IOWA

 Any unmarried adult, or a husband and wife jointly, can adopt. A spouse canadopt separately if he or she is the stepparent of the adoptee, if he or she isseparated from his or her spouse, or if the other spouse is unavailable,incapacitated, or has unreasonably withheld consent to the adoption.

Who Can Be Adopted?

 Any person can be adopted.

Consent to Adoption

 The following parties must give written consent to the adoption:

 (1) any guardian of the adoptee;

 (2) the spouse of a petitioner who is a stepparent;

 (3) the spouse of the adoptive parent who is separately adopting an adultadoptee; and

 (4) the adoptee, if 14 years of age or older.

 Before the final adoption decree is issued a person may file with the court tohave his consent withdrawn. If a person whose consent is required refuses togive consent or cannot be located, the court will make a determination if it isin the best interest of the child to be adopted without such consent.

Confidentiality

 The adoption record must be sealed and cannot be opened for inspection and theidentity of the natural parents cannot be revealed. The adoption record may beopened upon a court order upon a showing of good cause at the request of anadult adoptee.

 Additionally, identifying information may be shared if the natural parent hasplaced in the adoption record written consent to reveal his or her identity tothe adopted child at a specified age upon request of the child or if the adultadopted child has likewise consented to the revelation of his or her identity.Such consents are revocable at any time.

 Nonidentifying information regarding the adoptee's medical and developmentalhistory and the natural family's medical history can be made available to theadoptive parents, the adoptee if an adult, or any person approved by theDepartment using the information for research.

Permissible Fees

 An adoptive parent must file with the court a full statement of all money oranything of value paid in connection with the adoption. These costs may onlyinclude those related to the birth, legal assistance, pregnancy-related medicalcare, limited living expenses, and relevant counseling services.

 A biological parent cannot receive anything of value in exchange for placingthe child for adoption (outside of the costs already listed). Any personassisting with the adoption cannot charge a fee that is more than usualcompensation for necessary services.

Place of Adoption Hearing

 The adoption hearing shall take place in the court of the county where theadult adoptee, the adoptive parents, or the guardian of the adoptee lives.

Authority To Place Child

 There are no provisions in the law regarding who has authority to place achild for adoption.

Relative Adoption

 Any preplacement investigation and report can be waived by the court if theadoptive parent is a relative or a stepparent.

State Law: FullText

Not available in electronic form at this time for this state, sorry.

Attorney ReferralService

Iowa State Bar Association
521 East Locust
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 243-3179

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