In the Matter of the Guardianship of L.Y. ( 2022 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF IOWA
No. 20–1034
Submitted October 20, 2021—Filed January 14, 2022
IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF L.Y.
G.Y. and K.Y.,
Appellants,
vs.
S.W.,
Appellee.
On review from the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Story County, Stephen A. Owens,
District Associate Judge.
A mother seeks further review of a court of appeals decision reversing the
juvenile court’s order terminating the guardianship of her minor child.
DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED; JUVENILE COURT
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Christensen, C.J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which all justices
joined.
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Andrew B. Howie (argued) of Shindler, Anderson, Goplerud & Weese, P.C.,
West Des Moines, for appellants.
Dani L. Eisentrager (argued) of Eisentrager Law Office, Eagle Grove, for
appellee.
Frank C. Tenuta of Iowa Legal Aid, Sioux City, and Ericka Petersen
(argued) of Iowa Legal Aid, Iowa City, for amicus curiae B.M.R.
F.D. Chip Baltimore, II, (argued) of the Law Office of Kirke C. Quinn,
Boone, for amicus curiae The Iowa Guardianship and Conservatorship
Association.
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CHRISTENSEN, Chief Justice.
On January 1, 2020, a new guardianship act went into effect in Iowa. This
case requires us to interpret that act for the first time. Specifically, we must
determine where the burden of proof is allocated and what must be shown when
a parent requests termination of a guardianship of a minor child that was
established with parental consent. This case also requires us to consider whether
the fundamental liberty interests of parents in the care, custody, and control of
their children survive the repeal of a statutory presumption favoring parental
custody.
Young parents consented to a temporary guardianship for the paternal
grandparents to serve as guardians of their almost five-year-old daughter so that
she could be placed on the grandparents’ medical insurance and easily travel
with them on vacation without issues. The guardianship also provided an
opportunity for the parents to finalize their divorce and establish stability in their
lives. Having achieved that stability, Mom sought to terminate the guardianship.
Requiring Mom to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the
guardianship should be terminated, the juvenile court concluded that burden
was met and the child’s long-term interests warranted terminating the
guardianship and returning the child to Mom’s custody.
The court of appeals reversed the juvenile court’s termination order based
on its interpretation of the relatively new guardianship act, concluding the act
prevented the court from applying a previously codified statutory preference
favoring parents over all others in guardianship proceedings. On further review,
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we vacate the court of appeals decision and affirm the judgment of the juvenile
court terminating the guardianship, but we do so under slightly different
reasoning based on our interpretation of the new guardianship act. While the
court of appeals is correct that the new guardianship act repealed the statutory
persumption favoring parental custody, parents still have fundamental liberty
interests in the care, custody, and control of their children that establish a
rebuttable preference in their favor over all others in guardianship proceedings.
When a parent who has not been adjudicated unfit files a motion to
terminate a guardianship established with parental consent under Iowa Code
section 232D.203 (2020), the juvenile court must start with the rebuttable
presumption that the child’s best interests are served by reuniting the minor
child with their parent. The guardian must then prove by clear and convincing
evidence that the guardianship should continue because “termination of the
guardianship would be harmful to the minor and the minor’s interest in
continuation of the guardianship outweighs the interest of a parent of the minor
in the termination of the guardianship.” Id. § 232D.503. If the guardian fails to
meet that burden, the guardianship must be terminated as requested by the
moving parent.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
At sixteen years old in May 2009, Mom gave birth to L.Y. Initially, L.Y.
stayed with Mom, who lived with her parents in Webster City, for four days and
then with Dad, who lived with his parents in Story City, for three days each week.
After Mom graduated high school in 2010, she and L.Y. moved in with Dad and
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L.Y.’s paternal grandparents. In February 2011, L.Y.’s parents married and
continued to live with the paternal grandparents until the parents moved out
with L.Y. in July 2013. The parents separated shortly thereafter in September,
and L.Y. returned to living with her paternal grandparents, where Mom would
see her on the weekends.
In February 2014, the parents consented to a guardianship with the
paternal grandparents serving as L.Y.’s guardians so that the child could be
placed on their medical insurance and they could travel together to Arizona on
vacation without any issues. Additionally, the guardianship allowed the parents
to finalize their divorce and work on getting their separate lives in order.
Following a hearing on March 31, the district court appointed the paternal
grandparents as co-guardians of L.Y., who was almost five years old at the time.
The parents’ divorce was not officially finalized until January 2016, and their
divorce decree was silent on the issues of custody and visitation for either parent.
Instead, the decree simply stated, “[E]ach party desires that the guardianship be
continued at the present time. The guardianship shall continue.”
Following the parents’ separation and the implementation of the
guardianship, Mom went to live with her mother and was employed at a cellular
phone company, which ultimately gave her the experience she needed to obtain
her current position as a 911 dispatcher for Wright County. Mom continued to
have contact with L.Y. through phone calls, weekend visits, and a weeklong visit
during the summertime. At various times since the guardianship was
implemented in February 2014, Mom sought help terminating the guardianship.
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She attempted to seek legal counsel in 2015 and 2017. However, the attorney
she consulted with in 2015 advised her to go elsewhere, and she could not afford
to hire the attorney she consulted in 2017.
