reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.1 - Construction.

600.1 Construction.
1. This chapter* shall be construed liberally. The best interest of the person to be adopted shall be the paramount consideration in interpreting this chapter. However, the interests of the adopting parents shall be given due consideration in this interpretation. However, in determining the best interest of the person to be adopted and the interests of the adopting parents, any evidence of interests relating to a period of time during which the person to be adopted is placed with prospective adoptive parents and during which the placement is not in compliance with the law, adoption procedures, or any action by the juvenile court or court, shall not be considered in the determination.
2. If a proceeding held under this chapter involves an Indian child as defined in section 232B.3 and the proceeding is subject to the Iowa Indian child welfare Act under chapter 232B, the proceeding and other actions taken in connection with the proceeding or this chapter shall comply with chapter 232B. In any proceeding held or action taken under this chapter involving an Indian child, the applicable requirements of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-89, shall be applied to the proceeding or action in a manner that complies with chapter 232B and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, Pub. L. No. 95-608.
[C77, 79, 81, §600.1]
94 Acts, ch 1174, §6, 22; 2000 Acts, ch 1145, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 153, §16; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §125; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127
*Enacted as sections 600.1 – 600.16, Code 1977
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.2 - Definitions.

600.2 Definitions.
1. “Child”, “parent”, “parent-child relationship”, “termination of parental rights”, “biological parent”, “stepparent”, “guardian”, “custodian”, “guardian ad litem”, “minor”, “adoption service provider”, “certified adoption investigator”, “adult”, “agency”, “department”, “court”, and “juvenile court” mean the same as defined in section 600A.2.
2. “Investigator” means a natural person who is certified or approved by the department of human services, after inspection by the department of inspections and appeals, as being capable of conducting an investigation under section 600.8.
[C77, 79, 81, §600.2]
90 Acts, ch 1204, §64; 94 Acts, ch 1046, §12; 2017 Acts, ch 113, §3
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.3 - Commencement of adoption action — jurisdiction — forum non conveniens.

600.3 Commencement of adoption action — jurisdiction — forum non conveniens.
1. An action for the adoption of any natural person shall be commenced by the filing of an adoption petition, as prescribed in section 600.5, in the juvenile court or court of the county in which an adult person to be adopted is domiciled or resides, or in the juvenile court or court of the county in which the guardian of a minor person to be adopted or the petitioner is domiciled or resides.
2. a. An adoption petition shall not be filed until a termination of parental rights has been accomplished except in the following cases:
(1) No termination of parental rights is required if the person to be adopted is an adult.
(2) If the stepparent of the child to be adopted is the adoption petitioner, the parent-child relationship between the child and the parent who is not the spouse of the petitioner may be terminated as part of the adoption proceeding by the filing of that parent’s consent to the adoption.
(3) A termination of parental rights order is not required prior to the filing of an adoption petition if the adoption is a standby adoption as defined in section 600.14A.
b. For the purposes of this subsection, a consent to adopt recognized by the juvenile courts or courts of another jurisdiction in the United States and obtained from a resident of that jurisdiction shall be accepted in this state in lieu of a termination of parental rights proceeding.
c. Any adoption proceeding pending on or completed prior to July 1, 1978, is hereby legalized and validated to the extent that it is consistent with this subsection.
3. If upon filing of the adoption petition or at any later time in the adoption action the juvenile court or court finds that in the interest of substantial justice the adoption action should be conducted in another juvenile court or court, it may transfer, stay, or dismiss the adoption action on any conditions that are just.
4. An adoption petition shall be limited to the adoption of one natural person.
[R60, §2600; C73, §2307; C97, §3250; C24, §10496; C27, 31, 35, §10501-b1; C39, §10501.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.1; C77, 79, 81, §600.3]
2000 Acts, ch 1145, §3; 2001 Acts, ch 57, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 71, §1
Referred to in §13B.9, 600.4, 600.5, 600.12A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.4 - Qualifications to file adoption petition.

600.4 Qualifications to file adoption petition.
Any person who may adopt may file an adoption petition under section 600.3. The following persons may adopt:
1. An unmarried adult.
2. Husband and wife together.
3. A husband or wife separately if the person to be adopted is not the other spouse and if any of the following conditions apply:
a. The adopting spouse is the stepparent of the person to be adopted.
b. The adopting spouse has been separated from the other spouse by reason of the other spouse’s abandonment as prescribed in section 597.10.
c. The adopting spouse is unable to petition with the other spouse because of the prolonged and unexplained absence, unavailability, or incapacity of the other spouse, or because of an unreasonable withholding of joinder by the other spouse, as determined by the juvenile court or court under section 600.5, subsection 7.
[R60, §2600; C73, §2307; C97, §3250; C24, §10496; C27, 31, 35, §10501-b1; C39, §10501.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.1; C77, 79, 81, §600.4]
2000 Acts, ch 1145, §4; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §162
Referred to in §600.5, 600.14A
Subsection 3 amended
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.6 - Attachments to an adoption petition.

