IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 24-2017 Filed October 29, 2025
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF TANNER DEREK NALL AND SARA CHRISTINE NALL
Upon the Petition of TANNER DEREK NALL, Petitioner-Appellee,
And Concerning SARA CHRISTINE NALL n/k/a SARA CHRISTINE DELA CRUZ, Respondent-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wayne County,
Elisabeth Reynoldson, Judge.
A self-represented mother appeals a decree placing physical care of two
children with their father. AFFIRMED.
Sara dela Cruz, Norwalk, self-represented appellant.
Tanner Derek Nall, Lineville, self-represented appellee.
Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Greer and Buller, JJ. 2
BULLER, Judge.
Sara dela Cruz appeals from a divorce decree placing physical care of two
children with her ex-husband Tanner Nall. Sara represents herself on appeal, and
we consider her claims as best we understand them. We affirm because we agree
with the district court on the preserved claim and discern no error.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
Tanner and Sara married in 2014 and separated in 2023. They have two
children: a child Tanner adopted (born in 2011) and a shared biological child (born
in 2015). Each parent acted as primary caregiver at times during the marriage.
Both parents have some mental-health struggles, sharing diagnoses of
anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Tanner also struggles
with chronic pain from a past injury and uses medical marijuana; the district court
made a credibility finding that Tanner only uses marijuana in compliance with his
medical-marijuana card. Sara has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for which
she takes a prescription medication.
Neither Tanner nor Sara’s behavior has been ideal. Tanner was charged
with domestically abusing Sara in December 2023, leading to a temporary
no-contact order. He pled guilty to an amended charge of disorderly conduct, and
the no-contact order was not extended (though the parties apparently thought it
was). Also, in 2024, Tanner attempted to grow psychedelic mushrooms in his
bedroom closet1 and police found another controlled-substance pill during a
1 The parties disputed Sara’s involvement with the mushrooms.Tanner testified that Sara paid for them. She denied this. We think the mushrooms incident is collateral at best, and it does not inform our review. 3
search; he was convicted of two counts of possessing controlled substances. In
2023, one of the children’s coaches reported that Sara appeared to be “strung out”
or under the influence of drugs at a wrestling practice. Sara also, contrary to the
instructions of the county sheriff, broke into the family home after the separation to
retrieve Ellie, a golden retriever2—Sara broke a window in the process, and she
pled guilty to criminal mischief and paid Tanner restitution. Sara also repeatedly
refused to drug test in relation to a child-abuse investigation, which the district court
characterized as “at best, suspicious.”
Tanner continues to reside in the marital home in Lineville, while Sara
moved to an apartment in Norwalk. Both parents work stable jobs. Tanner’s
parents, sister, and extended family live close by and help with childcare—which
they also did while the parties were married. At the time of separation, Sara agreed
to let the children stay with Tanner and at least finish the school year. By the time
of trial, Sara requested physical care for herself and visitation for Tanner, while
Tanner requested physical care and visitation for Sara.
Both children were doing well as of trial and receiving appropriate mental-
health services. Tanner testified that he tried to support the children’s relationship
with Sara, but she did not do the same—evidenced by one of the children
sometimes “yelling about adult things, like finances and stuff like that that he
shouldn’t have been made aware of.” Tanner believed the marital strife, and in
particular statements by Sara to one of the children, had affected the children’s
grades. Tanner’s mother—who even Sara spoke of glowingly—agreed the divorce
2 Although not at issue on appeal, we note the district court decreed Sara receive
Ellie while Tanner received two other dogs whose names are not in our record. 4
had been hard on the kids and said she worked hard to involve Sara by
encouraging the kids to call, taking the kids shopping with her, and inviting Sara to
join when she took the children to a nearby swimming pool.
The district court found that, when Tanner was the primary caregiver in the
year leading up to trial, he “show[ed] an ability and willingness to promote the
relationship between the children and Sara and to provide a stable, supportive,
loving home, which is crucial to their growth into productive adults.” The court also
found that placement with Tanner had allowed the children to remain in the school
and home they had known most of their lives and stay close to “grandparents and
extended family with whom they have a deep and supportive relationship.” And
the court found that the parties had largely “successfully navigated the stress of a
pending divorce and custody dispute while keeping their children’s best interest as
the guiding light.”
Sara argued there was a history of domestic abuse that should create a
rebuttable presumption against joint custody. See Iowa Code § 598.41(1)(b)
(2024). But the district court found the evidence did “not support that conclusion.”