In 2018, Mom wrote the paternal grandparents a letter requesting
termination of the guardianship to which they never responded. On another
occasion, she texted Dad and paternal grandmother about ending the
guardianship, which also did not result in a discussion on the issue. Mom never
raised the issue with the guardians in person and nothing changed. With the
financial assistance of her family to cover legal fees, Mom hired legal counsel to
initiate proceedings to terminate the guardianship of now eleven-year-old L.Y. in
June 2020. Mom has now lived in the same single-family home with her
boyfriend in Woolstock for at least the past three years, where she has a bedroom
for L.Y, and believes she is ready and able to parent L.Y.
At Mom’s nomination, the court appointed attorney Mark Olberding as the
court visitor.1 Olberding interviewed Mom, the guardians, L.Y., and Dr. Judy
Rudman—L.Y.’s therapist—and recommended the guardianship continue. In
doing so, he reasoned L.Y wanted the guardianship to continue, the guardians
have been her caregivers for the majority of her life, and the guardianship
1Iowa Code section 232D.305(3) governs the court visitor’s duties, which include
explaining the proceedings to the child and interviewing the child, the parents, and guardians.
The court visitor must submit a written report to the district court that contains “[a]
recommendation regarding the appropriateness of a guardianship for the minor”; “the
qualifications of the guardian together with a statement of whether the minor has expressed
agreement with the appointment of the proposed guardian”; and a discussion of any other
matters the court requests or that “the court visitor deems relevant to the petition for
guardianship and the best interests of the minor.” Id. at § 232D.305(4).
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provides L.Y. with “a sense of stability and place” in contrast to the “inconsistent”
visitation between L.Y. and her parents.
The juvenile court held a hearing on the mother’s motion to terminate the
guardianship on July 23. Mom testified that she thought the guardianship was
created “under temporary terms . . . and it was for [paternal grandparents] to
take medical action if needed, along with going out of state on vacation.” She
explained she “repeatedly asked if it was temporary” when she was asked to sign
the paperwork, and “[paternal grandfather] confirmed that it was.”
Mom discussed the difficulties she experienced trying to exercise visitation
time with L.Y. because of L.Y.’s other commitments and weekend plans arranged
by the guardians. Mom acknowledged she had not attended any school
conferences or many medical appointments for L.Y., defending these absences
by explaining that the guardians did not keep her informed of the appointments
so that she could attend. She also expressed feeling intimidated by the
guardians, stating, “[A]t times I don’t feel like I can voice what I would like to see
with [L.Y.] . . . They just kind of shut me down, I guess.” Mom was open about
the depression and anxiety she has experienced, much of this due to the
guardianship situation, but she declared she has it under control and continues
to see a counselor.
Mom testified that she would like the guardianship terminated because
she is now in the position to provide for L.Y. financially and emotionally. Mom
claimed L.Y. has told her she wants to live with her and cries when she has to
return to the guardians. Nevertheless, Mom recognized the bond L.Y. has with
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the guardians and the anxiety that termination could cause L.Y. She stated she
would want L.Y. to continue counseling if the guardianship was terminated and
to continue to spend time with the guardians and that side of the family to ease
the transition.
Dad testified that he now lives in Eldora, is gainfully employed, has
remarried, and has other children. He tries to have L.Y. with him “at least once
every other weekend or, you know, like same as [L.Y.’s Mom],” but he
acknowledged that his contact with L.Y. “could be more” and that he attends
“very few” of L.Y.’s doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and school
conferences. Dad admitted he has gone “maybe a month, month and a half”
without having contact with L.Y. at times due to “neglect on [his] part” when he
was “busy with the fire department and work and didn’t have [his] priorities
straight at that time.” When asked how he has contributed to L.Y. financially,
Dad stated that he “will buy her clothes or some supplies for school,” despite
making around $70,000 per year and stating that he is financially stable. He
supports the continuation of the guardianship because he believes it is in “[L.Y.]’s
best interests to stay where she is at.” Although Mom is the only parent seeking
termination of the guardianship, Dad declared he intended to seek full custody
of L.Y. if the guardianship was terminated.
Both guardians testified, though paternal grandmother’s testimony was
more substantial. She explained they considered a guardianship initially “so that
I could get [L.Y.] on my insurance so we had medical care for her and so that we
could travel.” She did not personally talk to L.Y.’s parents about the
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guardianship when they were considering it, explaining she thought paternal
grandfather “maybe discussed [it] with them and then we went to get things
drawn up.” Paternal grandmother confirmed she does deny the parents visitation
if the guardians have “other things planned” for L.Y. and admitted she stopped
notifying them of L.Y.’s medical appointments because “[m]any times if they were
told in the beginning, they didn’t come.” The guardians each expressed concerns
about Mom’s mental stability due to Mom’s depression and anxiety and felt it
was in L.Y.’s best interests for the guardianship to continue.
L.Y.’s therapist, Dr. Judy Rudman, testified that she has been working
with L.Y. for the past two years due to L.Y.’s anxiety and “some perfectionistic
tendencies.” She noted L.Y. was struggling with the inconsistency of the
visitation with her parents “and feeling the need to be perfect and really please
them so that they would want to spend more time with her.” Dr. Rudman stated
L.Y. “was happy that her mom wanted her and made her feel valued and loved”
when she talked about Mom seeking custody, but she was also “unsure why her
mom was asking for sole custody when they didn’t really have a consistent
visitation in [L.Y.]’s eyes.”
L.Y. told Dr. Rudman she wanted to stay with her guardians, and Dr.
