to request an administrative hearing with the Iowa DOT to contest the automatic license revocation. Missing this deadline forfeits the right to challenge.

Online at iowacourts.gov, in person at Coralville City Hall (1512 7th St), or by mail to the Clerk of District Court Traffic Violation Office, P.O. Box 2510, Iowa City, IA 52244-2510.

Plead "not guilty" on the citation or at the courthouse and request a hearing. Bring evidence — photos, witnesses, documents — to the hearing date at Johnson County Courthouse. See traffic court guide.

Yes. Convictions affect CDL holders heavily — and CDL drivers cannot accept "masking" (deferred adjudication) on CDL violations under federal law (49 CFR Part 384). Talk to a traffic attorney before pleading.

• Simple misdemeanor — up to 30 days jail / fine $105–$855
• Serious misdemeanor — up to 1 year jail / fine $430–$2,560
• Aggravated misdemeanor — up to 2 years prison / fine $855–$8,540

Felonies are Class A, B, C, or D, with Class A the most serious (life without parole for some).

Criminal defendants who cannot afford private counsel and whose case carries possible incarceration. Apply at the initial appearance with proof of income. The court determines indigency.

Booking → initial appearance within 24–48 hours (bail decided, charges read, counsel addressed) → arraignment → pretrial conference → plea or trial. Many misdemeanor cases resolve via plea bargain.

Limited. Under Iowa Code 901C, certain misdemeanors can be expunged after eight years; successfully completed deferred judgments can be expunged; acquittals and dismissed cases can be expunged immediately. Felony convictions generally cannot.

Iowa requires a 90-day waiting period from filing before a divorce can be finalized. Uncontested cases often close right at 90 days; contested cases take 6–18 months or longer. See Iowa divorce process.

At least one spouse must have been an Iowa resident for one year before filing. File in a county where one spouse lives.

Yes — pure no-fault. The only ground is "breakdown of the marriage relationship." Fault evidence (affair, etc.) is generally not admitted.

Iowa uses equitable distribution — a fair, not necessarily equal, split. Inherited and pre-marital property may be excluded. Iowa Code Chapter 598 governs.

The "best interests of the child" standard under Iowa Code 598.41. Factors include each parent's ability to support the child's relationship with the other parent, history of caregiving, communication ability, geographic proximity, the child's preference (if mature), and safety concerns. See child custody guide.

Show a substantial change in circumstances since the original order — meaningful, more or less permanent, and not contemplated at the time of the original decree. The standard is strict.

Generally 2 years from the date of injury under Iowa Code 614.1(2). Medical malpractice has its own rules. Claims against government entities have shorter notice deadlines (often 60 days under the Iowa Tort Claims Act). See statute of limitations guide.

Modified comparative fault under Iowa Code 668.3: you recover damages reduced by your share of fault, but only if you're 50% or less at fault. At 51%+ you recover nothing.

33% if settled before lawsuit is filed, 40% after lawsuit is filed, plus costs deducted from the recovery. Workers' compensation is capped at 20% by Iowa Code 86.39.

Almost never without talking to a lawyer first. Statements are routinely used against you. You're typically required to cooperate with your own insurer — not the other side's.

If you have any assets, dependents, or strong preferences about your estate — yes. Without a will, Iowa's intestate succession statute (Iowa Code 633.211 et seq.) decides who inherits. The default may not match your wishes.

Under Iowa Code 633.279: in writing, signed by the testator (18+ and of sound mind), signed by two competent witnesses who saw the testator sign or acknowledge the will. Iowa also recognizes self-proving affidavits.

Attorney fees follow a statutory schedule under Iowa Code 633.197 based on gross estate value (roughly 2% sliding scale). Executor fees are similar. Extraordinary services (will contests, complex tax) bill separately. See Iowa wills & probate.

Estates of $200,000 or less in personal property may use small estate procedures under Iowa Code Chapter 635 — a simplified, faster process. Real estate generally requires full probate.

Iowa's inheritance tax was phased out and is fully repealed for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2025. Estates from earlier deaths may still be subject. Iowa has no estate tax.

The Iowa Secretary of State filing fee for the Certificate of Organization is $50. Attorney drafting (operating agreement, advice) typically adds $300–$1,200.

Yes. Either party can end the employment at any time, for any reason that isn't unlawful (e.g., discrimination, retaliation, public policy violations).

Sometimes. Iowa courts enforce non-competes only if reasonable in geographic scope, duration, and necessary to protect a legitimate business interest. Overly broad agreements are limited or struck down by the court.

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) enforces state-level discrimination law. The federal EEOC enforces Title VII and other federal statutes. They have a work-sharing agreement — most charges can be filed with either agency and dual-filed automatically.

Iowa Code 562A.12 caps residential security deposits at two months' rent.

Within 30 days of the end of the tenancy, with an itemized statement of any deductions. Bad-faith withholding can trigger return of the deposit plus possible punitive damages.

Landlord serves a written notice (3-day for nonpayment, 7-day for lease violations, 30-day for month-to-month termination). If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord files a Forcible Entry and Detainer action in district court. See Iowa tenant rights.

No. Self-help evictions — lockouts, utility shutoffs, removing belongings — are illegal. The landlord must use the court process. Iowa Code 562A.26 makes self-help evictions actionable by the tenant.

Start with the Johnson County Bar Association (jcbar.org), the Iowa State Bar find-a-lawyer at iowabar.org, and word-of-mouth. Cross-reference with Avvo and Justia. Verify discipline history at iowacourts.gov. See how to find a lawyer.

Practice area focus, similar cases tried, who will actually do the work, fee structure, retainer terms, what's not included, conflict check, malpractice insurance carrier, communication norms, and realistic outcome ranges.

Iowa Legal Aid at (800) 532-1275 for qualifying low-income civil matters. University of Iowa law clinics for some cases. Court-appointed public defenders for criminal cases. Iowa Legal Aid's self-help library is free to everyone.

Hourly $150–$700+ depending on experience. Flat fees common for predictable work (will, simple OWI, uncontested divorce). Contingency standard for personal injury (33–40%). See Iowa legal fees for ranges by case type.