600.6 Attachments to an adoption petition.
An adoption petition shall have attached to it the following:
1. A certified copy of the birth certificate showing parentage of the person to be adopted or, if such certificate is not available, a verified birth record.
2. A copy of any order terminating parental rights with respect to the person to be adopted.
3. If parental rights were terminated pursuant to chapter 232, a copy of any court orders concerning whether ongoing contact between siblings not placed with the person to be adopted is in the best interest of each sibling.
4. Any written consent and verified statement required under section 600.7, except the consent required under subsection 1, paragraph “d”, of that section.
5. Any preplacement investigation report that has been prepared at the time of filing pursuant to section 600.8.
6. In the case of a standby adoption as defined in section 600.14A, a form completed by the terminally ill parent consenting to termination of parental rights and adoption of the child by a person or persons specified in the consent form, effective at a future date when the terminally ill parent of the child has died or requests that a final adoption decree be issued.
[R60, §2601; C73, §2308; C97, §3251; C24, §10497; C27, 31, 35, §10501-b3; C39, §10501.3; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.3; C77, 79, 81, §600.6]
89 Acts, ch 140, §1; 99 Acts, ch 43, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 57, §3; 2022 Acts, ch 1096, §7
Referred to in §600.14A
NEW subsection 3 and former subsections 3 – 5 renumbered as 4 – 6
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.6A - Court determination regarding appointment of guardian ad litem.

600.6A Court determination regarding appointment of guardian ad litem.
Prior to ordering a hearing on the adoption petition, the court shall make a determination of the need for a guardian ad litem for a minor child to be adopted and shall, in writing, either appoint or waive the appointment of a guardian ad litem for purposes of the adoption proceeding in the order setting the adoption hearing.
2016 Acts, ch 1069, §2
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.7 - Consents to the adoption.

600.7 Consents to the adoption.
1. An adoption petition shall not be granted unless the following persons consent to the adoption or unless the juvenile court or court makes a determination under subsection 4:
a. Any guardian of the person to be adopted.
b. The spouse of a petitioner who is a stepparent.
c. The spouse of a petitioner who is separately petitioning to adopt an adult person.
d. The person to be adopted if that person is fourteen years of age or older.
2. A consent to the adoption shall be in writing, shall name the person to be adopted and the petitioner, shall be signed by the person consenting, and shall be made in the following manner:
a. If by any minor person to be adopted who is fourteen years of age or older, in the presence of the juvenile court or court in which the adoption petition is filed.
b. If by any other person, either in the presence of the juvenile court or court in which the adoption petition is filed or before a notary public as provided in chapter 9B.
3. A consent to the adoption may be withdrawn prior to the issuance of an adoption decree under section 600.13 by the filing of an affidavit of consent withdrawal with the juvenile court or court. Such affidavit shall be treated in the same manner as an attached verified statement is treated under subsection 4.
4. If any person required to consent under this section refuses to or cannot be located to give consent, the petitioner may attach to the petition a verified statement of such refusal or lack of location. The juvenile court or court shall then determine, at the adoption hearing prescribed in section 600.12, whether, in the best interests of the person to be adopted and the petitioner, any particular consent shall be unnecessary to the granting of an adoption petition.
[R60, §2600, 2601; C73, §2307, 2308; C97, §3250, 3251; C24, §10496, 10497; C27, 31, 35, §10501-b1, 10501-b3; C39, §10501.1, 10501.3; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.1, 600.3; C77, 79, 81, §600.7]
2000 Acts, ch 1145, §7 – 9; 2012 Acts, ch 1050, §53, 60
Referred to in §600.6, 600.11, 600.14A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.7A - Adoption services provided by or through department of human services — selection of adoptive parent criteria.

600.7A Adoption services provided by or through department of human services — selection of adoptive parent criteria.
The department of human services shall adopt rules which provide that if adoption services are provided by or through the department, notwithstanding any other selection of adoptive parent criteria, the overriding criterion shall be a preference for placing a child in a stable home environment as expeditiously as possible.
96 Acts, ch 1174, §7
Referred to in §600.14A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.7B - Postadoption information.

