Adoption Consent Form - Iowa

CONSENT TO ADOPTION — IOWA

1. Adoption and person consenting

In the Iowa District Court, [COUNTY] County

Person to be adopted: [FULL NAME], born [DATE]

Adoption petitioner(s): [FULL NAME(S)]

Person consenting: [FULL NAME]

Capacity of person consenting (select one):

☐ Guardian of the person to be adopted — Iowa Code § 600.7(1)(a)

☐ Spouse of a stepparent petitioner — Iowa Code § 600.7(1)(b)

☐ Spouse of a petitioner separately adopting an adult — Iowa Code § 600.7(1)(c)

☐ Person to be adopted, age 14 or older — Iowa Code § 600.7(1)(d)

☐ Parent who is not married to the stepparent petitioner, consenting to termination of that parent-child relationship as part of the stepparent adoption — Iowa Code § 600.3(2)(a)(2)

Description of guardianship, marriage, or parent-child relationship, as applicable: [DETAILS]

2. Consent

I consent to the adoption of [PERSON TO BE ADOPTED] by [PETITIONER(S)]. I have read this document, understand the adoption identified above, and sign voluntarily. I understand that the juvenile court or court decides whether to grant the adoption and enters the adoption decree. This signature alone does not enter an adoption decree or terminate parental rights.

For a stepparent adoption, I understand that the court may terminate my parent-child relationship as part of the adoption proceeding under Iowa Code § 600.3(2)(a)(2). The petitioner must present this consent in that proceeding.

I understand that Iowa Code § 600.7(3) allows a person who has given adoption consent to withdraw it before the adoption decree is issued by filing an affidavit of consent withdrawal with the juvenile court or court. The court treats that affidavit in the same manner as a verified statement under § 600.7(4); the court determines at the adoption hearing whether a required consent is unnecessary under the statutory best-interests standard. This document does not waive the statutory withdrawal procedure.

3. Separate birth-parent release, if required

This is an adoption consent, not a release of custody under Iowa Code § 600A.4. In an ordinary minor adoption, Iowa Code § 600.3(2)(a) generally requires termination of parental rights before an adoption petition is filed, subject to its stated exceptions. A release of custody, if used, must be accepted by an adoption service provider, signed no earlier than 72 hours after birth, witnessed by two persons familiar with the parent-child relationship, and followed by a termination petition. The post-birth counseling offer and acknowledgment in § 600A.4(2)(d) apply except to a release executed for a stepparent adoption. Under § 600A.4(4), a signing parent who requests revocation within 96 hours of signing is entitled to an order revoking the release; later requests are decided under the clear-and-convincing good-cause standard. Use the separate statutory release and court process where applicable. Do not substitute this consent form for them.

4. Signature and required manner of execution

Iowa Code § 600.7(2) requires a written consent naming the person to be adopted and the petitioner and signed by the consenting person. A consenting minor adoptee aged 14 or older must sign in the presence of the juvenile court or court where the adoption petition is filed. Any other consenting person must sign either in that court's presence or before a notary public under Iowa Code chapter 9B.

Signature of person consenting: _______________________________

Printed name: [FULL NAME]

Date: [DATE]

☐ Signed in the presence of the juvenile court or court

☐ Signed before a notary public (available only when the consenting person is not a minor adoptee aged 14 or older)

Notarial acknowledgment, if selected

State of Iowa, County of [COUNTY]

Acknowledged before me on [DATE] by [PERSON CONSENTING].

Notary signature: _______________________________

Printed name: [NAME]

Commission expiration: [DATE]

Legal review required. Confirm the consenting person's statutory capacity and any separate release, termination, tribal-law, or court requirements before use.