1. a. A person, who being able to do so, fails or refuses to provide support for the person’s child or ward under the age of eighteen years for a period longer than one year or in an amount greater than five thousand dollars commits the offense of nonsupport.

 b. A person shall not be held to have violated this section if the person fails to support any child or ward under the age of eighteen who has left the home of the parent or other person having legal custody of the child or ward without the consent of that parent or person having legal custody of the child or ward.

Attorney's Note

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class D felonyup to 5 yearsbetween $1,025 and $10,245
For details, see Iowa Code902.9

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Terms Used In Iowa Code 726.5

  • Child: includes child by adoption. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. “Support”, for the purposes of this section, means any support which has been fixed by court order, or, in the absence of any such order or decree, the minimal requirements of food, clothing or shelter.
 3. Nonsupport is a class “D” felony.