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Case No. 22-0702

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In the Interest of L.N. and L.S., Minor Children

C.B., Mother-Appellant

D.S., Father-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Joseph W. Kertels

Attorney for Appellant Father

Teresa Ann O'Brien

Attorney for Appellee State

Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad Litem

Molly Vakulskas Joly

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
22-0702
Date Published:
Aug 31, 2022
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Mark C. Cord III, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Ahlers, P.J., and Badding and Chicchelly, JJ.  Opinion by Ahlers, P.J.  (9 pages)

            A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their respective parental rights.  Both challenge the statutory grounds authorizing termination and whether the juvenile court should have given them the full six months of a previously granted extension to work toward reunification.  The mother also argues termination is not in the children’s best interests and that her bond with the children should preclude termination.  OPINION HOLDS: The children could not be safely returned to either parent, so statutory grounds authorizing termination were met.  The court was not required to wait the full six months of the previously granted extension before terminating the parents’ rights.  Termination of the mother’s rights was in the children’s best interests.  And the mother’s bond with the children was not strong enough to preclude termination.

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