Rudman testified that “from a therapeutic standpoint, . . . it would be best to
keep [L.Y.] in her current environment.” However, she admitted she had no
background information on Mom. When asked if L.Y. would be able to make a
move and cope with the termination, Dr. Rudman stated,
Ultimately, I think [L.Y.] is resilient and children in general are
resilient, and she has a lot of people that love her, but I think it
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would be pretty rocky and pretty rough. . . . I would have concerns
especially because, like you were saying and we were both saying,
[L.Y.] has a tendency to please so if she were in distress I would have
concerns that she might not share with her mom so she would just
need extra attention and lots of eyes on her to make sure she was
stable and dealing with the transitions well.
She also recommended increasing L.Y.’s therapy appointments from every two
weeks to weekly if the juvenile court terminated the guardianship and for L.Y. to
maintain frequent visitation with the guardians.
L.Y. testified outside the presence of her parents and guardians. L.Y.
stated she would like to spend more time with Mom, but she did not want to live
with her because she felt she “wouldn’t get to see [the guardians’] family that I
live with as much” and she was worried about making new friends at a new
school. She explained some of the irregular contact with Mom stemmed from her
own schedule and plans she had with friends, for example, that interfered with
her opportunity to visit Mom on the weekends.
L.Y. expressed her worry about people being mad at each other in the case,
stating she was nervous that “the decision [she] make[s] would be like upset one
person but then not the other.” When asked what could be done to ease the
transition to Mom if the guardianship was terminated, L.Y. stated, “Maybe just
kind of walk into it like not go straight from not living to living there. Maybe just
kind of start doing like a week, a week and a half, two weeks, and then just kind
of start adding that up.” She also expressed her desire for a set schedule of when
she would see her parents if the guardianship continued.
On July 27, the juvenile court filed an order terminating the guardianship.
The court began its order by issuing credibility findings toward the witnesses. At
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the outset, it took note of Mom’s and L.Y.’s credibility and demeanor. Regarding
Mom, the court explained,
Despite her own difficult personal history and some hard feelings
toward others involved in the guardianship proceedings, [Mom]
stayed above the fray. Her demeanor and manner of delivering her
testimony remained consistently direct, composed, thoughtful,
compassionate and devoid of any exaggeration or minimization. The
court finds [Mom]’s testimony to be credible and reliable . . . . When
weighing the evidentiary value of all the testimony that was received
by the court on July 23, 2020, the court assigns the most weight to
the testimony offered by [Mom] herself.
Regarding L.Y., the court found “her testimony to be credible and reliable
as well as relevant and material” but afforded “it less weight given [L.Y.]’s lack of
maturity and the extreme conflict she feels in her family relationships.” It
summarized, “[O]ther credible evidence demonstrated that [L.Y.]’s age, desire to
be with friends and most importantly, her desire to avoid upsetting the adults in
her life has a deleterious effect on the reliability of her testimony as to the
ultimate question concerning termination of the guardianship.” The court also
took note of the credibility and demeanor of the guardians, concluding their in-
court testimony was of “minimal evidentiary value.”
In reaching its decision to terminate the guardianship, the court relied on
Iowa Code section 232D.503(2), which allows the court to terminate a
guardianship established pursuant to section 232D.203 if the court finds the
basis for the guardianship is no longer satisfied “unless the court finds that the
termination of the guardianship would be harmful to the minor and the minor’s
interest in continuation of the guardianship outweighs the interest of a parent
of the minor in the termination of the guardianship.” The court expressed
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confusion over the applicable burden and standard of persuasion necessary to
terminate the guardianship because they were not specifically set forth in
chapter 232D, so it fell “back on a recognized standard in civil proceedings in
which the movant prove up the relief sought in the motion by a preponderance
of evidence.” Applying this burden and standard, the court determined Mom
proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the guardianship was no longer
necessary, that termination was not harmful to L.Y., and that L.Y.’s interest in
continuation of the guardianship did not outweigh Mom’s interest in the
termination of the guardianship.
The court concluded the basis for the guardianship was not currently
satisfied because “the parents have achieved security and stability in their lives,”
and “[Mom] is a capable and appropriate parent able to immediately assume
permanent care and custody of [L.Y.].” Further, it determined “[t]he continuation
of the guardianship only creates further instability for [L.Y.]” as L.Y. continues
to question the separation from her parents and that questioning required
therapeutic intervention to restore her sense of security. The court declared,
“[H]ad the guardianship been terminated years earlier as requested by [Mom],
[L.Y.] would not have developed the psychological turmoil requiring the
therapeutic intervention described here.”
Finally, it explained that Mom’s interest in parenting L.Y. outweighed L.Y.’s
interest in continuing the guardianship, reasoning,
Parenthood is a fundamental right. When a parent is safe and stable,
that right should be vindicated. [Mom] moves to terminate the
guardianship and have [L.Y.] returned to her. [L.Y.]’s father asks for
continuation of the guardianship. [Mom] is a safe, stable and sincere
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mother. She has a safe and stable home for [L.Y.] [L.Y.] should be
returned to her mother’s care for placement in [Mom]’s home
pending modification of the parent’s decree of dissolution to legally
establish physical and legal custody.
Although the court noted both parents’ belief that a petition to modify the divorce
decree related to L.Y. would be forthcoming if the guardianship was terminated,
it concluded that “any recognition of possible legal action to modify the decree is
not a reason not to consider termination of the guardianship nor should
avoidance of any such legal action be a reason not to terminate the
guardianship.”
