Iowa Code » Chapter 232 — JUVENILE JUSTICE
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 232.118 (2026)

Removal of guardian

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Upon application of an interested party or upon the court’s own motion, the court having jurisdiction of the child may, after notice to the parties and a hearing, remove a court-appointed guardian and appoint a guardian in accordance with the provisions of section 232.117, subsection 3. a. The moving party or a party opposed to the actions of the guardian has the burden to establish that the court-appointed guardian failed to act in the child’s best interests by unreasonably or irresponsibly failing to discharge the guardian’s duties in finding a suitable adoptive home for the child. b. The court shall give deference to the decision of the guardian. 2. A child fourteen years of age or older who has not been adopted but who is placed in a satisfactory foster home may, with the consent of the foster parents, join with the guardian appointed by the court in an application to the court to remove the existing guardian and appoint the foster parents as guardians of the child. 3. The authority of a guardian appointed by the court terminates when the child reaches the age of majority or is adopted. [C79, §232.116; C81, §232.118] 88 Acts, ch 1134, §53; 2022 Acts, ch 1098, §62\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 232 (92, 1) §232.119, JUVENILE JUSTICE 94

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 33 cases (14 in the last 5 years), 1991–2026 · leading case: In the Interest of C.L.C., 479 N.W.2d 340 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991).
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In the Interest of C.L.C., 479 N.W.2d 340 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 6× “Further, we interpret section 232.118 in light of the overall principle of chapter 232 to seek the best interests of the child.”
In the Interest of E.G., 745 N.W.2d 741 (Iowa Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “On September 17, 2007, the guardian ad litem moved to have guardianship transferred from the Department pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.118(1) (2007). In her motion, the guardian ad litem states that Elijah: needs permanency and the most expeditious way to achieve that goal is…”
In the Interest of K.D. & K.D., Minor Child. (Iowa 2022). · cites it 14× “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1) (“[T]he court having jurisdiction of the child may, after notice to the parties and a hearing, remove a court- appointed guardian and appoint a guardian in accordance with the provisions of section 232.”
In the Interest of K.D. & K.D., Minor Child. (Iowa 2022). · cites it 14× “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1) (“[T]he court having jurisdiction of the child may, after notice to the parties and a hearing, remove a court- appointed guardian and appoint a guardian in accordance with the provisions of section 232.”
In the Interest of J.H., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 10× “” Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). And while there is no statutory criteria to reference for removal of a guardian, we have consistently “examined the reasonableness of the current guardian’s actions and the best interests of the child.”
In the Interest of A.W., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 10× “” Iowa Code § 232.118 (1)(a). The burden is on the moving party to establish this alleged failure.”
In the Interest of T.T., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). We understand and share some of the juvenile court’s concerns about the decisions HHS might make as guardian given its past intended placement changes while the child was placed in its custody.”
In the Interest of J.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 7× “Yet, Iowa Code section 232.118 is silent as to what the court should consider when deciding whether to remove a guardian.”
In the Interest of E.G., 738 N.W.2d 653 (Iowa Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “That section authorized the juvenile court to commit the child to “the department of social services for purposes of foster care and prescribing the type of placement which will serve the best interest of the child and the means by which the placement shall be monitored by the…”
In the Interest of W.L. & E.L., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “”7 Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). Neither section 232.”
In the Interest of I.P., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). Neither section 232.”
In the Interest of N.M., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 5× “Based on the filings with the juvenile court by the foster parents, the State’s resistance, the transcript of the hearing, and the juvenile court’s ruling, it is clear that all parties and the juvenile court treated the foster parents’ filings as a request to remove and replace…”
Show all 33 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 232.118(1) — 15 cases
In the Interest of C.L.C., 479 N.W.2d 340 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). “Further, we interpret section 232.118 in light of the overall principle of chapter 232 to seek the best interests of the child.”
In the Interest of E.G., 745 N.W.2d 741 (Iowa Ct. App. 2007). “On September 17, 2007, the guardian ad litem moved to have guardianship transferred from the Department pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.118(1) (2007). In her motion, the guardian ad litem states that Elijah: needs permanency and the most expeditious way to achieve that goal is…”
In the Interest of N.M., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “Based on the filings with the juvenile court by the foster parents, the State’s resistance, the transcript of the hearing, and the juvenile court’s ruling, it is clear that all parties and the juvenile court treated the foster parents’ filings as a request to remove and replace…”
In the Interest of J.H., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “” Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). And while there is no statutory criteria to reference for removal of a guardian, we have consistently “examined the reasonableness of the current guardian’s actions and the best interests of the child.”
In the Interest of K.D. & K.D., Minor Child. (Iowa 2022). “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1) (“[T]he court having jurisdiction of the child may, after notice to the parties and a hearing, remove a court- appointed guardian and appoint a guardian in accordance with the provisions of section 232.”
— Iowa Code § 232.118(1)(a) — 2 cases
In the Interest of T.T., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Iowa Code § 232.118 (1). We understand and share some of the juvenile court’s concerns about the decisions HHS might make as guardian given its past intended placement changes while the child was placed in its custody.”
In the Interest of J.B. & R.R., Minor Child. (Iowa 2026).
— Iowa Code § 232.118(2)(a) — 1 case
In the Interest of A.W., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “” Iowa Code § 232.118 (1)(a). The burden is on the moving party to establish this alleged failure.”
— Iowa Code § 232.118(3) — 3 cases
In the Interest of D.C., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2026).
In the Interest of H.Q., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
In the Interest of K.C.-P. & L.P., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
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