1. The following persons may petition a juvenile court for termination of parental rights
under this chapter if the child of the parent-child relationship is born or expected to be born
within one hundred eighty days of the date of petition filing:
a. A parent or prospective parent of the parent-child relationship.
b. A custodian or guardian of the child.
2. A petition for termination of parental rights shall be filed, and venue shall lie, with
the juvenile court in the county in which the guardian or custodian of the child resides or
the child, the biological mother, or the pregnant woman is domiciled. If a juvenile court has
made an order pertaining to a minor child under chapter 232, subchapter III, and that order
is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of
chapter 232, subchapter IV.
3. A petition for termination of parental rights shall include the following:
a. The legal name, age, and domicile, if any, of the child.
b. The names, residences, and domicile of any:
(1) Living parents of the child.
(2) Guardian of the child.
(3) Custodian of the child.
(4) Guardian ad litem of the child.
(5) Petitioner.
(6) Person standing in the place of the parents of the child.
c. A plain statement of the facts and grounds in section 600A.8 which indicate that the
parent-child relationship should be terminated.
d. A plain statement explaining why the petitioner does not know any of the information
required under paragraphs “a” and “b” of this subsection.
e. The signature and verification of the petitioner.
f. If the petitioner intends to access public funds for the fees of the guardian ad litem or the
respondent’s attorney fees, an attached financial affidavit, signed under penalty of perjury,
reflecting the household income and family size of the petitioner.
4. If the petitioner alleges and affirms in the verified petition that the petitioner has a
legitimate concern for the safety or security of the child or petitioner, all of the following shall
apply:\n\nTue Dec 09 21:59:52 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 600A (43, 0)
§600A.5, TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS 6\n\n a. Notwithstanding subsection 2, the petitioner may file the petition in a county within
the same judicial district but other than those counties specified, and venue shall be in the
county in which the petition is filed.
b. The court shall keep confidential the residence and domicile of the child and the
petitioner disclosed in the petition.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, §232.42, 232.43; C77, 79, 81, §600A.5]
94 Acts, ch 1046, §20; 95 Acts, ch 49, §21; 95 Acts, ch 182, §25; 2017 Acts, ch 87, §1; 2020
Acts, ch 1062, §94; 2024 Acts, ch 1112, §2
Referred to in §600A.4, 600A.6, 600A.8
\n
Notes of Decisions
In the Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239 (Iowa 1993).
· cites it 8× “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2, an agency or a person making an independent placement may assume custody of a minor child upon the signature of the one living parent who has possession of the minor child if the agency or a person making an independent placement…”
In the Interest of W.W., 826 N.W.2d 706 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012).
· cites it 4× “8(2) (“A parent has petitioned for the parent’s termination of parental rights pursuant to section 600A.5.”), 1 (3) (“The parent has abandoned the child.”
In the Interest of G.A., 826 N.W.2d 125 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012).
· cites it 2× “Iowa Code section 600A.5(l)(a) (1983). Id. (quoting In re H.”
In the Interest of H.J.E., 359 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 1984).
· cites it 6× “The father petitioned for termination of his parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.5 and stated that he voluntarily consented to termination under sections 600A.”
In the Interest of K.J.K., 396 N.W.2d 370 (Iowa Ct. App. 1986).
· cites it 4× “4 (1985), the release had not been revoked and he was the parent who petitioned for termination of parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code § 600A.5 (1985). He further claimed the mother does not object to the termination after notice and an opportunity to be heard.”
In the Interest of C. K., 315 N.W.2d 37 (Iowa 1982).
· cites it 8× “Shall be followed, within a reasonable time, by the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights under section 600A.5. h. 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…”
In the Interest of Adkins, 298 N.W.2d 273 (Iowa 1980).
· cites it 2× “*277 Subsection 600A.5(2) also limits termination proceedings to those provided in chapter 232 if a court has made a chapter 232 CHINA order that is still in force.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
· cites it 4× “Similar language is found in section 600A.5(2): “If a juvenile court has made an order pertaining to a minor child under chapter 232, division III, and that order is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 232,…”
In the Interest of D.W.K., 365 N.W.2d 32 (Iowa 1985).
· cites it 2× “A parent has petitioned for the parent’s termination of parental rights pursuant to section 600A.5. 3. A parent has abandoned the child.”
Klobnock Ex Rel. Abbott, 303 N.W.2d 149 (Iowa 1981).
· cites it 2× “§§ 600A.5(1),.2(6), .2(8). The petition alleged that the natural father, Michael, had been ordered in the dissolution decree to pay child support but failed to do so without good cause.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(1) — 8 cases
Klobnock Ex Rel. Abbott, 303 N.W.2d 149 (Iowa 1981).
“§§ 600A.5(1),.2(6), .2(8). The petition alleged that the natural father, Michael, had been ordered in the dissolution decree to pay child support but failed to do so without good cause.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(1)(2) — 1 case
In the Interest of K.J.K., 396 N.W.2d 370 (Iowa Ct. App. 1986).
“4 (1985), the release had not been revoked and he was the parent who petitioned for termination of parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code § 600A.5 (1985). He further claimed the mother does not object to the termination after notice and an opportunity to be heard.”
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(1)(a) — 3 cases
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(1)(b) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(2) — 7 cases
In the Interest of Adkins, 298 N.W.2d 273 (Iowa 1980).
“*277 Subsection 600A.5(2) also limits termination proceedings to those provided in chapter 232 if a court has made a chapter 232 CHINA order that is still in force.”
In the Interest of H.J.E., 359 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 1984).
“The father petitioned for termination of his parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.5 and stated that he voluntarily consented to termination under sections 600A.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
“Similar language is found in section 600A.5(2): “If a juvenile court has made an order pertaining to a minor child under chapter 232, division III, and that order is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 232,…”
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(3) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(b) — 1 case
— Iowa Code § 600A.5(l)(a) — 5 cases
In the Interest of G.A., 826 N.W.2d 125 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012).
“Iowa Code section 600A.5(l)(a) (1983). Id. (quoting In re H.”
In the Interest of H.J.E., 359 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 1984).
“The father petitioned for termination of his parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 600A.5 and stated that he voluntarily consented to termination under sections 600A.”
In the Interest of T.N.M., 542 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
“Similar language is found in section 600A.5(2): “If a juvenile court has made an order pertaining to a minor child under chapter 232, division III, and that order is still in force, the termination proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 232,…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
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treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.