The guardians appealed, arguing, among other claims, that the juvenile
court erred in terminating the guardianship because the recently enacted new
guardianship act repealed the statutory preference under section 633.559 of the
2019 Iowa Code favoring a child’s parents over all others as guardian for the
child. Accordingly, the guardians maintained the juvenile court erred in relying
on Mom’s status as a parent to conclude “[a]ny interest [L.Y.] may have in
continuing the guardianship is outweighed by her mother’s interest in parenting
her daughter” because “[p]arenthood is a fundamental right” that “should be
vindicated” when the “parent is safe and stable.” They also claimed the basis for
the guardianship is still satisfied because “good cause” exists for one under Iowa
Code section 232D.203(1)(b)(4). In her appellate brief, Mom challenged the
juvenile court’s decision to apply the rule in civil proceedings in which the
movant—Mom in this case—must prove up the relief sought in the motion by a
preponderance of the evidence. Mom contends that “[t]he guardians have the
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burden to overcome a parental preference and show that the child’s best
interests require a continuation of the guardianship.”
The court of appeals rejected the guardians’ claim that the need for the
guardianship still exists, noting Mom’s revocation of consent to the guardianship
meant the grounds for creating the guardianship under section 232D.203 were
no longer met. Nevertheless, it reversed the juvenile court’s termination of the
guardianship, concluding that termination was harmful to L.Y. and that L.Y.’s
interest in continuing the guardianship outweighed Mom’s interest as a parent.
In doing so, the court of appeals recognized that Mom has “a general
fundamental interest in parenting L.Y.” but concluded that the new guardianship
act’s repeal of the statutory preference for parents previously codified in section
633.559 of the 2019 Iowa Code prohibited the court from recognizing a parental
preference over all others as a child’s guardian in guardianship proceedings. The
court of appeals did not address the burden of proof. We granted Mom’s
application for further review.
II. Standard of Review.
An action to terminate a guardianship is equitable in nature, so our review
is de novo. In re Guardianship of Kennedy, 845 N.W.2d 707, 709 (Iowa 2014). We
give weight to the juvenile court’s factual findings, but we are not bound by them.
Id. Further, we review constitutional challenges to statutes de novo. Santi v.
Santi, 633 N.W.2d 312, 316 (Iowa 2001). In doing so, we presume statutes are
constitutional, “imposing on the challenger the heavy burden of rebutting that
presumption.” Id. “[I]f a statute is susceptible to more than one construction, one
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of which is constitutional and the other not, we are obliged to adopt the
construction which will uphold it.” Id. Nevertheless, a statute is invalid on its
face if “no application of the statute could be constitutional under any set of
facts.” Doss v. State, 961 N.W.2d 701, 716 (Iowa 2021) (quoting Bonilla v. Iowa
Bd. of Parole, 930 N.W.2d 751, 764 (Iowa 2019)).
III. Analysis.
This case requires us to interpret recent changes to our guardianship
statutes under the Iowa Minor Guardianship Proceedings Act (Guardianship
Act), 2019 Iowa Acts ch. 56, §§ 1–29 (codified at Iowa Code ch. 232D (2020)). The
Guardianship Act is based on the work of the Guardianship and Conservatorship
Reform Task Force, which our court established in January 2015 to “address the
challenges that the Iowa guardianship and conservatorship system faces now
and will face in the future in meeting the needs of vulnerable Iowans.” Iowa
Guardianship and Conservatorship Reform Task Force, Final Report iv (2017),
https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/Final_Task_Force_Report_5A9
92F4D4AF86.pdf [https://perma.cc/7RKD-TMAF]. We charged the Task Force
with identifying “the strengths and weaknesses of Iowa’s guardianship and
conservatorship laws and practices,” examining the guardianship laws and
practices of other jurisdictions, developing “recommendations for effective and
efficient guardianship laws, practices, and procedures,” and developing
“recommendations to foster continuous improvement to the guardianship and
conservatorship system to ensure it is responsive to future generations of
Iowans.” Id. at 3.
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Based on the Task Force’s recommendations, the legislature’s
Guardianship Act created chapter 232D and transferred jurisdiction of
guardianships for minors to the juvenile court, in part due to “the expertise of
juvenile court judges in the type of parental and family problems at issue in
minor guardianship cases.” Id. at 120. The Guardianship Act also addressed the
Task Force’s concern “that parental consent to a minor guardianship might not
be truly voluntary.” Id. at 41–42. The Task Force recommended “detailed
requirements to ensure that the parental consent is truly voluntary.” Id. In
accord with these requirements, the Guardianship Act now requires parents
consenting to a minor guardianship to sign an affidavit “verifying that the parent
or parents knowingly and voluntarily consent to the guardianship” and include
this affidavit with the guardianship petition. Iowa Code § 232D.203(2). Further,
on or before the hearing on the petition, the parents and the proposed guardian
must now file an agreement with the court stating the guardian’s responsibilities,
the parents’ responsibilities, and “[t]he expected duration of the guardianship, if
known.” Id. § 232D.203(3) (emphasis added). “If the court grants the petition, it
shall approve the guardianship agreement between the custodial parent and the
proposed guardian and incorporate its terms by reference unless the court finds
the agreement was not reached knowingly and voluntarily or is not in the best
interests of the child.” Id. § 232D.203(4).
