Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 232.84 (2026)

Transfer of custody — notice to adult relatives

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “agency” means the department, juvenile court services, or a private agency. 2. Unless the custody of a child is transferred from one of the child’s parents to another parent of the child, within thirty days after the entry of an order under this chapter removing a child from the custody of a parent or parents of the child, the department shall exercise due diligence in identifying and providing notice to the child’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, parents of the child’s siblings, and adult relatives suggested by the child’s parents, subject to exceptions due to the presence of family or domestic violence. 3. The notice content shall include but is not limited to all of the following: a. A statement that the child has been or is being removed from the custody of the child’s parent or parents. b. An explanation of the options the relative has under federal, state, and other law to participate in the care and placement of the child on a temporary or permanent basis. The options addressed shall include but are not limited to assistance and support options, options for participating in legal proceedings, and any options that may be lost by failure to respond to the notice. c. A description of the requirements for the relative to serve as a foster family home provider or other type of care provider for the child and the additional services, training, and other support available for children receiving such care. d. Information concerning the option to apply for kinship guardianship assistance payments. 4. The agency may share information as necessary to explore a child’s potential placement with any adult relative who may receive notice pursuant to subsection 2. 5. If an adult relative entitled to notice pursuant to subsection 2 is later discovered by or\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 232 (92, 1) 67 JUVENILE JUSTICE, §232.89\n\nidentified to the department, the department shall provide notice to that relative within thirty days of that relative becoming known to the department. 2009 Acts, ch 120, §3; 2013 Acts, ch 50, §2; 2022 Acts, ch 1098, §31, 32

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232.85 and 232.86 Reserved.\n\n PART 4 JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases (13 in the last 5 years), 2013–2026 · leading case: In the Interest of R.B., 832 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013).
In the Interest of R.B., 832 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 20× “” Iowa Code § 232.84 (3)(a), (b). On appeal, the father argues that this notice provision “does not make any judgment, nor does it allow the Department to make any judgment with respect to who receives notice.”
In the Interest of N v. Minor Child, S.B. & J.B., Intervenors, M.I., Intervenor, 877 N.W.2d 146 (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 232.84 (3). The department failed to apprise the relatives of these options.”
In the Interest of A.H., Minor Child, State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 22× “” Iowa Code § 232.84 (2); R.B., 832 N.W.2d at 380 .”
In the Interest of A.G., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 14× “84(2) by providing notice to the paternal relatives the mother identified as potential placements. But the “adult relatives suggested by the child’s parents” are only one category of relative that the statute requires the DHS to provide notice.”
In the Interest of X.O. & J.O., Minor Child., R.O. & J.o, grandparents/intervenors-appellants. (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 10× “6 Iowa Code § 232.84 (3). The statute “places the onus on the department .”
In the Interest of X.C., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 8× “She argues it was an abuse of discretion for the court to authorize DHS to contact relatives for placement, because Iowa Code section 232.84 (2020) 3 only permits DHS to contact family members within thirty days of an order transferring custody.”
In the Interest of K.D. & K.D., Minor Child. (Iowa 2022). · cites it 7× “See Iowa Code § 232.84 . More importantly, DHS failed to meet its obligations under section 232.”
In the Interest of K.D. & K.D., Minor Child. (Iowa 2022). · cites it 7× “See Iowa Code § 232.84 . More importantly, DHS failed to meet its obligations under section 232.”
In the Interest of A v. Minor Child, T.H. & C.H., Intervenors-Appellants. (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 6× “See Iowa Code § 232.84 . However, even though DHS acted unreasonably we will not automatically remove DHS as guardian.”
In the Interest of S.P., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “Section 232.84(2) provides: Within thirty days after the entry of an order under this chapter transferring custody of a child to an agency for placement, the agency shall exercise due diligence in identifying and providing notice to the child’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult…”
In the Interest of I.P., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 232.84 (emphasis added). 4 The juvenile court granted the motion to intervene in August 2018.”
In the Interest of J.B., M.S., & A.S., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 4× “” See Iowa Code § 232.84 (3)(d). 7 was an issue of the department’s own making.”
— Iowa Code § 232.84(2) — 15 cases
In the Interest of R.B., 832 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013). “” Iowa Code § 232.84 (3)(a), (b). On appeal, the father argues that this notice provision “does not make any judgment, nor does it allow the Department to make any judgment with respect to who receives notice.”
In the Interest of N v. Minor Child, S.B. & J.B., Intervenors, M.I., Intervenor, 877 N.W.2d 146 (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). “Iowa Code § 232.84 (3). The department failed to apprise the relatives of these options.”
In the Interest of A.H., Minor Child, State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). “” Iowa Code § 232.84 (2); R.B., 832 N.W.2d at 380 .”
In the Interest of A.G., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). “84(2) by providing notice to the paternal relatives the mother identified as potential placements. But the “adult relatives suggested by the child’s parents” are only one category of relative that the statute requires the DHS to provide notice.”
In the Interest of G.W., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).
— Iowa Code § 232.84(3) — 1 case
In the Interest of A.H., Minor Child, State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). “” Iowa Code § 232.84 (2); R.B., 832 N.W.2d at 380 .”
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