In the Interest of J.S., Minor Child
T.P., Mother-Appellee
J.S., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellee Mother
Kelsey Bauerly Langel
Attorney for Appellant Father
John S. Moeller
Guardian ad Litem
Missy Clabaugh
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Plymouth County, Daniel Vakulskas, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by May, P.J., and Greer and Chicchelly, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (9 pages)
The district court granted the mother’s petition to terminate the father’s parental rights to J.S., born in 2016, in a private termination action. The court concluded the grounds for termination were satisfied under Iowa Code section 600A.8(3)(b) (abandonment) and (4) (failure to contribute) (2021). The father appeals the termination, arguing he did not abandon J.S. and termination of his parental rights is not in J.S.’s best interests. OPINION HOLDS: The father does not challenge the district court’s determination he failed to contribute to J.S. as ordered, so he has waived any alleged error to that ground and we conclude the mother proved the ground for termination under section 600A.8(4). Like the district court, we find that termination of the father’s rights is in the child’s best interests. We affirm.