Specifically, the district court found that two incidents of domestic violence
occurred over the course of the decade-long marriage. In the first, the court found
both parties engaged in mutual aggression. And in the second, the court weighed
“the parties’ testimony” and “conclude[d] that both parties engaged in fighting
behavior that resulted in both of them suffering minor injuries.” The court found it
was unable to determine a primary aggressor for either incident, and therefore
found there was no history of domestic abuse for purposes of the statutory
presumption. 5
The district court decreed joint legal custody and placed physical care of the
children with Tanner. Sara appeals pro se. As we understand her brief, she
challenges whether placing physical care with Tanner was in the children’s best
interests, whether the district court made “specific, detailed” findings, and whether
the court was biased in favor of Tanner.
II. Standard of Review
Actions involving the dissolution of marriage are in equity, and our review is
de novo.” In re Marriage of McDermott, 827 N.W.2d 671, 676 (Iowa 2013). “[W]e
examine the entire record and adjudicate anew” the issues presented. Id. “We
give weight to the findings of the district court, particularly concerning the credibility
of witnesses; however, those findings are not binding upon us.” Id.
III. Discussion3
“The objective of a physical care determination is to place the children in
the environment most likely to bring them to health, both physically and mentally,
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 24-2017 Filed October 29, 2025
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF TANNER DEREK NALL AND SARA CHRISTINE NALL
Upon the Petition of TANNER DEREK NALL, Petitioner-Appellee,
And Concerning SARA CHRISTINE NALL n/k/a SARA CHRISTINE DELA CRUZ, Respondent-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wayne County,
Elisabeth Reynoldson, Judge.
A self-represented mother appeals a decree placing physical care of two
children with their father. AFFIRMED.
Sara dela Cruz, Norwalk, self-represented appellant.
Tanner Derek Nall, Lineville, self-represented appellee.
Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Greer and Buller, JJ. 2
BULLER, Judge.
Sara dela Cruz appeals from a divorce decree placing physical care of two
children with her ex-husband Tanner Nall. Sara represents herself on appeal, and
we consider her claims as best we understand them. We affirm because we agree
with the district court on the preserved claim and discern no error.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
Tanner and Sara married in 2014 and separated in 2023. They have two
children: a child Tanner adopted (born in 2011) and a shared biological child (born
in 2015). Each parent acted as primary caregiver at times during the marriage.
Both parents have some mental-health struggles, sharing diagnoses of
anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Tanner also struggles
with chronic pain from a past injury and uses medical marijuana; the district court
made a credibility finding that Tanner only uses marijuana in compliance with his
medical-marijuana card. Sara has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for which
she takes a prescription medication.
Neither Tanner nor Sara’s behavior has been ideal. Tanner was charged
with domestically abusing Sara in December 2023, leading to a temporary
no-contact order. He pled guilty to an amended charge of disorderly conduct, and
the no-contact order was not extended (though the parties apparently thought it
was). Also, in 2024, Tanner attempted to grow psychedelic mushrooms in his
bedroom closet1 and police found another controlled-substance pill during a
1 The parties disputed Sara’s involvement with the mushrooms.Tanner testified that Sara paid for them. She denied this. We think the mushrooms incident is collateral at best, and it does not inform our review. 3
search; he was convicted of two counts of possessing controlled substances. In
2023, one of the children’s coaches reported that Sara appeared to be “strung out”
or under the influence of drugs at a wrestling practice. Sara also, contrary to the
instructions of the county sheriff, broke into the family home after the separation to
retrieve Ellie, a golden retriever2—Sara broke a window in the process, and she
pled guilty to criminal mischief and paid Tanner restitution. Sara also repeatedly
refused to drug test in relation to a child-abuse investigation, which the district court
characterized as “at best, suspicious.”
Tanner continues to reside in the marital home in Lineville, while Sara
moved to an apartment in Norwalk. Both parents work stable jobs. Tanner’s
parents, sister, and extended family live close by and help with childcare—which
they also did while the parties were married. At the time of separation, Sara agreed
to let the children stay with Tanner and at least finish the school year. By the time
of trial, Sara requested physical care for herself and visitation for Tanner, while
Tanner requested physical care and visitation for Sara.
Both children were doing well as of trial and receiving appropriate mental-
health services. Tanner testified that he tried to support the children’s relationship
with Sara, but she did not do the same—evidenced by one of the children
sometimes “yelling about adult things, like finances and stuff like that that he
shouldn’t have been made aware of.” Tanner believed the marital strife, and in
particular statements by Sara to one of the children, had affected the children’s
grades. Tanner’s mother—who even Sara spoke of glowingly—agreed the divorce
2 Although not at issue on appeal, we note the district court decreed Sara receive
Ellie while Tanner received two other dogs whose names are not in our record. 4
had been hard on the kids and said she worked hard to involve Sara by
encouraging the kids to call, taking the kids shopping with her, and inviting Sara to
join when she took the children to a nearby swimming pool.
