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
\n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
170
cases (
73 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case:
In the Interest of G.A., 826 N.W.2d 125 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012).
In the Interest of G.A., 826 N.W.2d 125 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012).
· cites it 3× “Iowa Code § 600A.1; R.K.B., 572 N.W.2d at 601 .”
In the Interest of Q.G. & W.G., Minor Child., 911 N.W.2d 761 (Iowa 2018).
“See Iowa Code §§ 600A.1, .8. In the first step, the petitioner seeking termination must first show by clear and convincing evidence a threshold event has occurred that opens the door for potential termination of parental rights.”
In the Interest of D.E.E., 472 N.W.2d 628 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991).
“Giving paramount consideration to the interests of the children with due consideration to the interests of the parents, Iowa Code § 600A.1 (1991), we conclude that the interests of D.”
J.E.B. v. K.C., 679 N.W.2d 645 (Iowa 2004).
“See Iowa Code § 600A.1 (provisions of chapter 600A shall be liberally construed, and interests of parents of child “be given due consideration in this interpretation”); cf.”
In the Interest of T.Q., 519 N.W.2d 105 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994).
“Iowa Code § 600A.1 (1993). We give consideration to the rights of the parents also, but the child’s interests are paramount.”
In Re Sajb, 679 N.W.2d 645 (Iowa 2004).
“See Iowa Code § 600A.1 (provisions of chapter 600A shall be liberally construed, and interests of parents of child "be given due consideration in this interpretation"); cf.”
A.L. v. S.B.B., 345 N.W.2d 147 (Iowa Ct. App. 1983).
“Iowa Code § 600A.1. This duty, however, cannot be taken as a license to ignore clear statutory mandates.”
In the Interest of A.D., Minor Child, J.W., Mother (Iowa Ct. App. 2016).
· cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 600A.1 (“The best interest of the child subject to the proceedings of this chapter shall be the paramount consideration in interpreting this chapter.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.1(1) — 37 cases
— Iowa Code § 600A.1(2) — 45 cases
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.