600.7B Postadoption information.
The department shall develop and furnish to the state registrar of vital statistics a document listing all postadoption services available to adoptive families in the state, to be delivered along with a copy of the new birth certificate to the parents named in the adoption decree pursuant to section 600.13.
2018 Acts, ch 1045, §1
Referred to in §600.14A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.9A - Prohibited practices — penalties.

600.9A Prohibited practices — penalties.
1. All of the following are prohibited practices regarding a proceeding under this chapter:
a. The provision of termination of parental rights, child placement, or adoption services to any biological or adoptive parent by any person other than an adoption service provider or the department.
b. The charging of a fee by an adoption service provider that is more than the usual and necessary fee commensurate with the services rendered.
c. The facilitation, encouragement, or advisement of adoptive parents by an adoption service provider to provide any thing of value beyond those expenditures allowed pursuant to section 600.9.
d. The knowing encouragement or solicitation of payment of allowable expenses or provision of anything of value beyond those expenditures allowed pursuant to section 600.9, by a person falsely representing that a child may be available for adoption with the intent to defraud the other person.
2. A person who commits a prohibited practice under this section is guilty of a serious misdemeanor for the first violation and a class “C” felony for any second or subsequent violation.
2017 Acts, ch 113, §8
Referred to in §600.14A
Similar provisions, see §600A.10, 714.8(21)
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.10 - Minimum residence of a minor child.

600.10 Minimum residence of a minor child.
The adoption of a minor person shall not be decreed until that person has lived with the adoption petitioner for a minimum residence period of one hundred eighty days. However, the juvenile court or court may waive this period if the adoption petitioner is a stepparent or related to the minor person within the fourth degree of consanguinity or may shorten this period upon good cause shown when the juvenile court or court is satisfied that the adoption petitioner and the person to be adopted are suited to each other.
[C27, 31, 35, §10501-b2; C39, §10501.2; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.2; C77, 79, 81, §600.10]
2000 Acts, ch 1145, §13
Referred to in §600.8, 600.12A, 600.14A, 600.20
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.12 - Adoption hearing.

600.12 Adoption hearing.
1. An adoption hearing shall be conducted informally as a hearing in equity. The hearing shall be reported or electronically recorded.
2. Only those persons notified under section 600.11 and their witnesses and legal counsel or persons requested by the juvenile court or court to be present shall be admitted to the court chambers while an adoption hearing is being conducted. The adoption petitioner and the person to be adopted shall be present at the hearing, unless the presence of either is excused by the juvenile court or court.
3. Any person admitted to the hearing shall be heard and allowed to present evidence upon request and according to the manner in which the juvenile court or court conducts the hearing.
[C27, 31, 35, §10501-b4; C39, §10501.4; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.4; C77, 79, 81, §600.12]
2000 Acts, ch 1145, §15; 2021 Acts, ch 66, §1
Referred to in §600.7, 600.8, 600.11, 600.14A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.12A - Death of person to be adopted — process for final adoption decree.

600.12A Death of person to be adopted — process for final adoption decree.
1. If the person to be adopted dies following the filing of an adoption petition pursuant to section 600.3, but prior to issuance of a final adoption decree pursuant to section 600.13, the juvenile court or court may waive any investigations and reports required pursuant to section 600.8 that remain uncompleted, waive the minimum residence requirements pursuant to section 600.10, proceed to the adoption hearing, and issue a final adoption decree, unless any person to whom notice is to be provided pursuant to section 600.11 objects to the adoption.
2. If the person to be adopted dies following termination of the parental rights of the person’s biological parents but prior to the filing of an adoption petition, the person who was the guardian or custodian of the person to be adopted prior to the person’s death or the person who was in a parent-child relationship with the person to be adopted prior to the person’s death may file an adoption petition and the juvenile court or court in the interest of justice may waive any other procedures or requirements related to the adoption, proceed to the adoption hearing, and issue a final adoption decree, unless any person to whom notice is to be provided pursuant to section 600.11 objects to the adoption.
3. A final adoption decree issued pursuant to this section terminates any parental rights existing prior to the time of its issuance and establishes the parent-child relationship between the adoption petitioner and the person adopted. However, the final adoption decree does not confer any rights on the adoption petitioner to the estate of the adopted person and does not confer any rights on the adopted person to the estate of the adoption petitioner.
98 Acts, ch 1064, §1, 3; 98 Acts, ch 1190, §31; 2000 Acts, ch 1145, §16
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.14 - Appeal — rules.