The Guardianship Act went into effect on January 1, 2020, and applies
retroactively, so it applies to this case. 2019 Iowa Acts ch. 56, §§ 44–45. Here,
we must decide under the Guardianship Act whether grounds still exist for the
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guardianship and, if not, whether the juvenile court erred by terminating the
guardianship. Two primary changes to the guardianship statutes are at issue in
this case: (1) the Guardianship Act’s repeal of Iowa Code section 633.559, which
provided in relevant part that
[e]xcept for a minor child for whom the court’s jurisdiction over the
child’s guardianship was established pursuant to transfer of the
child’s case in accordance with section 232.104, the parents of a
minor child, or either of them, if qualified and suitable, shall be
preferred over all others for appointment as guardian,
Iowa Code § 633.559 (2019), repealed by 2019 Iowa Acts ch. 56, § 43, and (2)
the Guardianship Act’s silence on the burden of persuasion and standard of
proof necessary under Iowa Code section 232D.503(2) to terminate a
guardianship established with parental consent.
A. Grounds for Terminating the Guardianship. The guardians argue the
juvenile court erred by terminating the guardianship because “good cause” exists
to maintain the guardianship under the new statutory provision of Iowa Code
section 232D.203 due to Mom’s alleged inability to achieve “ ‘security and
stability’ in residence or relationships” and her “immaturity and instability,”
which have “barely improved” since the guardianship was established. This
argument fails because the good cause provision found in section 232D.203(1)
does not come into play without a parent’s consent, as the statute provides:
1. The court may appoint a guardian for a minor if the court
finds all of the following:
a. The parent or parents having legal custody of the minor
understand the nature of the guardianship and knowingly and
voluntarily consent to the guardianship.
b. The minor is in need of a guardianship because of any one
of the following:
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(1) The parent having legal custody of the minor has a physical
or mental illness that prevents the parent from providing care and
supervision of the child.
(2) The parent having legal custody of the minor is
incarcerated or imprisoned.
(3) The parent having legal custody of the minor is on active
military duty.
(4) The minor is in need of a guardianship for some other
reason constituting good cause shown.
c. Appointment of a guardian for the minor is in the best
interest of the minor.
(Emphasis added.) It is undisputed that Mom revoked her consent to the
guardianship by initiating these proceedings. Because the statute requires “all
of the following” conditions to be met, including the parents’ knowing and
voluntary consent to the guardianship, the grounds for creating a guardianship
under section 232D.203 no longer exist. Id. § 232D.203(1)(a)–(c). Nevertheless,
we still must address the guardians’ claim that the juvenile court should have
continued the guardianship because doing so was in L.Y.’s best interests.
1. Who has the burden of proof? In an action to terminate or modify a
guardianship established by consent, Iowa Code section 232D.503(2) requires
the court to make a series of “findings” in order to keep the guardianship in
effect.
The court shall terminate a guardianship established pursuant to
section 232D.203 if the court finds that the basis for the
guardianship set forth in section 232D.203 is not currently satisfied
unless the court finds that the termination of the guardianship would
be harmful to the minor and the minor’s interest in continuation of
the guardianship outweighs the interest of a parent of the minor in
the termination of the guardianship.
Iowa Code § 232D.503(2) (emphasis added). Because the default is termination
of the guardianship, the party favoring continuation of the guardianship has the
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burden of proof once consent is withdrawn. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.904(3)(e)
(“Ordinarily, the burden of proof on an issue is upon the party who would suffer
loss if the issue were not established.”).
The guardians point out that the Guardianship Act, which overhauled
guardianship laws in Iowa, included a repeal of section 633.559 of the 2019 Iowa
Code, favoring a child’s parents over all others as guardian for the child.
Accordingly, they maintain that Mom had the burden of proof to end the
guardianship that had been in effect since 2014. Although the legislature
removed section 633.559, it did not replace it with language prohibiting a
parental preference. Instead, it added a provision that placed the burden on the
guardian to continue the guardianship when the basis for the guardianship is
no longer satisfied. See Iowa Code § 232D.503(2).
In addition to this statutory burden of proof, the constitutional protections
afforded parents in the care, custody, and control of their children undergird a
common law parental preference. The constitutionally based parental preference
predated section 633.559 and, in our view, survives its repeal. “[T]he relationship
between parent and child is constitutionally protected.” Quilloin v. Walcott,
434 U.S. 246, 255 (1978). The fundamental liberty interest of parents “in the
care, custody, and control of their children[ ]is perhaps the oldest of the
fundamental liberty interests recognized by [the United States Supreme Court].”
Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65 (2000); see also Santi, 633 N.W.2d at 317(“This court has likewise acknowledged this parental caretaking interest as
fundamental.”). This liberty interest includes a parent’s fundamental right to
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make child-rearing decisions based on the “presumption that fit parents act in
the best interests of their children.” Troxel, 530 U.S. at 68.
In reversing the juvenile court’s order terminating the guardianship, the
court of appeals rejected Mom’s argument that her fundamental liberty interests
in parenting L.Y. created a preference in favor of her as the parent over all others
in the guardianship proceeding. The court of appeals recognized Mom’s “general
fundamental interest in parenting L.Y.” but concluded there is no longer any
parental preference in guardianship proceedings because the Guardianship Act
repealed the statute codifying that preference. Mom maintains the court of
appeals’ interpretation of the Guardianship Act to eliminate the parental
preference disregards our caselaw recognizing the parental preference prior to
codification and “is in direct conflict with the basic fundamental and
constitutionally protected right of a parent to parent their child without
unwarranted state intrusion.” We agree.
