600.4  Qualifications to file adoption petition.

Any person who may adopt may file an adoption petition under section 600.3. The following persons may adopt:

1.  An unmarried adult.

2.  Husband and wife together.

3.  A husband or wife separately if the person to be adopted is not the other spouse and if the adopting spouse:

a.  Is the stepparent of the person to be adopted;

b.  Has been separated from the other spouse by reason of the other spouse's abandonment as prescribed in section 597.10; or

c.  Is unable to petition with the other spouse because of the prolonged and unexplained absence, unavailability, or incapacity of the other spouse, or because of an unreasonable withholding of joinder by the other spouse, as determined by the court under section 600.5, subsection 7.

Section History: Early form

  [R60, § 2600; C73, § 2307; C97, § 3250; C24, § 10496; C27, 31, 35, § 10501-b1; C39, § 10501.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, § 600.1; C77, 79, 81, § 600.4]

Internal References

  Referred to in § 600.5


Previous Section 600.3

Next Section 600.5


Return To Home index


© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa


Comments about this site or page? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Thu Mar 18 15:00:31 CST 1999
URL: /DOCS/IACODE/1999/600/4.html
jhf