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In the Interest of M.L., Minor Child
R.L., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Timothy J. Tupper
Attorney for Appellee State
Gretchen Witte Kraemer, Special Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Martha Cox
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Christine Dalton, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, J. (6 pages)
A father seeks reversal of the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental relationship with his seven-year-old son. While the father recognizes he cannot care for the child at the present time, he argues termination is not in his best interests and the court should exercise its discretion not to terminate based on the strong bond and the child’s relative placement. OPINION HOLDS: After considering the upheaval in the child’s home life and the toll it has taken on him, we decline to reverse the termination order. Prolonging uncertainty about the child’s life will likely worsen his mental-health condition, and neither of the permissive factors weigh against termination in this case. We affirm the termination order.
