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Case No. 24-1186

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

In the Interest of R.N., Minor Child

County:
Decatur

K.D., Mother-Appellant

J.N., Father-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Amanda Demichelis

Attorney for Appellant Father

Diana L. Rolands

Attorney for Appellee State

Mackenzie Moran, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad Litem

Dusty Lea Clements

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
24-1186
Date Published:
Oct 02, 2024
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Decatur County, William Price, Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Chicchelly and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Chicchelly, J.  (9 pages)

            A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: I. Clear and convincing evidence supports terminating the mother’s parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2024), and termination is in the child’s best interests.  The mother has not shown that termination will harm the child based on the closeness of the parent-child bond, and delaying permanency would not change the result of the proceedings.  II. Clear and convincing evidence supports terminating the father’s parental rights under section 232.116(1)(h) and providing the father with the services he now complains about on appeal would not have affected the finding that the child could not be returned to his custody at the time of the termination hearing.

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