In Re the Marriage of Lenger

HARRIS, Justice.

Iowa statutes provide for contempt proceedings as a means of enforcing the provisions of dissolution of marriage decrees. The trial court held it was unconstitutional, on the basis of art. I, § 19 of the Iowa Constitution (imprisonment for debt) to use contempt proceedings as a means to enforce a provision for property division. This contempt proceeding, brought by the wife, was accordingly dismissed. We think such a use of contempt power is constitutional. On the wife’s appeal we reverse the trial court and remand the case for further proceedings.

Under the dissolution decree…