West Des Moines · Divorce Guide
West Des Moines sits in four counties and is the county seat of none of them, so the first practical question in a divorce here is which courthouse will hear it. We compared three divorce lawyers serving West Des Moines on Iowa licence records, the family law work each firm actually lists, what each publishes about fees, and the review text on their Google listings, and set out who each one suits and where each falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three firms, each a better fit for a different kind of West Des Moines divorce. This is a shortlist, not a ranking, and the firm in the first slot does not have the largest review base of the three.
1
Feitelson Law Firm
Best for an agreed divorce handled by one attorney start to finish
2
Family Law Solutions of Iowa
Best for a contested divorce with custody or abuse issues on a fixed fee
3
Greenberg Law
Best for a divorce where alimony and money are the fight, or Spanish is needed
At a glance: Divorce Lawyers in West Des Moines, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| Feitelson Law Firm |
Best for an agreed divorce handled by one attorney start to finish |
Divorce, custody, adoption, mediation |
Jeremy Feitelson, Iowa 2004 |
Free consultation, fees not published |
4.6 · 61 Google |
| Family Law Solutions of Iowa |
Best for a contested divorce with custody or abuse issues on a fixed fee |
Contested divorce, custody, protective orders |
Gary E. Hill, Texas 1984, Iowa since 2007 |
Fixed fee, free consultation |
4.3 · 152 Google |
| Greenberg Law |
Best for a divorce where alimony and money are the fight, or Spanish is needed |
Alimony, property division, mediation |
Elena Greenberg, J.D. 2009, firm since 2011 |
$250 consultation, flat fees where practical |
5.0 · 22 Google |
Divorce in West Des Moines: the local picture
$285
What it costs just to file
The court charges $285 to file a divorce petition, plus the cost of serving your spouse. Attorney fees are the larger number and none of the three firms below publishes a retainer or hourly rate. One publishes that it works on fixed fees without naming the figure, and the only attorney price posted by any of them is a $250 paid consultation.
90 days
The shortest an Iowa divorce can run
A judge cannot sign the final decree until 90 days after your spouse is served, even when you agree on everything, unless the court waives the wait. The filing spouse also needs a year of Iowa residence, except where the other spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served. A served spouse generally has 20 days to answer or risks a default.
$25
Where to start if you cannot afford these firms
Lawyers on the Iowa State Bar’s Find-A-Lawyer directory charge $25 or less for a first 30 minutes. Iowa defers rather than waives filing fees for people who cannot pay, using a court Application to Defer Payment of Costs. Iowa Legal Aid takes low income family cases on 1-800-532-1275, and the Polk County Volunteer Lawyers Project covers Polk County residents only.
What clients in West Des Moines say: The review text visible on these three Google listings rarely praises courtroom wins. It praises being able to understand what was happening. Reviewers at all three describe outcomes explained realistically and questions answered quickly, and at two of the three they name the associate or assistant who carried the file as often as the lead attorney. Only the top reviews on each listing were readable in full, and those skew positive, so read the lower rated ones yourself before you decide.
How we chose these Divorce Lawyers in West Des Moines
We looked at firms handling divorce for West Des Moines residents and compared them on things you can check yourself: the Iowa licence record for the named lead attorney, the family law work the firm actually lists, whether it publishes fees or consultation terms, where its office is relative to the four county courthouses a West Des Moines divorce could land in, and the review text on its Google Business Profile.
The three are a shortlist, not a ranking, and each suits a different situation. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against Google Business Profile listings, attorney directories and Iowa Judicial Branch sources. Licence details we could not confirm directly against the Iowa Office of Professional Regulation search during this update are flagged on the page rather than filled in, and case counts or experience figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as its own.
1. Feitelson Law Firm
Best for an agreed divorce handled by one attorney start to finish
★★★★½ 4.6 / 5 · Google · 61 reviews
The one to call when you and your spouse mostly agree and want it done correctly rather than fought over. Jeremy Feitelson is a licensed Iowa family law mediator as well as a litigator, and the firm carries separate pages for uncontested, collaborative, business owner and military divorce. Experienced divorce lawyers in West Des Moines on this list; this is the only office inside the city, on Valley West Drive, and his bio says clients work directly with him from first call to decree.
