In the Interest of H.M., Minor Child
K.S., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Patricia J. Lipski
Attorney for Appellee State
Mackenzie Moran, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Denise M. Gonyea
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Mahaska County, Patrick J. McAvan, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered without oral argument by Ahlers, P.J., and Chicchelly and Sandy, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, P.J. (5 pages)
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child by arguing that termination is not in the child’s best interests and requesting the establishment of a guardianship instead. OPINION HOLDS: A guardianship would not serve the child’s best interests. Given the father’s unresolved mental-health and substance-use issues, termination of his rights, which will allow for the child to be adopted into a stable family, is in the child’s best interests.
