Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa

I do not think it is within his power to surrender his parental obligations as simply as signing over the title to a car.

Mom can petition the juvenile court to terminate his parental rights under chapter 600A of the Code after some time has passed, but that is by no means a given-particularly since Mom is not in a marriage relationship where a husband evinced an interest in adoption.

For the court the primary consideration is and will be, what's in the best interests of the child-not what's convenient for a parent-and preventing, as much as possible, the child becoming a charge on the public treasury when there is a responsible person capable of paying support. I might also add that if Mom has so much as taken one food stamp or WIC coupon or in any way accessed public benefits, the CSRU will be involved.