Iowa Code » Chapter 600A — TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 600A.4 (2026)

Relationship unaltered — release of custody — voluntariness of release

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A parent shall not permanently alter the parent-child relationship, except as ordered by a juvenile court or court. However, custody of a minor child may be assumed by a stepparent or a relative of that child within the fourth degree of consanguinity or transferred by an acceptance of a release of custody. A person who assumes custody or an adoption service provider which accepts a release of custody under this section becomes, upon assumption or acceptance, the custodian of the minor child. 2. A release of custody: a. Shall be accepted only by an adoption service provider. b. Shall not be accepted by a person who in any way intends to adopt the child who is the subject of the release. c. Shall be in writing. d. (1) Shall contain written acknowledgment of the biological parents that after the birth of the child three hours of counseling regarding the decision to release custody and the alternatives available have been offered to the biological parents by the department or an adoption service provider. The release of custody shall also contain written acknowledgment of the acceptance or refusal of the counseling by the biological parent. (2) If accepted, the counseling shall be provided after the birth of the child and prior to the signing of a release of custody or the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights as applicable. Counseling shall be provided only by a person who is qualified under rules adopted by the department which shall include a requirement that the person complete a minimum number of hours of training in the area of adoption-related counseling approved

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Tue Dec 09 21:59:52 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 600A (43, 0) §600A.4, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS 4\n\nby the department. If counseling is accepted, the counselor shall provide an affidavit, which shall be attached to the release of custody, when practicable, certifying that the counselor has provided the biological parent with the requested counseling and documentation that the person is qualified to provide the requested counseling as prescribed by this paragraph “d”. The requirements of this paragraph “d” do not apply to a release of custody which is executed for the purposes of a stepparent adoption. e. Shall contain a notice to the biological parent that if the biological parent chooses to identify the other biological parent and knowingly and intentionally identifies a person who is not the other biological parent in the written release of custody or in any other document related to the termination of parental rights proceedings, the biological parent who provides the incorrect identifying information is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. f. Shall be accompanied by a contact preference form or medical history form completed by the biological parent of the person to be adopted and attached to the original certificate of birth as provided in section 144.24A. The contact preference form or medical history form shall be attached to any termination of parental rights order issued pursuant to section 600A.9. g. Shall be accompanied by a report which includes, to the extent available, the complete family medical and social history of the person to be adopted including any known genetic, metabolic, or familial disorders and the complete medical and developmental history of the person to be adopted, and a social history of the minor child and the minor child’s family but which does not disclose the identity of the biological parents of the person to be adopted. The social history may include but is not limited to the minor child’s racial, ethnic, and religious background and a general description of the minor child’s biological parents and an account of the minor child’s prior and existing relationship with any relative, foster parent, or other individual with whom the minor child regularly lives or whom the child regularly visits. (1) A biological parent may also provide ongoing information to the adoptive parents, as additional medical or social history information becomes known, by providing information to the clerk of court, the department, or the adoption service provider that made the placement, and may provide the current address of the biological parent. The clerk of court, the department, or the adoption service provider that made the placement shall transmit the information to the adoptive parents if the address of the adoptive parents is known. (2) A person who furnishes a report required under this paragraph “g” and the court shall not disclose any information upon which the report is based except as otherwise provided in this section and such a person is subject to the penalties provided in section 600.16, as applicable. A person who is the subject of any report may bring a civil action against a person who discloses the information in violation of this section. (3) Information provided under this paragraph “g” shall not be used as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding against a person who is the subject of the information. (4) The department shall prescribe forms designed to obtain the family medical and social history and shall provide the forms at no charge to any adoption service provider or person who executes a release of custody of the minor child or who files a petition for termination of parental rights. The existence of this report does not limit a person’s ability to petition the court for release of records in accordance with other provisions of law. h. Shall be signed, not less than seventy-two hours after the birth of the child to be released, by all living parents. The seventy-two-hour minimum time period requirement shall not be waived. i. Shall be witnessed by two persons familiar with the parent-child relationship. j. Shall name the person who is accepting the release. k. Shall be followed, within a reasonable time, by the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights under section 600A.5. l. Shall state the purpose of the release, shall indicate that if it is not revoked it may be grounds for termination, and shall fully inform the signing parent of the manner in which a revocation of the release may be sought. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2, the department or an adoption service provider may assume custody of a minor child upon the signature of the one living parent who has possession of the minor child if the department or an adoption service provider

