Official State of Iowa Website

The Adoption Process in Iowa

Before an adoption can take place, many other things must occur. In most cases, the parental rights of the child’s biological parents need to be terminated. Our section on Parental Rights provides more information relating to termination. 

The petition fileadoc.png

To adopt someone, you must file an adoption petition. If you are adopting an adult, you need to file the adoption petition with the state court located in the county where the adult who is being adopted lives (or is domiciled). If you are adopting a minor, you can file the adoption petition in the county where you live or where the child lives. Iowa Code section 600.3

Iowa Code section 600.5 gives information on the many details an adoption petition has to include, and section 600.6 gives information about the attachments the petition has to include.  

Consents 

Before the adoption can take place, the petitioning parent or parents also need to get certain people to consent (agree) to the adoption. 

Consents must be: Icon of a checklist and a pencil

  • In writing 
  • Have the name of the person who is being adopted and the person who wants to adopt 
  • Be signed by the person providing their consent 
    • If the consent is by a minor child being adopted, but older than age 14, the child must give the consent in either the juvenile court or in the court where the adoption case is taking place 
    • If the consent is from anyone else, the consent can also be signed before a notary public.  

The following people need to give their consent:  

  • The guardian (if there is one) of the person being adopted 
  • For adoption by a stepparent, the stepparent’s spouse (who is the parent of the child) 
  • If the person being adopted is an adult, the spouse of the person adopting if they are separately adopting the adult  
  • If the person being adopted is over the age of 14  

If the adoption process involves terminating parental rights, additional consents may be needed. Visit our page on Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights for Adoption for more information. 

If a person who needs to give their consent cannot be found or refuses to consent, the person asking for the adoption can attach a verified statement to the petition with this information. At the adoption hearing, the court will then decide whether, in the best interests of the person being adopted and the person adopting, the consent is unnecessary. 

Withdrawing consent   

A consent to the adoption may be withdrawn before the court issues the adoption decree by filing an affidavit of consent withdrawal with the court. At the adoption hearing, the court will then decide whether, in the best interests of the person being adopted and the person adopting, the consent is unnecessary.