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State research · Iowa

Child-centered divorce and custody lawyers in Iowa.

Three lawyers whose public records show meaningful child-focused work, substantial family-law depth, professional stature, and a useful first-party online presence.

Research reviewedAugust 17, 2026
01Editorial score96/100

Des Moines · Iowa

Anjela A. Shutts

Whitfield & Eddy Law

Shutts combines elite family-law stature with a rare, sustained institutional commitment to children. Her leadership at the Iowa Center for Children’s Justice is directly relevant because that organization serves children affected by custody litigation, while her mediator and collaborative credentials support lower-conflict options. She has practiced family law for decades and remains engaged in the rules that shape Iowa families, including appointment to the state’s child-support-guidelines review work. AAML fellowship, state-bar leadership, and a very detailed first-party web profile strengthen credibility and make contacting her straightforward. Prospective clients should still ask how she balances child-centered settlement planning with forceful trial advocacy in their particular county and should verify her current official bar record before engagement.

Why the children-first signal is real

Board leader of the Iowa Center for Children's Justice, whose mission is to support children in custody disputes; certified mediator and collaborative practitioner.

Divorce and custody depth

Family-law practice since joining the firm in 1996, covering divorce, custody, support, mediation, and collaborative divorce; selected for Iowa's Child Support Guidelines Review Committee.

Professional stature

AAML Fellow, former Iowa State Bar Association president, and 2025 Drake Law alumna of the year.

Children 29/30Case depth 24/25Stature 20/20Online presence 15/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: Unable to capture an individual result from Iowa's interactive attorney search; current AAML, firm, and bar-leadership sources support confidence, but official status and discipline require a final lookup.

Confirm current caseload, trial team, county coverage, fees, conflicts, and individual license/discipline status.

02Editorial score94/100

Cedar Rapids · Iowa

Rae M. Kinkead

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC

Kinkead’s experience representing children and serving as a guardian ad litem and child/family reporter is exceptionally aligned with this project’s child-centered criterion. Those roles provide perspective on what courts, evaluators, and children need when custody facts are contested. She pairs that neutral and representative work with mediation, collaborative practice, appeals, and advanced trial preparation, avoiding the common tradeoff between de-escalation and courtroom capability. Her AAML fellowship, teaching activity, and thorough firm biography reinforce professional credibility, and the website provides direct contact information and consumer-facing family-law context. Her placement below Shutts reflects the latter’s unusually visible statewide children’s-justice leadership, not a material concern about Kinkead’s qualifications. Official status should be confirmed just before publication.

Why the children-first signal is real

Serves as guardian ad litem, child/family reporter, and attorney for children; also mediates and practices collaboratively.

Divorce and custody depth

Handles divorce, custody, support, modifications, appeals, mediation, collaborative matters, and complex family litigation, with advanced trial training.

Professional stature

AAML Fellow, Best Lawyers honoree, presenter to legal and marriage/family-therapy audiences, and firm family-law leader.

Children 30/30Case depth 23/25Stature 18/20Online presence 15/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: Unable to capture an individual result from Iowa's interactive search; current firm and AAML-level materials strongly suggest active practice, subject to official recheck.

Confirm role conflicts, whether she is accepting parent-representation matters in the relevant county, fee structure, and official status.

03Editorial score85/100

Iowa City · Iowa

Michelle Jay

Bray & Klockau, P.L.C.

Jay earns a place because her public record shows direct service as both guardian ad litem and attorney for children, not simply parent-side custody marketing. That experience can sharpen issue selection, expert use, and parenting proposals when a client wants the child’s day-to-day needs kept in view. Her work spans divorce, custody, juvenile matters, litigation, and mediation, providing a useful mix of courtroom and problem-solving tools. Bray & Klockau’s site offers a substantive individual profile and direct firm access, although its educational content and external stature signals are less extensive than those of Shutts and Kinkead. Before referral, a consumer should confirm her current percentage of custody work, recent trial experience, geographic reach, and official Iowa license status.

Why the children-first signal is real

Serves as a guardian ad litem and attorney for children and brings mediation experience to custody disputes.

Divorce and custody depth

Family-law practice includes divorce, custody, support, juvenile matters, and litigation, with courtroom and negotiated-resolution experience.

Professional stature

Professional recognition and mediation roster participation corroborate a developing statewide profile, though less extensive than the first two selections.

Children 28/30Case depth 22/25Stature 14/20Online presence 13/15License confidence 8/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: Unable to capture an individual result from Iowa's interactive attorney search; verify admission, status, and public discipline directly before publication.

Website availability was occasionally slow; confirm current firm affiliation, custody caseload, fees, county coverage, and official status.

Before you hire anyone

A shortlist is the beginning of diligence, not the end.

Kids First Divorce is an independent editorial publication. We do not represent you, refer you to counsel, certify any lawyer, or predict any result. Selection is based on publicly available information reviewed as of the date shown.

Confirm the lawyer’s current license and disciplinary history with the official state authority. Interview the lawyer about conflicts, fees, availability, geographic coverage, relevant experience, strategy, and whether their approach fits your family’s actual facts.

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