Identity and footprint
Office1200 Valley West Drive, Suite 606, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone515-267-1265
HoursMonday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (Google)
Lead attorneyJeremy Feitelson, founder
StructureSolo attorney practice; one staff member, Vanessa, is named in a client review
CourtsStates regular appearances in Polk, Dallas, Story, Jasper and Warren County courts
Practice and scope
Core workFamily law only
Divorce pagesUncontested, contested, collaborative, high net worth, business owner and military divorce
Related workCustody and modification, child support and enforcement, spousal support, prenuptial agreements, paternity, adoption, protective orders
MediationLicensed Iowa family law mediator, so he can mediate as well as represent
Firm’s own figuresThe firm states over 1,200 family law cases handled, including hundreds of contested hearings and trials. This is the firm’s own figure and cannot be checked independently.
Credentials and licensing
Iowa barJeremy Feitelson, admitted in Iowa in 2004
Law schoolJ.D., Drake University Law School, 2004; B.A., University of Central Florida
Bar servicePolk County Bar Association member; has taken cases through its Volunteer Lawyers Project for low income clients
Other directoriesThe firm cites an Avvo rating of 8.3 and profiles on Martindale-Hubbell and Justia
Directory listingJeremy Feitelson holds a Distinguished Justice Advocates listing
Fees and consultation
ConsultationFree, advertised across the site
Price signalOne testimonial on the firm’s own site describes the work as fairly cheap, and a Google reviewer describes pricing explained up front. That is client opinion, not a published rate.
What clients say
✓ Clients work with Jeremy directly
✓ Clear on pricing from the start
✓ Practical advice in mediation
· Most readable reviews are adoption and custody
· 61 reviews, mid sized base
Reviewers name Jeremy himself almost every time, which fits a one-attorney practice. They describe questions answered by phone, pricing explained at the outset, and in one case honest advice in mediation about what not to accept. The readable reviews lean toward adoption and custody rather than divorce, so ask for divorce-specific references if that matters to you.
Why they fit West Des Moines: The closest fit on this list for an agreed or mostly agreed divorce, because the attorney who drafts the settlement can also mediate the last disputed points, and the office is in West Des Moines itself. The caveat is the flip side of the direct contact: this is a one attorney practice, so his calendar is your calendar, and no fee figure is published. Ask what an uncontested divorce costs as a total and who covers your file if he is in trial.
2. Family Law Solutions of Iowa
Best for a contested divorce with custody or abuse issues on a fixed fee
★★★★½ 4.3 / 5 · Google · 152 reviews
The firm to look at when the divorce will not settle easily. Managing attorney Gary Hill tried cases in Texas from 1984, then ran the central Iowa family law intake at Iowa Legal Aid, and the firm lists domestic abuse protective orders and termination of parental rights alongside divorce. Among Iowa divorce attorneys near West Des Moines, it is also unusual in pricing: the site says every matter is quoted as a fixed fee at the free consultation, which caps what a contested case can cost you.
Identity and footprint
Office2404 Forest Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312
Location noteThe office is in Des Moines, a few miles east of West Des Moines, although some attorney directories list the firm under West Des Moines
Phone515-639-3000 on the firm site; the Google listing shows 515-517-1944
HoursMonday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm
Managing attorneyGary E. Hill
Other attorneysHannah T. Anderson and Abigail (Abby) M. Becker
Practice and scope
Core workFamily law only
Listed practicesDivorce, custody, alimony, modification, domestic abuse, termination of parental rights, guardianship, child support
Divorce servicesProperty division and collaborative law are listed alongside litigated divorce
Legal aid backgroundHill was a senior staff attorney at Iowa Legal Aid, where he says he built its family law unit and supervised central Iowa family law intake
Court historyHill describes over 35 years of litigation in county, state and federal courts, most of it in Texas before 2007. This is the firm’s own description.
