In the Interest of R.V., Z.D., and C.S., Minor Children,
M.C., Father-Appellant
A.S., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Mark A. Milder
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Jamie L. Schroeder
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena (until withdrawal) and Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorneys General
Guardian ad Litem
Nina Forcier
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, Daniel L. Block, Associate Juvenile Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Schumacher and Chicchelly, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, P.J. (6 pages)
The mother of three children and the father of one appeal the termination of their parental rights. Both contest the grounds for termination. The mother argues preserving her rights was in the children’s best interests and the court should have applied the custody-of-a-relative exception to termination. In the alternative, she requests six more months to achieve reunification. Separately, the father advocates for a guardianship with his child’s paternal grandmother instead of termination. OPINION HOLDS: The statutory grounds for termination of the mother’s parental rights were proved. In the father’s case, his failure to challenge all the grounds waives the appeal issue. We find termination was in the children’s best interests and no statutory exception applies to preserve the relationships. More time for the mother is not warranted. And we prioritize permanency for the father’s child and decline to create a guardianship. We affirm on both appeals.
