IA HF667

Creates the Iowa Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act governing arbitration of contested family law disputes arising under dissolution of marriage, paternity, and child support enforcement statutes

Requires arbitrators to be attorneys, former attorneys on inactive status, or retired judges who have completed at least 5 hours of continuing legal education on domestic violence and child abuse

Prohibits arbitrators from granting divorces, legal separations, annulments, terminating parental rights, granting adoptions or guardianships, or determining child dependency status

Mandates arbitrators stay proceedings and refer parties to court if there is reasonable basis to believe a party is a domestic violence victim or a child is abused or neglected

Requires court confirmation of arbitration awards before they become enforceable as judgments, with courts required to verify child custody and support awards comply with state law and serve the child's best interests