Court Opinion

ID: 9727633
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:45:50.621611+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:41.131297
License: Public Domain

CARTER, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent.
When the guardian of the child became his adoptive parent, there was no longer any reason for continuing the guardianship. This circumstance serves to distinguish the present case from In re Guardianship & Conservatorship of Ankeney, 360 N.W.2d 733 (Iowa 1985), where there were property interests which served as a justification for continuing the guardianship and conservatorship. Because the Sweeney guardianship’s reason for being has ceased, it is manifestly inappropriate to resort to that legal entity as a jurisdictional basis for continuing child custody and visitation orders.
I believe it is unwise for the court to search out other sources of legal authority for grandparent visitation rights. It is significant that the legislature has not seen fit to impose such relationships on adoptive parents in situations other than those involving stepparent adoptions. This is not such a case. I would affirm the judgment of the district court.