Opinion ID: 1803531
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The District Court's Interpretation.

Text: Iowa Code section 600.16A(2)(b) provides in relevant part: All papers and records pertaining to... an adoption shall not be open to inspection and the identity of the biological parents of an adopted person shall not be revealed except ... [t]he court, for good cause, shall order the opening of the permanent adoption record of the court for the adopted person who is an adult and reveal the names of either or both of the biological parents following consideration of ... the following: (1) A biological parent may file an affidavit requesting that the court reveal or not reveal the parent's identity. The court shall consider any such affidavit in determining whether there is good cause to order opening of the records .... Iowa Code § 600.16A(2)(b) (emphasis added). In its ruling, the district court explained that it could open sealed adoption records upon showing that good cause exists, and both the adult adoptee and the terminated biological parents have indicated by affidavit that they desire to have the records opened. [Iowa Code] § 600.16A(2)(b)(1). The court concluded that because the biological parents had not filed such an affidavit, the court had no authority to open the records under section 600.16A(2)(b)(1). Additionally, the court concluded that Steven had not presented competent medical evidence to show the information was necessary to save the life of, or prevent irreparable physical or mental harm to, the adoptee or the adoptee's offspring. See Iowa Code § 600.16A(2)(d) (providing that the court may, upon competent medical evidence, open termination or adoption records if opening is shown to be necessary to save the life of or prevent irreparable physical or mental harm to an adopted person or the person's offspring). Even with this showing, the court noted that it would still be required to make every reasonable effort to prevent the revelation of identifying information to the adoptee. See id. (providing that even with the showing necessary to open the records, the court shall make every reasonable effort to prevent the identity of the biological parents from becoming revealed under this paragraph to the adopted person). Steven contends the district court erred in concluding that the failure of the biological parents to file an affidavit waiving confidentiality is dispositive of good cause. We disagree with Steven's characterization of the district court's ruling, but we agree that the court erred in its interpretation of the statute. The court did not rule that the failure of the biological parents to file a waiver of confidentiality was dispositive of good cause. Rather, the court ruled that the adult adoptee must show (1) good cause exists and (2) the adult adoptee and the biological parents have filed an affidavit waiving confidentiality. Nevertheless, this interpretation of the statute is erroneous. The statute does not require a biological parent to file an affidavit requesting that the court reveal or not reveal the parent's identity. Rather, the statute states that a biological parent may file such an affidavit. Iowa Code § 600.16A(2)(b)(1). By using the word may, the legislature signaled its intention to place the decision about whether to file an affidavit to reveal or not reveal the biological parent's identity squarely in the discretion of that parent. Compare Iowa Code § 4.1(30)(c) (may confers a power), with id. § 4.1(30)(a) (shall imposes a duty), and id. § 4.1(30)(b) (must states a requirement). In addition, the statute directs the court to consider an affidavit filed by the biological parents in determining whether good cause exists to unseal the adoption records. Iowa Code § 600.16A(2)(b)(1); see Webster's Third New International Dictionary 483 (1993) (defining consider as to reflect on; think about with a degree of care or caution). While the existence of an affidavit might influence the district court's decision in one way or another, that fact should only be one part of the good cause determination, not a separate requirement, as the district court suggested. A determination of good cause should not rest on the existence of an affidavit filed by the biological parents. That brings us to two questions we must answer: what constitutes good cause to unseal adoption records, and whether Steven has shown the requisite good cause.