600.14 Appeal — rules.
1. An appeal from any final order or decree rendered under this chapter or chapter 600A shall be taken in the same manner as an appeal is taken from a final judgment under the rules of civil procedure. However, a rule of civil procedure provision regarding a minimum amount of value in controversy shall not bar an adoption appeal. The supreme court shall review an adoption appeal de novo.
2. The supreme court may adopt rules which provide for the expediting of contested cases under this chapter and chapter 600A.
[C77, 79, 81, §600.14]
94 Acts, ch 1174, §9, 22; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.14A - Standby adoption.

600.14A Standby adoption.
1. As used in this section:
a. “Standby adoption” means an adoption in which a terminally ill parent consents to termination of parental rights and the issuance of a final adoption decree effective upon the occurrence of a future event, which is either the death of the terminally ill parent or the request of the parent for the issuance of a final adoption decree.
b. “Terminally ill parent” means an individual who has a medical prognosis by a licensed physician that the individual has an incurable and irreversible condition which will lead to death.
2. A terminally ill parent may consent to termination of parental rights and adoption of a child under a standby adoption if the other parent of the child is not living or the other parent has previously had the parent’s parental rights terminated.
3. A person who meets the qualifications to file an adoption petition pursuant to section 600.4 may file a petition for standby adoption. A standby adoption shall comply with the requirements of sections 600.7 through 600.12. However, the court may order that the completion of placement investigations and reports be expedited based on the circumstances of a particular case. The court may waive the minimum residence period requirement pursuant to section 600.10 to expedite the standby adoption if necessary.
4. If a consent to a standby adoption is attached to an adoption petition pursuant to section 600.6, the court determines that the requirements of this chapter relative to a standby adoption are met, and the court determines that the standby adoption is in the best interest of the child to be adopted, the court shall issue a standby adoption decree or a final adoption decree. However, the terminally ill parent’s parental rights shall not be terminated and the standby adoption shall not be finalized until the death of the terminally ill parent or the request of the terminally ill parent for issuance of the final adoption decree.
5. A standby adoption decree shall become final upon notice of the death of the terminally ill parent or upon the terminally ill parent’s request that a final adoption decree be issued. If the court determines at the time of the notice or request that the standby adoption is still in the best interest of the child, the court shall issue a final adoption decree.
2001 Acts, ch 57, §5
Referred to in §600.3, 600.6, 600.13
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.15 - Foreign and international adoptions.

600.15 Foreign and international adoptions.
1. A decree establishing a parent-child relationship by adoption which is issued pursuant to due process of law by a juvenile court or court of any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States shall be recognized in this state.
2. For an adoption based on a decree issued by a foreign jurisdiction within the United States, an investigator shall conduct a postplacement investigation and issue a postplacement report as provided in section 600.8.
3. a. For an adoption based on a decree issued by a jurisdiction outside the United States, an investigator shall conduct a postplacement investigation that consists of a minimum of three face-to-face visits with the minor person and the adoptive parents during the first year after the placement, with the first such visit to be conducted within sixty days of the placement of the minor person in the adoptive home. Additional visits shall be conducted if required by the jurisdiction that issued the decree.
b. The postplacement investigation and report under this subsection shall include documentation that any unique needs of the minor person are being appropriately met through the placement.
[C77, 79, 81, §600.15]
87 Acts, ch 140, §1 – 3; 98 Acts, ch 1064, §2; 99 Acts, ch 138, §4; 2000 Acts, ch 1145, §18; 2001 Acts, ch 24, §67, 74; 2002 Acts, ch 1040, §4, 5; 2014 Acts, ch 1029, §3
Referred to in §144.25A
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.16 - Adoption record — penalty for violations.

600.16 Adoption record — penalty for violations.
1. Any information compiled under section 600.8, subsection 1, paragraph “c”, relating to medical and developmental histories shall be made available at any time by the clerk of court, the department, or any adoption service provider that made the placement to:
a. The adopting parents.
b. The adopted person, provided that person is an adult at the time the request for information is made. For the purposes of this paragraph “adult” means a person twenty-one years of age or older or a person who attains majority by marriage.
c. Any person approved by the department if the person uses this information solely for the purposes of conducting a legitimate medical research project or of treating a patient in a medical facility.
d. A descendant of an adopted person.
2. Information regarding an adopted person’s existing medical and developmental history and family medical history, which meets the definition of background information in section 600.8, subsection 1, paragraph “c”, shall be made available as provided in subsection 1. However, the identity of the adopted person’s biological parents shall not be disclosed.
3. The provisions of this section also apply to information collected pursuant to section 600A.4, pertaining to the family medical history, medical and developmental history, and social history of the person to be adopted.
4. Any person other than the adopting parents or the adopted person, who discloses information in violation of this section, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor for the first offense, a serious misdemeanor for a second offense, and an aggravated misdemeanor for a third or subsequent offense.
[C46, §600.9; C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §600.9, 600.10; C77, 79, 81, §600.16]
89 Acts, ch 102, §7; 91 Acts, ch 243, §3; 92 Acts, ch 1142, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1196, §3; 94 Acts, ch 1046, §16; 94 Acts, ch 1174, §10, 11, 22; 99 Acts, ch 138, §5; 2017 Acts, ch 113, §10
Referred to in §237.21, 238.24, 600.16B, 600A.4
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.16B - Fees.