In light of parents’ fundamental liberty interests in the care, custody, and
control of their children and the presumption that fit parents act in their
children’s best interests, we must give “due regard for the superior rights of a fit,
proper, and suitable parent” over all others. In re Guardianship of D.J.,
682 N.W.2d 239, 245 (Neb. 2004) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Nielsen v. Nielsen,
296 N.W.2d 483, 488 (Neb. 1980)). “[T]he parental superior right to child custody
protects not only the parent’s right to the companionship, care, custody, and
management of his or her child, but also protects the child’s reciprocal right to
be raised and nurtured by a biological or adoptive parent.” Id. at 244 (quoting
21
Uhing v. Uhing, 488 N.W.2d 366, 374–75 (Neb. 1992)); see also Johnson v.
Hunter, 447 N.W.2d 871, 876 (Minn. 1989) (en banc) (“[E]stablishment of the
parent–child relationship is the most fundamental right a child possesses to be
equated in importance with personal liberty and the most basic constitutional
rights.” (alteration in original) (quoting Ruddock v. Ohls, 154 Cal. Rptr. 87, 91
(Ct. App. 1979))). As the Colorado Supreme Court explained,
An important characteristic of a guardianship by parental
consent is that parents have exercised their fundamental right to
place their child in the custody of another for purposes of furthering
the child’s best interests. Failure to accord fit parents a presumption
in favor of their decision to terminate a guardianship established by
parental consent would penalize their initial decision to establish
the guardianship and deter parents from invoking the guardianship
law as a means to care for the child while they address significant
problems that could impair the parent–child relationship or the
child’s development.
In re D.I.S., 249 P.3d 775, 783 (Colo. 2011) (en banc) (citation omitted).
Our court has similarly stated that parents “should be encouraged to look
for help with the children[] from those who love them without the risk of thereby
losing the custody of the children permanently.” Painter v. Bannister, 140 N.W.2d
152, 156 (Iowa 1966). Thus, “[r]ecognition that the non-parental party is an
excellent parent to the child will rarely be strong enough to interfere with the
natural rights of the parent.” Northland v. Starr, 581 N.W.2d 210, 212 (Iowa Ct.
App. 1998); see also In re Mann, 293 N.W.2d 185, 190 (Iowa 1980) (“Courts are
not free to take children from parents simply by deciding another home offers
more advantages.” (quoting In re Burney, 259 N.W.2d 322, 324 (Iowa 1977)). “As
tempting as it is to resolve this highly emotional issue with one’s heart, we do
not have the unbridled discretion of a Solomon. Ours is a system of law.” In re
22
B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239, 241 (Iowa 1992) (en banc). Guided by these principles,
it is not unusual for Iowa’s courts to “remove children from conscientious, well-
intentioned custodians with a history of providing good care to the children and
place[] them with a natural parent.” Zvorak v. Beireis, 519 N.W.2d 87, 88–89
(Iowa 1994) (citing several cases involving these types of guardianship disputes).
Ultimately, the well-established parental preference in guardianship cases
precedes the previously codified statutory preference. But more importantly, the
parental preference is inseparably intertwined with the fundamental liberty
“interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children.” Troxel,
530 U.S. at 65; see also Santi, 633 N.W.2d at 317. As numerous other state
courts have recognized, “[A] parent does not relinquish his fundamental liberty
interest in raising his child by consenting to a guardianship, and, thus, is
entitled to the Troxel presumption in a proceeding to terminate the guardianship”
that creates a preference in favor of the parent over all others. In re Guardianship
of Reena D., 35 A.3d 509, 512 (N.H. 2011) (“Most courts that have examined
[whether the Troxel presumption applies in guardianship termination
proceedings] since Troxel have held that it does.”).2
2See also Ex parte Terry, 494 So. 2d 628, 632 (Ala. 1986) (“The prima facie right of a
natural parent to the custody of his or her child, as against the right of custody in a nonparent,
is grounded in the common law concept that the primary parental right of custody is in the best
interest and welfare of the child as a matter of law.” (quoting Ex parte Mathews, 428 So. 2d 58,
59 (Ala. 1983) (per curiam))); In re Guardianship of W.L., 467 S.W.3d 129, 133 (Ark. 2015) (“[A]
guardianship is no longer necessary once a fit parent revokes an earlier-given consent. This is
because a fit parent is presumed to be acting in the child’s best interest. By petitioning to
terminate the guardianship and revoking consent, the fit parent, who has the child’s best interest
at heart, informs the court that the guardianship is no longer necessary.”); In re D.I.S., 249 P.3d
at 783 (“Failure to accord fit parents a presumption in favor of their decision to terminate a
guardianship established by parental consent would penalize their initial decision to establish
the guardianship and deter parents from invoking the guardianship laws as a means to care for
the child while they address significant problems that could impair the parent–child relationship
23
or the child’s development.”); Tourison v. Pepper, 51 A.3d 470, 473 (Del. 2012) (“This Court agrees
that the Troxel presumption in favor of a fit parent should apply to the termination of
guardianships.”); Boddie v. Daniels, 702 S.E.2d 172, 175 (Ga. 2010) (holding a guardianship will
