Adoption & Juvenile Law

Overview

Our juvenile law and adoption lawyers provide representation for private adoptions, step-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, special needs adoptions, adoptions involving the Iowa Department of Human Services, representation in child in need of assistance (CINA) proceedings involving child abuse and/or neglect, and acting as guardian ad litem (representing the child).

Whatever you decide is the best option for you and your family, we are here to help you through the legalities of this journey.

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Attorneys

Cody Farrens

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Noteworthy Cases

Recent noteworthy cases handled by our adoption and juvenile lawyers include:

In the interest of J.L., L.R., and S.G., minor children, 779 NW2d 481 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009). This case involved a termination of parental rights proceeding where the guardian ad litem and attorney for the minor children, sought review of an order of the Woodbury County Juvenile Court which held that the children could not object to the transfer of jurisdiction to a tribal court. The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that part of the Iowa Indian Child Welfare Act was unconstitutional and that the children had a fundamental interest in their physical and/or psychological safety.
In the Interest of N.N.E., Minor Child, 752 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2008). Attorney Suzan Boden represented an Indian mother who placed her child for adoption and chose a non-Indian family to adopt her child. The Indian mother’s tribe moved to intervene in the termination of parental rights proceeding for purposes of contesting the placement/adoption of the child by a non-Indian family. The Iowa Supreme Court held that the Iowa Indian Child Welfare Act placement preferences were unconstitutional as they made the rights of the tribe paramount to the rights of the Indian mother.