600.16B Fees.
The supreme court shall prescribe and the department of human services shall adopt rules, to defray the actual cost of the provision of information or the opening of records pursuant to section 600.16 or 600.16A.
92 Acts, ch 1196, §5
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.17 - Financial assistance.

600.17 Financial assistance.
The department of human services shall, within the limits of funds appropriated to the department of human services and any gifts or grants received by the department for this purpose, provide financial assistance to any person who adopts a child with physical or mental disabilities or an older or otherwise hard-to-place child, if the adoptive parent has the capability of providing a suitable home for the child but the need for special services or the costs of maintenance are beyond the economic resources of the adoptive parent.
1. Financial assistance shall not be provided when the special services are available free of cost to the adoptive parent or are covered by an insurance policy of the adoptive parent.
2. “Special services” means any medical, dental, therapeutic, educational, or other similar service or appliance required by an adopted child by reason of a mental or physical disability.
3. The department of human services shall make adoption presubsidy and adoption subsidy payments to adoptive parents at the beginning of the month for the current month.
[C73, 75, §600.11; C77, 79, 81, §600.17]
83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 96 Acts, ch 1129, §102; 2005 Acts, ch 175, §126
Referred to in §225C.38, 234.47, 600.5, 600.18, 600.22, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.18 - Determination of assistance.

600.18 Determination of assistance.
1. Any prospective adoptive parent desiring financial assistance shall state this fact in the petition for adoption. The department of human services shall investigate the person petitioning for adoption and the child and shall file with the juvenile court or court a statement of whether the department will provide assistance as provided in section 600.17, this section, and sections 600.19 through 600.22, the estimated amount, extent, and duration of assistance, and any other information the juvenile court or court may order.
2. If the department of human services is unable to determine that an insurance policy will cover the costs of special services, it shall proceed as if no policy existed, for the purpose of determining eligibility to receive assistance. The department shall, to the amount of financial assistance given, be subrogated to the rights of the adoptive parent in the insurance contract.
[C73, 75, §600.12; C77, 79, 81, §600.18]
83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 2000 Acts, ch 1145, §22; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §351
Referred to in §600.5, 600.22, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.19 - Amount of assistance.

600.19 Amount of assistance.
The amount of financial assistance for maintenance shall not exceed the amount the department would normally spend for foster care of the child. The amount of financial assistance for special services shall not exceed the amount the department would normally spend if it were to provide these services.
[C73, 75, §600.13; C77, 79, 81, §600.19]
Referred to in §600.5, 600.18, 600.22, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.20 - Availability of assistance.

600.20 Availability of assistance.
Financial assistance shall be available only if the child to be adopted was under the guardianship of the state, county, or an agency immediately prior to adoption. The one-hundred-eighty-day period of residence in the proposed home required in section 600.10 shall not apply to this section.
[C73, 75, §600.14; C77, 79, 81, §600.20]
2017 Acts, ch 113, §14
Referred to in §600.5, 600.18, 600.22, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.21 - Termination of assistance.

600.21 Termination of assistance.
Financial assistance shall terminate when the need for assistance no longer exists. Financial assistance shall not extend beyond the adopted child’s twenty-first birthday.
[C73, 75, §600.15; C77, 79, 81, §600.21]
Referred to in §600.5, 600.18, 600.22, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.22 - Rules.

600.22 Rules.
The department of human services shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of chapter 17A, which are necessary for the administration of sections 600.17 through 600.21 and 600.23.
[C73, 75, §600.16; C77, 79, 81, §600.22]
83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 87 Acts, ch 102, §1; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §352
Referred to in §600.5, 600.18, 627.19
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.24 - Access to records.

600.24 Access to records.
The department may allow access to adoption records held by the department or an agency if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The identity of the biological parents of the adopted person is concealed from the person gaining access to the records.
2. The person gaining access to the records uses them solely for the purposes of conducting a legitimate medical research project or of treating a patient in a medical facility.
[C79, 81, §600.24]
92 Acts, ch 1142, §3; 94 Acts, ch 1046, §18
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600 - ADOPTION › Section 600.25 - Pending parental rights unaffected.