be terminated unless the guardian can prove, in part, clear and convincing evidence that the
child will suffer significant harm if custody were awarded to the parent); Stockwell v. Stockwell,
775 P.2d 611, 613 (Idaho 1989) (“In custody disputes between a ‘non-parent’ . . . and a natural
parent, Idaho courts apply a presumption that a natural parent should have custody as opposed
to other lineal or collateral relatives or interested parties.”); In re Custody of Peterson, 491 N.E.2d
1150, 1151 (Ill. 1986) (“In child-custody disputes it is an accepted presumption that the right or
interest of a natural parent in the care, custody and control of a child is superior to the claim of
a third person.” (quoting In re Custody of Townsend, 427 N.E.2d 1231, 1234 (Ill. 1981), abrogated
on other grounds by In re R.L.S., 844 N.E.2d 22 (Ill. 2006))); In re Guardianship of L.L., 745 N.E.2d
222, 230 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (“[T]here is a presumption in all cases that the natural parent
should have custody of his or her child.”); In re Guardianship of Williams, 869 P.2d 661, 669–70
(Kan. 1994) (“Not only is the parental preference doctrine one of long standing in Kansas, it is
also the rule, in one form or another, in a majority of the jurisdictions in this country.”); Pastore
v. Sharp, 567 A.2d 509, 512 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1989) (“[W]here there is a custody contest
between a natural parent and a third party, there is a rebuttable presumption in favor of the
natural parent.”); Hunter v. Hunter, 771 N.W.2d 694, 707 (Mich. 2009) (“Since [the Michigan
statute] applies a substantial presumption of the validity of decisions by all parents, including
fit custodial parents, the constitutional underpinnings of Troxel are satisfied.”); Durkin v. Hinich,
442 N.W.2d 148, 152–53 (Minn. 1989) (en banc) (recognizing the Minnesota Supreme Court’s
longstanding presumption in custody determinations that natural parents are fit to raise their
own children, so the non-parent challenging custody has the burden to disprove that
presumption applies); In re Guardianship of J.R.G., 708 P.2d 263, 267 (Mont. 1985) (“[T]he
burden was on appellant to prove that the best interest of the child would be served by a
continuation of the guardianship. We reach this result because of the presumption in other
jurisdictions, and now adopted by this Court, that the best interest of a child is served in custody
of natural parents.”); In re Guardianship of D.J., 682 N.W.2d at 246 (“[B]ecause a guardianship
is temporary and does not terminate parental rights, we conclude that the constitutional
concerns which serve as the justification for the parental preference principle in other situations
also apply to parent’s seeking to regain custody by terminating the guardianship with respect to
their children.”); Zack v. Fiebert, 563 A.2d 58, 63 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1989) (“[N]ormally,
when a third party seeks custody as against a natural parent, the standard should be the
termination standard of unfitness. The application of this standard is footed in the presumption
in favor of the natural parent’s superior right to custody.” (citation omitted)); Shorty v. Scott,
535 P.2d 1341, 1344 (N.M. 1975) (“[There is] a presumption that the welfare and best interests
of the minor child will best be served in the custody of the natural parents and casts the burden
of proving the contrary on the non-parent.”); Phillips v. Choplin, 309 S.E.2d 716, 720
(N.C. Ct. App. 1983) (“It is a well established principle ‘that the natural parent is presumed to be
the appropriate custodian of his or her child as opposed to third persons . . . .’ ” (quoting In re
Kowalzek, 246 S.E.2d 45, 47 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978)); Worden v. Worden, 434 N.W.2d 341, 342
(N.D. 1989) (requiring “exceptional circumstances” before the court may award custody to a third
party over a natural parent because “[p]arents have the right to the custody and companionship
of their children superior to that of any other person”); In re Marriage of Hruby, 748 P.2d 57, 60
(Or. 1987) (en banc) (“In child custody disputes between natural parents and other private
parties, this court early resolved the tension between the custodial rights of natural parents and
the parens patriae power of the state by applying some variant formulation of the rule that a
natural parent was entitled to the custody of his or her children unless that parent was unfit or
unable to care for the children properly; absent such a threat to the children’s welfare, their
interests, much less the interests of nonparents seeking their custody, were of no concern.”);
Michael T.L. v. Marilyn J.L., 525 A.2d 414, 419 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1987) (“It is well-settled that
natural parents in custody disputes are favored over third parties.”); Skeadas v. Sklaroff,
24
Parents’ fundamental right to the care, custody, and control of their
children is seemingly meaningless without a preference for parents who have
never been adjudicated unfit over all others in guardianship proceedings. We
presume that fit parents are acting in their children’s best interests in seeking
not only to establish but also to terminate a guardianship, and this presumption
casts the burden of proving the contrary on the non-parent. Accordingly, when
interpreting Iowa Code section 232D.503, courts must start with the rebuttable
presumption that the child’s best interests are served in the parent’s custody as
opposed to all others.