The district court found that, when Tanner was the primary caregiver in the
year leading up to trial, he “show[ed] an ability and willingness to promote the
relationship between the children and Sara and to provide a stable, supportive,
loving home, which is crucial to their growth into productive adults.” The court also
found that placement with Tanner had allowed the children to remain in the school
and home they had known most of their lives and stay close to “grandparents and
extended family with whom they have a deep and supportive relationship.” And
the court found that the parties had largely “successfully navigated the stress of a
pending divorce and custody dispute while keeping their children’s best interest as
the guiding light.”
Sara argued there was a history of domestic abuse that should create a
rebuttable presumption against joint custody. See Iowa Code § 598.41(1)(b)
(2024). But the district court found the evidence did “not support that conclusion.”
Specifically, the district court found that two incidents of domestic violence
occurred over the course of the decade-long marriage. In the first, the court found
both parties engaged in mutual aggression. And in the second, the court weighed
“the parties’ testimony” and “conclude[d] that both parties engaged in fighting
behavior that resulted in both of them suffering minor injuries.” The court found it
was unable to determine a primary aggressor for either incident, and therefore
found there was no history of domestic abuse for purposes of the statutory
presumption. 5
The district court decreed joint legal custody and placed physical care of the
children with Tanner. Sara appeals pro se. As we understand her brief, she
challenges whether placing physical care with Tanner was in the children’s best
interests, whether the district court made “specific, detailed” findings, and whether
the court was biased in favor of Tanner.
II. Standard of Review
Actions involving the dissolution of marriage are in equity, and our review is
de novo.” In re Marriage of McDermott, 827 N.W.2d 671, 676 (Iowa 2013). “[W]e
examine the entire record and adjudicate anew” the issues presented. Id. “We
give weight to the findings of the district court, particularly concerning the credibility
of witnesses; however, those findings are not binding upon us.” Id.
III. Discussion3
“The objective of a physical care determination is to place the children in
the environment most likely to bring them to health, both physically and mentally,
and to social maturity.” In re Marriage of Hansen, 733 N.W.2d 683, 695
(Iowa 2007). Iowa Code section 598.41 sets forth a series of nonexclusive factors
to guide our consideration of child custody. Our case law sets forth similar
additional factors. See In re Marriage of Winter, 223 N.W.2d 165, 166–67
3 Sara’s brief includes a variety of outside-the-record information, which we do not
consider. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.801 (defining the record on appeal). We considered striking her brief for failure to comply with the rules, but given that Sara is self-represented and Tanner did not file an appellee’s brief, judicial economy and the need to provide final resolution of the physical-care question for the children weighed in favor of us deciding the appeal expeditiously while disregarding the improper information. 6
(Iowa 1974). Our overriding consideration “is the best interests of the child.” Iowa
R. App. P. 6.904(3)(n).
As to Sara’s first contention that physical care should have been placed with
her, we find that her appellate brief is largely an airing of personal grievances
related to Tanner, complaints about the Iowa Department of Health and Human
Services, and an attempt to relitigate the district court’s credibility findings. To the
extent there is a viable best-interests claim before us, we affirm the district court.
We agree that placing physical care with Tanner largely approximates the
caregiving situation of the recent past and will allow the children stability and the
maximum opportunity for physical and emotional health. We also agree placement
with Tanner helps facilitate contact with the grandparents and extended family,
continued residence in the family home, and continuation of the current school
system. While Sara is also a suitable custodian, these facts tilted the scales toward
Tanner.
As for Sara’s second claim, she asserts the district court “fail[ed] to enter
specific, detailed findings supporting its child custody determination.” We aren’t
entirely sure what this claim asserts, as the body text under that heading is just
disagreement with the court’s domestic-violence conclusion. We doubt error was
preserved on any claim regarding the specificity of the district court’s fact-findings.
But even if it were, the district court wrote a detailed ruling including credibility
findings, and we observe no basis to substitute our own judgment for that of the
district court. For the same reason, we reject any attempt to relitigate the credibility
findings underlying the domestic-violence determination. 7
Last, Sara claims “the trial court showed bias towards [Tanner] when
determining the primary custodial parent.” She asserts some kind of conspiracy
between the county attorney, Tanner’s family, and the court system in this case
and various other court cases. Sara did not preserve error on any claim regarding
judicial bias. And even if she had, we discern no bias by the district court in our
careful review of this case.
AFFIRMED.