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Iowa Adoption Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Iowa on
Q: How can I obtain temporary guardianship and later adopt my best friend's baby in Iowa?

I am interested in obtaining temporary guardianship of my best friend’s baby, who is expected to be born next month. This would be her seventh child, and the youngest is just 9 months old. The mother has expressed that she does not want the baby placed in foster care and would like my husband and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jul 6, 2025

You’ve endured a painful injustice, and your determination to seek the truth for your children matters. When a court terminates parental rights in Texas, the law demands clear and convincing evidence—not suspicion, falsehood, or manipulated testimony. If a caseworker perjured themselves and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Iowa on
Q: How to change child’s last name to stepfather’s without father on birth certificate?

I want to know how to change my 9-year-old child's last name to his stepfather's last name. There is no father listed on the birth certificate, and the biological father is known but has never been involved in the child's life. We are considering legal adoption as part of this... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 11, 2025

You’ll begin by filing a petition for a step-parent adoption in the county where you live. In that petition you’ll list yourself and your husband as petitioners, name your child, and explain that the biological father’s rights were never established and he has not been involved.

Once... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law, Family Law and Adoption for Iowa on
Q: Employer requests proof of deceased father to avoid administrative leave.

I work in Iowa, and my father passed away in February. Recently, my employer informed me that they believe my father is alive and working as a bus driver, and requested proof of his death by close of business. I was unaware that I needed to provide documentation previously. An ethics and compliance... View More

Jennifer Setters
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answered on May 28, 2025

I understand that you're going through a challenging situation with your employer regarding the request for proof of your father's death. Here’s a breakdown of how you could proceed:

Employer’s Right to Request Documentation: Employers often request documentation to... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Family Law and Adoption for Iowa on
Q: Mother's rights termination by DHS, child adopted by unfit cousin, Iowa.

I feel my rights as a mother were wrongfully terminated by a DHS worker who did not do her job correctly. The DHS worker and police initially arrived at my home without a warrant, coerced me into signing a safety plan for my child, and arrested my child's father. I was unable to meet with the... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 31, 2025

It sounds like you’ve gone through a very difficult experience, and you have real concerns about how your rights were handled throughout this process. If you believe your parental rights were wrongfully terminated due to misconduct by the DHS worker, or because of false information provided by... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Iowa on
Q: Newborn taken due to past case - seeking custody options

My newborn was taken into custody at the hospital due to issues related to a past case with my other children, who were adopted out as I had substances in my system at that time. I am currently part of a family treatment court, and my boyfriend completed rehab successfully. We had a plan to work... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 14, 2025

I'm so sorry you're going through this—having your baby taken from you is heartbreaking, especially when you’ve been working to turn things around. Since you're already involved in family treatment court, that shows the system is giving you a chance to show growth, and that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Iowa on
Q: If my niece been adopted but now want to be with her real family how do I go about getting custody.

My niece has gotten a hold of us and has been asking if I can get custody of her. The adopted family does not want her anymore. I need some type of advice on what can I do to get custody of her. Her dad used to have custody of but lost her she is 16 year old and can make her own decision. Please... View More

Nicholas Hay
Nicholas Hay
answered on Aug 12, 2016

Your options are few and very difficult to achieve. You could attempt to establish a guardianship in Iowa if that is where she is living. Her parents would have to consent to the guardianship if you can't prove that they are unfit. Even though she is 16 it doesn't mean she gets to pick... View More

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