In the Interest of R.S., Minor Child
J.F., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Vicki R. Danley
Attorney for Appellee State
Meredith L. Lamberti, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for Appellee Father
Katherine Murphy
Guardian ad Litem
Jaclyn Tackett
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Fremont County, Eric J. Nelson, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Potterfield and Greer, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (7 pages)
The juvenile court terminated the mother’s parental rights to her child, R.S., under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) (2019). On appeal, the mother argues: (1) termination is not required because the child was in the father’s care, (2) termination is not in the child’s best interests, (3) the Iowa Department of Human Services failed to provide appropriate services, and (4) the exception in Iowa Code section 232.116(3)(a) should apply since the father has legal custody. OPINION HOLDS: Because filing a termination petition was permissible while R.S. remained in the father’s care and termination is in R.S.’s best interests, we affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights.