600.25 Pending parental rights unaffected.
A termination of parental rights proceeding or an adoption proceeding pending on January 1, 1977, or a release of parental rights or affidavit of consent or consent to adopt properly given prior to January 1, 1977 shall not be affected by the provisions of chapter 600A.
[C79, 81, §600.25]
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.1 - Construction.

600A.1 Construction.
1. This chapter shall be construed liberally. The best interest of the child subject to the proceedings of this chapter shall be the paramount consideration in interpreting this chapter. However, the interests of the parents of this child or any natural person standing in the place of the parents to this child shall be given due consideration in this interpretation.
2. The best interest of a child requires that each biological parent affirmatively assume the duties encompassed by the role of being a parent. In determining whether a parent has affirmatively assumed the duties of a parent, the court shall consider, but is not limited to consideration of, the fulfillment of financial obligations, demonstration of continued interest in the child, demonstration of a genuine effort to maintain communication with the child, and demonstration of the establishment and maintenance of a place of importance in the child’s life. Application of this chapter is limited to termination of parental rights proceedings and shall not apply to actions to establish paternity or to overcome established paternity.
[C77, 79, 81, §600A.1]
94 Acts, ch 1174, §12, 22; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.2A - Rights and duties of custodian.

600A.2A Rights and duties of custodian.
1. The rights and duties of a custodian with respect to a child shall be as follows:
a. To maintain or transfer to another the physical possession of that child.
b. To protect, train, and discipline that child.
c. To provide food, clothing, housing, and ordinary medical care for that child.
d. To consent to emergency medical care, including surgery.
e. To sign a release of medical information to a health professional.
2. All rights and duties of a custodian shall be subject to any residual rights and duties remaining in a parent or guardian.
2008 Acts, ch 1031, §64
Referred to in §600A.2
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.2B - Rights and duties of guardian.

600A.2B Rights and duties of guardian.
Unless otherwise enlarged or circumscribed by a court or juvenile court having jurisdiction over the minor child or by operation of law, the rights and duties of a guardian with respect to a minor child shall be as follows:
1. To consent to marriage, enlistment in the armed forces of the United States, or medical, psychiatric, or surgical treatment.
2. To serve as custodian, unless another person has been appointed custodian.
3. To make reasonable visitations if the guardian does not have physical possession or custody of the minor child.
4. To consent to adoption and to make any other decision that the parents could have made when the parent-child relationship existed.
2008 Acts, ch 1031, §65
Referred to in §600A.2
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.3 - Exclusivity.

600A.3 Exclusivity.
1. Termination of parental rights shall be accomplished only according to the provisions of this chapter. However, termination of parental rights between an adult child and the child’s parents may be accomplished by a decree of adoption establishing a new parent-child relationship.
2. If a proceeding held under this chapter involves an Indian child as defined in section 232B.3 and the proceeding is subject to the Iowa Indian child welfare Act under chapter 232B, the proceeding and other actions taken in connection with the proceeding or this chapter shall comply with chapter 232B. In any proceeding held or action taken under this chapter involving an Indian child, the applicable requirements of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-89, shall be applied to the proceeding or action in a manner that complies with chapter 232B and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, Pub. L. No. 95-608.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, §232.40; C77, 79, 81, §600A.3]
2003 Acts, ch 153, §17; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §126; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.5 - Petition for termination — venue — safety or security concerns.

600A.5 Petition for termination — venue — safety or security concerns.
1. The following persons may petition a juvenile court for termination of parental rights under this chapter if the child of the parent-child relationship is born or expected to be born within one hundred eighty days of the date of petition filing:
a. A parent or prospective parent of the parent-child relationship.
b. A custodian or guardian of the child.
2. A petition for termination of parental rights shall be filed, and venue shall lie, with the juvenile court in the county in which the guardian or custodian of the child resides or the child, the biological mother, or the pregnant woman is domiciled. If a juvenile court has made an order pertaining to a minor child under chapter 232, subchapter III, and that order is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 232, subchapter IV.
3. A petition for termination of parental rights shall include the following:
a. The legal name, age, and domicile, if any, of the child.
b. The names, residences, and domicile of any:
(1) Living parents of the child.
(2) Guardian of the child.
(3) Custodian of the child.
(4) Guardian ad litem of the child.
(5) Petitioner.
(6) Person standing in the place of the parents of the child.
c. A plain statement of the facts and grounds in section 600A.8 which indicate that the parent-child relationship should be terminated.
d. A plain statement explaining why the petitioner does not know any of the information required under paragraphs “a” and “b” of this subsection.
e. The signature and verification of the petitioner.
4. If the petitioner alleges and affirms in the verified petition that the petitioner has a legitimate concern for the safety or security of the child or petitioner, all of the following shall apply:
a. Notwithstanding subsection 2, the petitioner may file the petition in a county within the same judicial district but other than those counties specified, and venue shall be in the county in which the petition is filed.
b. The court shall keep confidential the residence and domicile of the child and the petitioner disclosed in the petition.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, §232.42, 232.43; C77, 79, 81, §600A.5]
94 Acts, ch 1046, §20; 95 Acts, ch 49, §21; 95 Acts, ch 182, §25; 2017 Acts, ch 87, §1; 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §94
Referred to in §600A.4, 600A.6, 600A.8
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.6A - Right to and appointment of counsel.

