In the Interest of N.L. and E.B., Minor Children
M.F., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Lynnette M. Lindgren
Attorney for Appellee State
Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Denise McKelvie Gonyea
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Mahaska County, Rose Anne Mefford, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Greer, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Potterfield, S.J. (5 pages)
The mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her children N.L and E.B., born in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The juvenile court terminated her rights pursuant to section 232.116(1)(h) and (l) (2020). The mother does not contest that these statutory grounds have been met. She argues the juvenile court should have established a guardianship in her brother in lieu of termination and maintains that permanency option is in the children’s best interests in part because of the strong bond the children share with her. OPINION HOLDS: Because termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests, we cannot establish a guardianship in lieu of termination. We affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights.