Credentials and licensing
Texas licenceGary E. Hill, licensed in Texas in 1984
Iowa barPractising in Iowa since 2007
Board certificationHis bio states Texas board certification in personal injury trial law from 1999. That is a Texas credential in a different field, not an Iowa family law certification.
EducationJ.D., University of Houston; B.B.A., University of Texas
MembershipsIowa State Bar Association, Polk County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas
Fees and consultation
StructureFixed fee, discussed at the consultation before work starts
ConsultationFree, per the firm’s pricing page
Payment plansA footer link to financing options redirects to the pricing page; one client review describes being offered a payment plan
Intake formThe contact form asks whether you are financially prepared to hire an attorney, so expect cost to come up early
What clients say
✓ Associate Hannah named repeatedly
✓ Reachable outside office hours
✓ Prepared clients for trial
· Intake with Hill, work by associates
· 4.3 average across 152 reviews
The largest review base here, and the readable reviews point at one person more than the firm: associate Hannah Anderson, described as reachable by call or text, including one account of weekend contact, and as preparing clients before trial. Several describe the first call with Gary Hill and the case then passing to an associate. A 4.3 average across 152 reviews means a real share of lower ratings sit below the ones we could read.
Why they fit West Des Moines: The strongest fit of the three when custody is disputed, a protective order is involved, or you need a firm used to cases going to hearing, and the fixed fee is a real protection when a contested case could otherwise run up hourly bills. Go in knowing three things: the office is in Des Moines rather than West Des Moines, the phone number on Google differs from the one on the site, and your day to day attorney is likely to be an associate rather than Hill. One detailed negative directory review describes a custody case led by another attorney at the firm, with a reply from Hill disputing it. That is one account, but ask at the consultation exactly who will handle your file and appear at hearings.
3. Greenberg Law
Best for a divorce where alimony and money are the fight, or Spanish is needed
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google · 22 reviews
The pick when the hard part of the divorce is money. Founder Elena Greenberg is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst as well as an attorney and mediator, and she previously worked in the state Child Support Recovery Unit as an Assistant Attorney General. If alimony or spousal support is the real dispute, that financial training bears directly on what Iowa judges weigh. The firm also has a bilingual attorney, Teresa Otáñez-Ortiz, who represents Spanish speaking clients in divorce and custody cases.
Identity and footprint
Office2600 Westown Parkway, Suite 106, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone515-635-5298
HoursMonday to Thursday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Friday to 2:30 pm FounderElena M. Greenberg, J.D., CDFA, CLC
Attorneys and staffTeresa Otáñez-Ortiz, Jeffrey Greenberg, Missy Feldhacker, and assistant Jessie Bougher
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish, through Teresa Otáñez-Ortiz
Practice and scope
Core workFamily law
Listed practicesDivorce, alimony, property division, custody, child support, family law mediation, adoption, guardianship
Financial sideSeparate CDFA page; the founder holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation
Alimony coverageThe alimony page walks through all four types Iowa courts use: traditional, rehabilitative, reimbursement and transitional
Other backgroundElena Greenberg lists criminal, juvenile and appellate work, teaches in the DMACC paralegal programme, and wrote the book Where to Start: Divorce
Credentials and licensing
Iowa barElena Greenberg, J.D. with honours from Drake University Law School, 2009
Prior roleAssistant Attorney General, Child Support Recovery Unit, before opening the firm in 2011
DesignationsCertified Divorce Financial Analyst and Certified Life Coach
Bilingual attorneyTeresa Otáñez-Ortiz, admitted to the Iowa bar in September 2024, Drake Law School with honours
Fees and consultation
Consultation$250 case review and consultation, with a free copy of the founder’s divorce book
StructureThe firm says it uses flat fees whenever practical
Price signalOne Google reviewer calls the prices very reasonable. That is one client’s view, not a published rate.
What clients say
✓ Realistic about outcomes
✓ Mediation in a hard case
✓ Assistant Jessie named often
· Smallest review base here, 22
Every readable review is five stars, and the recurring point is candour: clients say Elena Greenberg told them what they could realistically get and how. One reviewer describes her mediating a difficult divorce between two spouses with opposed goals. Teresa Otáñez-Ortiz and assistant Jessie are both named. With 22 reviews the base is small, so weigh individual accounts rather than the average.
