Family Law

• Divorce
  Whether planning ahead, working through an amicable situation, or addressing complex family challenges, the Dickinson Divorce and Family Law attorneys will work with you to understand your unique situation. Our professionals are strong, compassionate, and skilled in all of the legal facets of divorce and family matters in Iowa. Our lawyers are skilled at not only litigating contested matters but also effectively negotiating settlements. We take the time to get to know you and tailor our representation to address your needs every step of the way.
• Child Support
  We understand your commitment to ensuring that your children are provided for and supported. Iowa uses the pure income shares method of calculating child support, which determines child support based on the combined incomes of the parties.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  When it comes to child custody laws, families frequently confuse the difference between legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody refers to a parent's rights and responsibilities with regard to decisions affecting the child's legal status, medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and religious instruction. Physical custody, on the other hand, refers to the right and responsibility to maintain the principal home of the child and provide for the routine care of the child.
• Adoption
  Adoption is an emotional process, and Dickinson's family law attorneys understand the ups and downs you may have been through in your efforts to adopt a child. An adoption attorney will help you file a thorough and accurate adoption petition, assist in the termination of parental rights if necessary, and ensure that all placement investigations and reports are completed. We will also conduct the adoption hearing and prepare the adoption decree that will finalize your parenting rights and responsibilities. Whether domestic or international adoption, having a family law attorney involved in the adoption process can make things less stressful.
• Premarital Agreement
  Dickinson's family law attorneys will work with you to prepare a premarital agreement (also called a prenup or prenuptial agreement) that is consistent with Iowa law and contains effective language that will protect your assets and interests. Iowa premarital agreements may include provisions related to...
• Spousal Support
  Alimony is a stipend to a spouse in lieu of the other spouse's legal obligation for support. Whether a court decides to award alimony depends on the circumstances of each particular case. Dickinson's family law attorneys understand alimony laws and will work with you to analyze the circumstances of your individual case to support or refute an alimony claim. We will assess your monthly expenses and engage experts to prepare charts that may aid in presenting your case in the best possible manner.

Criminal Law

• Theft
• Juvenile Crimes
  Juvenile law covers a wide range of legal issues impacting juveniles and their family members. Thousands of Iowans find themselves in juvenile court without understanding the vast ways in which juvenile court differs from district court. Read More

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Increasingly, corporate governance best practices are being demanded of companies large and small. Regulators and shareholders hold boards accountable, and directors must have a thorough understanding of what is expected to meet their obligations. Dickinson's attorneys advise boards on delegation of authority issues and issues involving boards' retained authority. Read More
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Over the past decade Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen, P.C. has been involved in approximately 25-35% of all bank mergers and acquisitions in Iowa. Read More
• Business Formation
  Dickinson's business law attorneys help clients draft and negotiate contracts including, stock and asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, business formation documents, licensing agreements, employment agreements, and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Read More
• Business Disputes
  Publishers today are content creators with multiple platforms for distribution. Those platforms may include print, dedicated websites, email, video, social networking websites and other increasingly complex media distribution platforms. More than 20 years of working with content creating media clients has given Dickinson's attorneys experience in anticipating and solving problems that arise in connection with these platforms. We are able to provide the same business law services available to all our clients, but tailor many of those services to the publishing and media business. Read More
• Construction Contracts
  Dickinson's construction litigation group has helped its clients recover millions of dollars in construction arbitration and litigation. We have counseled clients in disputes involving construction contracts; state mechanic's lien law; claims under chapter 573 of the Iowa Code involving public works; construction financing; construction-related employment and labor negotiations; environmental filings; and claims for construction delay and inefficiency. Read More
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
• Unfair Competition
  Dickinson attorneys have experience in pursuing claims of unfair competition, as well as in defending companies and individuals that are accused of competing unfairly. Most of the claims in this area touch on concepts of protected information such as trade secrets, an area in which our attorneys have extensive experience and knowledge. Read More
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Employment Contract
  Dickinson's business law attorneys help clients draft and negotiate contracts including stock and asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, business formation documents, licensing agreements, employment agreements, and confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Read More
• Employment Litigation
  Dickinson attorneys represent clients in all aspects of employment litigation, including administrative agency proceedings and trial work before federal and state courts. Read More

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Dickinson's real estate litigation attorneys represent clients in lawsuits involving defective construction and warranty claims, breach of contract claims against home buyers and sellers, specific performance of purchase contracts, warranty issues, lease disputes, home owner association disputes, broker/salesperson liability, Chapter 558A claims concerning disclosure of known defects, and restrictive covenant enforcement. Additionally, our lawyers represent clients in condemnation proceedings, including disputes regarding valuation. In the event that problems arise after financing is in place, we assist clients with work-outs, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and the additional litigation that may result. Read More
• Construction Litigation
  Dickinson Law's construction attorneys give clients a broad perspective on the legal issues businesses face in Iowa's construction Industry. When you retain Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C. you are retaining responsive and aggressive advocates who know that our first responsibility is to see that you achieve your goals, effectively and efficiently.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Dickinson Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys have experience in all aspects of environmental law, including real estate transactions and development, regulated industries, financial institutions, and agriculture. Read More
• Land Use and Zoning
  Dickinson's Des Moines, Iowa-based attorneys bring a vast array of resources to bear on clients' real estate and land use needs. Our real estate group handles matters ranging from transactions such as commercial asset disposition and acquisitions to real estate based litigation. Read More

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Dickinson's personal injury lawyers are experienced in personal injury law and litigation, with a focus on individualized attention to clients and their cases. We represent individuals and family members of individuals who have been seriously injured or killed by the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of others. Read More

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Dickinson's Trusts & Estate attorneys counsel owners of these businesses on alternatives for transferring ownership and control to the next generation, and in solving liquidity concerns associated with estate taxes.
• Trusts
  The attorneys at Dickinson Law provide expertise in a wide array of practice areas including banking, cybersecurity, taxation, employment, education, trusts & estates, real estate, litigation, and family law.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  When you retain Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen P.C. you are retaining responsive and aggressive advocates who know that our first responsibility is to see that you achieve your goals, effectively and efficiently.
• Foreclosure
  Financial institutions cannot control the weather or commodity prices, but they can control the condition of their ag loan files. Seeking experienced legal counsel to review ag loan files before the situation becomes dire is a frequently overlooked preventative measure that saves time and expense. Having Dickinson attorneys conduct documentation reviews, either at the start of the loan or at renewal, is a smart investment--our work with lenders on ag loan workouts, foreclosures, and bankruptcies has proven this repeatedly.
• Tax Law
  The number of taxing jurisdictions in the U.S. is approaching 10,000, each with its own rules, making state and local tax complex. Dickinson’s Des Moines, Iowa-based SALT attorneys have represented taxing authorities and single and multi-state entities in a wide array of matters, which has provided them valuable insight into state and local tax issues. Whether you have a questions related to sales, income, or property tax or you have been contacted by a state Department of Revenue, Dickinson’s SALT attorneys can help you navigate the complex world of state and local taxes. Read More