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Tue Dec 09 21:59:52 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 600A (43, 0) 5 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, §600A.5\n\nimmediately petitions the juvenile court designated in section 600A.5 to be appointed custodian and otherwise petitions, either in the same petition or within a reasonable time in a separate petition, for termination of parental rights under section 600A.5. Upon the custody petition, the juvenile court may appoint a guardian as well as a custodian. 4. Either a parent who has signed a release of custody, or a nonsigning parent, may, at any time prior to the entry of an order terminating parental rights, request the juvenile court designated in section 600A.5 to order the revocation of any release of custody previously executed by either parent. If such request is by a signing parent, and is within ninety-six hours of the time such parent signed a release of custody, the juvenile court shall order the release revoked. Otherwise, the juvenile court shall order the release or releases revoked only upon clear and convincing evidence that good cause exists for revocation. Good cause for revocation includes but is not limited to a showing that the release was obtained by fraud, coercion, or misrepresentation of law or fact which was material to its execution. In determining whether good cause exists for revocation, the juvenile court shall give paramount consideration to the best interests of the child including avoidance of a disruption of an existing relationship between a parent and child. The juvenile court shall also give due consideration to the interests of the parents of the child and of any person standing in the place of the parents. [S13, §3260-c; C24, §3665; C27, 31, 35, §3661-a82, -a83, -a86; C39, §3661.096, 3661.097, 3661.100; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §238.25, 238.26, 238.29; C77, 79, 81, §600A.4] 92 Acts, ch 1192, §1, 5; 94 Acts, ch 1174, §14, 15, 22; 99 Acts, ch 138, §6; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §161; 2017 Acts, ch 113, §18 – 21; 2021 Acts, ch 113, §5; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1258 Referred to in §144.24A, 232B.7, 600.8, 600.16, 600A.8, 600A.10