Synthesized from publicly visible snippets: Google
Why they fit West Des Moines: The clearest fit when alimony, a business, or a lopsided income split is the real dispute, since the founder’s financial analyst training is aimed at exactly those numbers, and the only firm here with a Spanish speaking attorney. The trade off: the consultation costs $250 where the other two are free, Friday hours end at 2:30, and the bilingual attorney was admitted in 2024, so ask whether a senior attorney reviews her work on a complex case.
What to check before hiring a Divorce Lawyer in West Des Moines
✓ Work out which county your case belongs in
West Des Moines is split across Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison counties, and a divorce is filed in the county where either spouse lives. That decides whether hearings are in Des Moines, Adel, Indianola or Winterset. Ask each firm which of those courthouses it appears in regularly.
✓ Look up the licence yourself
The Iowa Judicial Branch runs a free Lawyers Licensed in Iowa search and a separate search of disciplinary and disability orders. Search the attorney who will handle your file, not just the firm’s founder. None of the three firms publishes an Iowa bar number.
✓ Get the fee in writing, as a total if you can
One firm here quotes fixed fees, one uses flat fees where practical, and one does not publish its structure. Ask what the quoted amount covers, whether a trial is extra, and what happens to an unused retainer. A fixed quote on a contested case is worth more than a low hourly rate.
✓ Ask who does the day to day work
At a multi attorney firm, the person you meet at intake may not be the one who drafts your filings or stands up at the temporary matters hearing. That can be fine, and the reviews suggest associates here do it well, but you should know the name before you sign.
✓ Count 90 days from service, not from filing
The waiting period runs from when your spouse is served, so a delay in service delays the decree. If your spouse will sign an acceptance of service, the clock starts sooner and you avoid a sheriff or process server fee.
✓ If you have children, book the parenting course early
Iowa requires divorcing parents of minor children to complete a court approved course before the decree, even in an agreed case. Schedules fill up, and an unfinished course is a common reason an otherwise ready decree waits.
Divorce Lawyers in West Des Moines: frequently asked questions
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in West Des Moines?
None of the three firms on this page publishes a retainer or hourly rate. Family Law Solutions of Iowa quotes a fixed fee at a free consultation, Greenberg Law charges $250 for a case review and uses flat fees where practical, and Feitelson Law Firm offers a free consultation without posting a price. The court filing fee is $285 on top of any attorney fee.
How long does a divorce take in Iowa?
At least 90 days from the date your spouse is served, because a judge cannot enter the final decree before then unless the court waives the wait. An agreed divorce often finishes soon after that point. A contested one runs as long as it takes to reach a settlement or a trial date, which depends on the county’s docket.
Do I have to have lived in Iowa for a year?
Not always. If your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served with the papers, there is no minimum residency period. Otherwise the spouse filing must have lived in Iowa for the past year, in good faith and not just to get divorced here.
Which court handles a West Des Moines divorce?
The district court of the county where either spouse lives. Most of West Des Moines is in Polk County, whose courthouse is in downtown Des Moines, but parts of the city are in Dallas, Warren and Madison counties, which hear cases in Adel, Indianola and Winterset. Check your property tax statement if you are unsure which county you are in.
Will I have to pay or receive alimony?
There is no formula in Iowa. A judge weighs factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity and health, and the property split, and can award traditional, rehabilitative, reimbursement or short transitional support. A larger property award can reduce or remove the need for ongoing payments, which is why the two are usually negotiated together.
Can I get a divorce in Iowa without a lawyer?
Yes. The Iowa Judicial Branch publishes free forms and interactive interviews for divorces with and without children, and filing is done electronically. If you cannot afford the $285 fee, you can ask the court to defer it. For a short review of your paperwork, lawyers on the Iowa State Bar’s Find-A-Lawyer directory charge $25 or less for the first 30 minutes.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar licensee records, court and statute sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