600A.6A Right to and appointment of counsel.
1. Upon the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights under this chapter, the parent identified in the petition shall have the right to counsel in connection with all subsequent hearings and proceedings.
2. If the parent against whom the petition is filed desires but is financially unable to employ counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the person if the person requests appointment of counsel and the court determines that the person is indigent.
2005 Acts, ch 107, §4, 14; 2014 Acts, ch 1038, §3, 5
Referred to in §600A.6, 600A.6B, 602.1302
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.6B - Payment of attorney fees.

600A.6B Payment of attorney fees.
1. A person filing a petition for termination of parental rights under this chapter shall be responsible for the payment of reasonable attorney fees for services provided by counsel appointed pursuant to section 600A.6A in juvenile court or in an appellate proceeding initiated by the person filing the petition unless the person filing the petition is a private child-placing agency licensed under chapter 238 or the court determines that the person filing the petition is indigent.
2. If the person filing the petition is a private child-placing agency licensed under chapter 238 or if the person filing the petition is indigent, the prospective parent on whose behalf the petition is filed shall be responsible for the payment of reasonable attorney fees for services provided in juvenile court or an appellate proceeding for counsel appointed pursuant to section 600A.6A unless the court determines that the prospective parent on whose behalf the petition is filed is indigent.
3. If the prospective parent on whose behalf the petition is filed is indigent, and if the person filing the petition is indigent or a private child-placing agency licensed under chapter 238, the appointed counsel shall be paid reasonable attorney fees as determined by the state public defender from the indigent defense fund established in section 815.11.
4. If the parent against whom the petition is filed appeals a termination order under section 600A.9, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, the person who filed the petition or the person on whose behalf the petition is filed shall not be responsible for the payment of attorney fees for services provided by counsel appointed pursuant to section 600A.6A in the appellate proceeding. Instead, the appointed attorney shall be paid reasonable attorney fees as determined by the state public defender from the indigent defense fund established pursuant to section 815.11.
5. The state public defender shall review all the claims submitted under subsection 3 or 4 and shall have the same authority with regard to the payment of these claims as the state public defender has with regard to claims submitted under chapters 13B and 815, including the authority to adopt rules concerning the review and payment of claims submitted.
2005 Acts, ch 107, §5, 14; 2006 Acts, ch 1071, §1, 2; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §249; 2013 Acts, ch 105, §2; 2014 Acts, ch 1038, §4
Referred to in §602.1302, 815.11
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.7 - Termination hearing — forum non conveniens.

600A.7 Termination hearing — forum non conveniens.
1. The hearing on termination of parental rights shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 232.91 through 232.96 and otherwise in accordance with the rules of civil procedure. Such hearing shall be held no earlier than one week after the child is born.
2. Relevant information, including that contained in reports, studies or examinations and testified to by interested persons, may be admitted into evidence at the hearing and relied upon to the extent of its probative value. When such information is so admitted, the person submitting it or testifying shall be subject to both direct and cross-examination by a necessary party.
3. If a putative father files a declaration of paternity pursuant to section 144.12A, the putative father or the mother of the child may request that paternity be established pursuant to section 600B.41 prior to the granting of a dismissal of the petition to terminate parental rights.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, §232.42, 232.46; C77, 79, 81, §600A.7]
94 Acts, ch 1174, §19, 22; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §353
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.9 - Termination findings and order — vacation of order.