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993).
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In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 44× “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
In the Interest of C. K., 315 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 30× “The natural parents contend (1) their release of custody, § 600A.4, was invalid; (2) they had effectively revoked it within the 96 hours provided by section 600A.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 12× “The release Tina gave did comply with the requirements of section 600A.4 in nearly all particulars.”
In Re the Marriage of Witten, 672 N.W.2d 768 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 2× “Our statutes and case law evidence an understanding that decisions involving marital and family relationships are emotional and subject to change. For example, Iowa law imposes a seventy-two hour waiting period after the birth of a child before the biological parents can release…”
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland & Jill Meadows v. Kimberly K. Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med., 915 N.W.2d 206 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 2× “The legislature mandated waiting periods to ensure these important life decisions were made after time for reflection.”
In the Interest of D.W.K., 365 N.W.2d 32 (Iowa 1985). · cites it 2× “A parent has signed a release of custody pursuant to section 600A.4 and the release has hot been revoked.”
In the Interest of K.J.K., 396 N.W.2d 370 (Iowa Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “The father claimed grounds for termination had been established because he had signed and executed a release of custody pursuant to Iowa Code § 600A.4 (1985), the release had not been revoked and he was the parent who petitioned for termination of parental rights pursuant to…”
In Re N.N.E., 752 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2008). “§ 600A.4(2)( j ) (stating release of custody shall be followed by the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights).”
In the Interest of J.L.W., 496 N.W.2d 280 (Iowa Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “On March 12, 1991, the father filed a release of parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.4. Just shortly thereafter, he filed a petition for termination of his parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.”
In Re Clausen, 502 N.W.2d 649 (Mich. 1993). “NOTES [1] Iowa Code Ann 600A.4(2)(d). There is no dispute that a lawyer representing the DeBoers went to her hospital room and obtained the mother's signature on the consent form forty hours after the child was born.”
In the Interest of J.L.L., 414 N.W.2d 133 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 2× “But see Iowa Code § 600A.4(2). 3 . Section 60OA.4(4) prescribes a carefully structured procedure for requesting revocation of parental releases.”
Matter of Burney, 259 N.W.2d 322 (Iowa 1977). “8(1), because she did not sign a release of custody pursuant to § 600A.4. It is also clear Robin did not abandon Steven within the meaning of § 600A.”
Show all 30 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2) — 7 cases
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland & Jill Meadows v. Kimberly K. Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med., 915 N.W.2d 206 (Iowa 2018). “The legislature mandated waiting periods to ensure these important life decisions were made after time for reflection.”
In Re N.N.E., 752 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2008). “§ 600A.4(2)( j ) (stating release of custody shall be followed by the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights).”
In the Interest of J.L.L., 414 N.W.2d 133 (Iowa 1987). “But see Iowa Code § 600A.4(2). 3 . Section 60OA.4(4) prescribes a carefully structured procedure for requesting revocation of parental releases.”
In the Interest of C. K., 315 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 1982). “The natural parents contend (1) their release of custody, § 600A.4, was invalid; (2) they had effectively revoked it within the 96 hours provided by section 600A.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2)(d) — 5 cases
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
In Re Clausen, 502 N.W.2d 649 (Mich. 1993). “NOTES [1] Iowa Code Ann 600A.4(2)(d). There is no dispute that a lawyer representing the DeBoers went to her hospital room and obtained the mother's signature on the consent form forty hours after the child was born.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). “The release Tina gave did comply with the requirements of section 600A.4 in nearly all particulars.”
DeBoer v. Schmidt, 502 N.W.2d 649 (Mich. 1993).
In the Interest of W.O.-p., Minor Child, A.O., Mother, L.P., Father (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2)(d)(1) — 1 case
In the Interest of R.A., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2)(g) — 8 cases
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland & Jill Meadows v. Kimberly K. Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med., 915 N.W.2d 206 (Iowa 2018). “The legislature mandated waiting periods to ensure these important life decisions were made after time for reflection.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). “The release Tina gave did comply with the requirements of section 600A.4 in nearly all particulars.”
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland & Jill Meadows v. Kimberly K. Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2018).
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland & Jill Meadows v. Kimberly K. Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2018).
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc., & Jill Meadows, M.D. v. Kim Reynolds ex rel. State of Iowa & Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2022).
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2)(gr) — 1 case
In Re the Marriage of Witten, 672 N.W.2d 768 (Iowa 2003). “Our statutes and case law evidence an understanding that decisions involving marital and family relationships are emotional and subject to change. For example, Iowa law imposes a seventy-two hour waiting period after the birth of a child before the biological parents can release…”
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(2)(h) — 1 case
In the Interest of C. K., 315 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 1982). “The natural parents contend (1) their release of custody, § 600A.4, was invalid; (2) they had effectively revoked it within the 96 hours provided by section 600A.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(3) — 1 case
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(4) — 9 cases
In the Interest of C. K., 315 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 1982). “The natural parents contend (1) their release of custody, § 600A.4, was invalid; (2) they had effectively revoked it within the 96 hours provided by section 600A.”
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). “The release Tina gave did comply with the requirements of section 600A.4 in nearly all particulars.”
In Interest of ECG, 345 N.W.2d 138 (Iowa 1984).
D.L.S. v. L.R.G., 345 N.W.2d 138 (Iowa 1984).
— Iowa Code § 600A.4(h) — 1 case
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993). “Interpretation of section 600A.4. Under section 600A.4(2), [a] release of custody: .”
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