WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

The highest level of misdemeanor, with up to two years and a fine of $855 to $8,540 where no specific penalty is given.

Ending a marriage on a listed ground: a marriage the law prohibits, impotence, a spouse already living, or a party under a guardianship who lacked capacity.

A loss of money or property that can be measured, which a consumer must have suffered from an unfair or deceptive practice to sue for actual damages.

An act meant to cause pain, injury or offensive contact, or to put someone in fear of it, with the apparent ability to carry it out; or intentionally pointing a firearm at someone or displaying a dangerous weapon threateningly.

Also called agent, health care proxy

The person a durable power of attorney for health care names to make health care decisions, when the document explicitly authorizes it.

The lowest class of felony, with up to five years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245; a felony declared without a class is a class D felony.

Conduct by a tenant endangering the health or safety of others on or near the property, which allows a single three day notice to quit.

Also called executive session

A part of a public body's meeting held out of public view, allowed only by a public vote of two-thirds of the members or all members present, and only for a listed reason.

In stalking, repeatedly staying near a person without legitimate purpose, repeatedly using a device to locate, listen to or watch the person, or repeatedly conveying threats.

Also called vandalism, property damage

Intentionally damaging, defacing, altering or destroying property without a right to do so.

Any firearm, a knife with a blade over five inches, a stun device, and anything used in a way showing intent to kill or seriously injure.

Also called living will

A competent adult's signed and dated direction that life sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn, effective only if the condition is terminal and the person cannot make treatment decisions.

Also called implied consent

A driver is treated as having agreed to a chemical test of blood, breath or urine when there are reasonable grounds and a listed condition, such as an OWI arrest, a crash with injury, or a refused screening test.

Also called divorce

The decree ending a marriage, entered when the relationship has broken down so that the legitimate objects of matrimony are destroyed and there is no reasonable likelihood it can be preserved.

Also called domestic violence

An assault between people in a domestic relationship, a simple misdemeanor for a first offense, rising with bodily injury, a weapon, intent to seriously injure, or pressure on the throat or neck.

Equipment, products or materials used or attempted to be used with a controlled substance, outside its lawful use, knowingly and primarily to make it, take it, test it or enhance its effect.

Also called wiretapping, secret recording

Listening to, recording or intercepting a conversation by electronic or mechanical means, with no right or authority to do so, a serious misdemeanor.

Also called spousal share

The share of an estate a surviving spouse of a married person domiciled in Iowa may choose to take, whatever the will says.

Property a creditor may not take to satisfy a judgment, such as one vehicle up to $7,000, tools of a trade up to $10,000, and household goods kept for use.

Also called clearing a record, sealing

The court's removal of a misdemeanor conviction from public view on application, once more than eight years have passed and the listed conditions are met.

A family's makeup, including having children, one of the grounds on which housing may not be refused or offered on different terms.

Also called car insurance, proof of insurance

The insurance that must be in effect for a vehicle driven on Iowa highways, with the proof card kept in the vehicle on paper or electronically.

Also called eviction, FED

The court action for an eviction, brought for a holdover after the lease ends, a breach of the lease, or nonpayment of rent.

Also called civil forfeiture, asset forfeiture

Taking drugs and property used or intended to facilitate conduct giving rise to forfeiture, in a proceeding against the property.

Also called wage garnishment

Taking part of a debtor's wages to pay a judgment, limited to what federal law allows and to $250 a year for each creditor when earnings are not expected to exceed $12,000.

Carrying a dangerous weapon on or about the person, which is an aggravated misdemeanor when the weapon is used in the commission of a crime.

Also called overstaying a lease

A tenant staying on without the landlord's consent after the tenancy ends.

Also called resisting arrest, obstruction

Knowingly resisting or obstructing a known peace officer, jailer, emergency medical provider or firefighter in a lawful duty, a simple misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $250.

Also called receipt for seized property

The complete list of property taken under a search warrant, sworn as accurate and filed with the return, a copy of which the magistrate or clerk delivers on request.

Also called descendants

A person's descendants, who take the part of an estate without a will that does not pass to a surviving spouse, ahead of the parents.

Also called shared custody

Custody both parents share, which the court may order to assure the child maximum continuing contact with both parents in the child's best interest.

An added amount an employer owes on top of unpaid wages, court costs and attorney fees, when it intentionally failed to pay.

Also called legal adulthood

Adulthood in law, reached at the age of eighteen years, or earlier by marriage.

Also called MRO

The physician who reviews a confirmed positive workplace drug test before it is reported to the employer.

For unemployment benefits, a deliberate, material breach of the duties of the job, showing willful or wanton disregard of the employer's interest.

Also called periodic tenancy

A tenancy with no fixed term, for anyone other than a roomer paying weekly.

Also called carry permit, concealed carry permit

A permit issued to a person not disqualified who meets the training requirements and applies, good for five years and valid throughout the state except where the law prohibits a firearm.

Also called three day notice

The three days' written notice a landlord gives before filing an eviction, unless the three day notice to pay rent already ended the tenancy.

Also called OWI, drunk driving

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or another drug, with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more, or with any amount of a controlled substance in the blood or urine.

Also called normal wear and tear

The decline in a unit from ordinary use, which a deposit may not be kept to restore.

The part of a vehicle within reach of the seats, the glove compartment included, where an open container of alcohol or THC may not be.

One of three things an unlicensed person needs to acquire a pistol or revolver from a federally licensed dealer, beside a permit to carry or a satisfactory background check.

Also called released on your own recognizance, ROR

Release before trial on a promise to appear, which a bailable defendant gets unless the magistrate decides it will not assure appearance or will jeopardize someone's safety.

Also called roadside breath test, PBT

A breath test an officer may ask for at the roadside, with reasonable grounds, to help decide whether to arrest or to request a chemical test.

A business or place offering accommodations, facilities or services to the public, which may not refuse anyone because of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or disability.

Also called government record

A record of a government body that every person may examine, copy and publish, free to examine unless a law provides otherwise.

Also called self defense

The force a reasonable person would judge necessary to prevent an injury or loss, which can include deadly force when that is reasonably believed necessary to avoid injury or risk to life or safety.

Also called right to sue letter

The commission's permission to take a civil rights complaint to district court, which may be requested once the complaint has been on file 60 days.

Rent stops being owed for the time the landlord fails to deliver possession, until possession is delivered.

Also called security deposit, damage deposit

Money a landlord holds of no more than two months' rent, kept in an insured account apart from personal funds, and returned or accounted for within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the address is received.

Also called retaliatory eviction

A landlord raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening eviction because a tenant complained about conditions or joined a tenants' union.

An order issued on a written application to a magistrate, under oath, showing probable cause and describing the place and property specifically enough that an independent reasonable person could identify them.

A will made provable without calling the witnesses, by the testator's acknowledgment and the witnesses' affidavits before a notary.

The middle level of misdemeanor, with a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year in jail.

The lowest level of public offense, carrying a fine of $105 to $855, with up to 30 days in jail in place of or beside the fine.

Also called small claims court

A civil action for a money judgment of $6,500 or less, apart from interest and costs, along with eviction cases.

A sworn statement a successor furnishes to collect a decedent's personal property worth $50,000 or less, with no real property, once 40 days have passed since the death.

Also called time limit to sue

The time after a claim accrues within which it must be brought: two years for injuries to the person, five for unwritten contracts and ten for written ones.

Also called work permit, TRL

A license the department may issue to a person revoked under the OWI chapter, allowing driving as a class C license allows, once an approved ignition interlock is on every vehicle the person drives.

An unjustified act meant to cause serious injury, a class D felony when it causes bodily injury and a class C felony when it causes serious injury.