600A.9 Termination findings and order — vacation of order.
1. Subsequent to the hearing on termination of parental rights under this chapter, the juvenile court shall make a finding of facts and shall do one of the following:
a. Order the petition dismissed.
b. Order the petition granted. The juvenile court shall appoint a guardian and a custodian or a guardian only. An order issued under this paragraph shall include the finding of facts. Such finding shall specify the factual basis for terminating the parent-child relationship and shall specify the ground or grounds upon which the termination is ordered.
2. If an order is issued under subsection 1, paragraph “b” of this section, the juvenile court shall retain jurisdiction to change a guardian or custodian and to allow a terminated parent or any putative biological parent to request vacation or appeal of the termination order which request must be made within thirty days of issuance of the granting of the order. The period for request by a terminated parent or by a putative biological parent for vacation or appeal shall not be waived or extended and a vacation or appeal shall not be granted after the expiration of this period. The juvenile court shall grant the vacation request only if it is in the best interest of the child. The supreme court shall prescribe rules to establish a period of thirty days, which shall not be waived or extended, in which a terminated or putative biological parent may request a vacation or appeal of a termination order.
3. If an order is issued under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, the juvenile court shall have jurisdiction to allow an adoptive parent to request termination of the adoptive parent’s parental rights and of the parent-child relationship based upon a showing that the adoption was fraudulently induced and to request that the order issued under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, be vacated. The juvenile court shall grant the termination and vacation requests only after the parent whose rights have been terminated is given an opportunity to contest the vacation of the termination order and only if the termination of the adoptive parent’s parental rights and the vacation of the termination order are in the best interest of the child.
4. A copy of any order made under this section shall be sent by the clerk of the juvenile court to:
a. The department.
b. The petitioner.
c. The parents whose rights have been terminated if they request such copies.
d. Any guardian, custodian, or guardian ad litem of the child.
e. The state registrar for the purposes of section 144.13A, subsection 2.
[S13, §254-a21; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3638; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, §232.22; C66, 71, 73, 75, §232.47 – 232.50; C77, 79, 81, §600A.9]
92 Acts, ch 1192, §3, 5; 94 Acts, ch 1174, §20, 22; 2004 Acts, ch 1156, §2; 2022 Acts, ch 1032, §100
Referred to in §232.119, 600.16A, 600A.4, 600A.6B, 600A.8, 600B.5
Subsection 1 amended
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600A - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS › Section 600A.10 - Termination procedures — prohibited practices — penalty for violation.

600A.10 Termination procedures — prohibited practices — penalty for violation.
1. Any biological parent who chooses to identify the other biological parent and who knowingly and intentionally identifies a person who is not the other biological parent in the written release of custody or in any other document related to the termination of parental rights proceedings is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
2. Any person who signs or accepts a release of custody under section 600A.4 prior to the expiration of the seventy-two-hour period required is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
3. a. All of the following are prohibited practices regarding a proceeding under this chapter:
(1) The provision of termination of parental rights, child placement, or adoption services to any biological or adoptive parent by any person other than an adoption service provider or the department.
(2) The charging of a fee by an adoption service provider that is more than the usual and necessary fee commensurate with the services rendered.
(3) The facilitation, encouragement, or advisement of adoptive parents by an adoption service provider to provide any thing of value beyond those expenditures allowed pursuant to section 600A.6C.
(4) The knowing encouragement or solicitation of payment of allowable expenses or provision of anything of value beyond those expenditures allowed pursuant to section 600A.6C, by a person falsely representing that a child may be available for adoption with the intent to defraud the other person.
b. A person who commits a prohibited practice under this subsection is guilty of a serious misdemeanor for the first violation and a class “C” felony for any second or subsequent violation.
94 Acts, ch 1174, §21, 22; 2017 Acts, ch 113, §23
Similar provisions, see §600.9A, 714.8(21)
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600B - PATERNITY AND OBLIGATION FOR SUPPORT › Section 600B.1 - Obligation of parents.

600B.1 Obligation of parents.
The parents of a child born out of wedlock and not legitimized (in this chapter referred to as “the child”) owe the child necessary maintenance, education, and support. They are also liable for the child’s funeral expenses. The father is also liable to pay the expense of the mother’s pregnancy and confinement.
[C27, 31, 35, §12667-a1; C39, §12667.01; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §675.1]
C93, §600B.1
2015 Acts, ch 14, §2
2023 Iowa Code › Title XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES › Chapter 600B - PATERNITY AND OBLIGATION FOR SUPPORT › Section 600B.2 - Recovery by mother from father.

600B.2 Recovery by mother from father.
The mother may recover from the father a reasonable share of the necessary support of the child.
[C27, 31, 35, §12667-a2; C39, §12667.02; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §675.2]
C93, §600B.2