2. What is the applicable burden of proof in guardianship termination
proceedings? Before the Guardianship Act took effect, guardians had to prove
122 A.2d 444, 446 (R.I. 1956) (per curiam) (“Unless it is shown clearly that by abandonment or
other conduct or conditions the parents are presently unfit and unable to discharge their
parental duties to the child according to law, a court should consider the welfare of the child
with due regard for the superior rights of fit and suitable parents.”); Moore v. Moore, 386 S.E.2d
456, 458 (S.C. 1989) (holding that “there is a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interest
of any child to be in the custody of its biological parent,” even in cases of parents who temporarily
relinquish custody for the child’s best interest); Hutchison v. Hutchison, 649 P.2d 38, 40
(Utah 1982) (“In a controversy over custody, the paramount consideration is the best interest of
the child, but where one party to the controversy is a nonparent, there is a presumption in favor
of the natural parent.”); Boisvert v. Harrington, 796 A.2d 1102, 1108 (Vt. 2002) (“[A] parent who
seeks to revoke a guardianship under [the Vermont statute] enjoys a presumption that his or her
custody is in the child’s best interest.”); Bailes v. Sours, 340 S.E.2d 824, 827 (Va. 1986) (“[I]n a
custody dispute between a parent and a non-parent, ‘the law presumes that the child’s best
interests will be served when in the custody of its parent.’ ” (quoting Judd v. Van Horn, 81 S.E.2d
432, 436 (Va. 1954))); Ford v. Ford, 303 S.E.2d 253, 255 (W. Va. 1983) (per curiam) (“The law in
this State is that ‘the fit natural parent’s right to custody of his or her child is paramount to that
of any third party, including a grandparent.’ ” (quoting Leach v. Bright, 270 S.E.2d 793, 794
(W. Va. 1980) (per curiam))). But see In re Guardianship of L.V., 38 Cal. Rptr. 3d 894, 904
(Ct App. 2006) (holding parents who have relinquished their day-to-day parental relationship
are not entitled to the Troxel presumption); Grant v. Martin, 757 So. 2d 264, 266 (Miss. 2000)
(en banc) (“[A] natural parent who voluntarily relinquishes custody of a minor child, through a
court of competent jurisdiction, has forfeited the right to rely on the existing natural parent
presumption. A natural parent may reclaim custody of the child only upon showing by clear and
convincing evidence that the change in custody is in the best interest of the child.”); In re
Guardianship of ARB, 495 P.3d 297, 300 (Wyo. 2021) (noting there may be exceptional
circumstances that warrant creating an exception to the principle that a fit parent is entitled to
custody).
25
their case by clear and convincing evidence “in view of the rebuttable
presumption favoring natural parents” in guardianship termination proceedings.
In re Guardianship of Stewart, 369 N.W.2d 820, 823 (Iowa 1985). Iowa Code
section 232D.503(2), a new statute under the Guardianship Act, is silent as to
the burden of proof in proceedings to terminate guardianships established with
parental consent. The juvenile court required Mom, as the movant, to prove the
guardianship should be terminated by a preponderance of the evidence. Based
on the Guardianship Act’s repeal of the statutory presumption favoring parental
custody, the guardians ask the court to draw from child custody principles that
require the movant to establish the guardianship should continue under a
preponderance of the evidence standard.
In Santi v. Santi, we held that Iowa’s grandparent visitation statute at the
time violated the Iowa Constitution because it failed “to accord fit parents the
presumption deemed so fundamental in Troxel” and “effectively substitute[d]
sentimentality for constitutionality.” 633 N.W.2d at 320. In doing so, we applied
the most demanding constitutional standard—strict scrutiny—to analyze the
statute due to the fundamental liberty interests at stake because it infringed on
the parent–child relationship. Id. at 318. We, too, must apply the most
demanding standard applied to civil cases—clear and convincing evidence—
when we consider whether a guardianship should be maintained against a
parent’s wishes. “Evidence is ‘clear and convincing’ when there are no ‘serious
or substantial doubts as to the correctness or conclusions of law drawn from the
26
evidence.’ ” In re D.W., 791 N.W.2d 703, 706 (Iowa 2010) (quoting In re C.B.,
611 N.W.2d 489, 492 (Iowa 2000) (en banc)).
This heightened standard aligns with the standard of proof required to
continue the guardianships of minor children established without parental
consent and voluntary guardianships of adults. See Iowa Code § 232D.503(3);
see also Iowa Code § 633.635(5) (“Any modification [of the guardianship] that
would be more restrictive or burdensome for the protected person shall be based
on clear and convincing evidence . . . .”). For example, the Guardianship Act
specifically states:
A person seeking termination of guardianship established pursuant
to section 232D.204 [(a guardianship of a minor child without
parental consent)] has the burden of making a prima facie showing
that the guardianship should be terminated. If such a showing is
made, the guardian has the burden of going forward to prove by
clear and convincing evidence that the guardianship should not be
terminated.
Iowa Code § 232D.503(3).3
3Amicus curiae the Iowa Guardianship and Conservatorship Association (the Association)
argues that this statutory provision governs the present case. According to the Association, once
Mom in this case revoked her consent to the guardianship that was established under Iowa Code
section 232D.203, the guardianship was then governed by Iowa Code section 232D.204 because
it became a guardianship without parental consent. The Association argues the standard of proof
applied to the termination of those guardianships then applies to cases like this one, so
termination of the guardianship is necessary unless there is clear and convincing evidence that
“(1) termination ‘would be harmful to the minor and the minor’s interest in continuation of the
guardianship outweighs the interest of a parent of the minor in the termination of the
guardianship’ under section 232D.503(2); AND (2) the limited grounds for establishing an
involuntary guardianship exist under section 232D.204.”
This argument contradicts the plain language of the Guardianship Act. See Brewer-Strong
v. HNI Corp., 913 N.W.2d 235, 249 (Iowa 2018) (“ ‘[O]ur goal [in interpreting statutory provisions]
is to determine and effectuate the legislature’s intent.’ We make this determination by looking at
the legislature’s language rather than speculating about what the legislature might have said.”
(quoting Ramirez-Trujillo v. Quality Egg, L.L.C., 878 N.W.2d 759, 770 (Iowa 2016)). A guardianship
established with parental consent under Iowa Code section 232D.203 cannot automatically
convert to a guardianship established under Iowa Code section 232D.204 because those are
different statutes with different requirements for establishing guardianships that we cannot
27
Requiring clear and convincing evidence here also aligns with the standard
of proof required to establish guardianships for minor children without parental
consent. See Iowa Code § 232D.204. It doesn’t make sense that we would require
clear and convincing evidence to show a guardianship should be established or
continued for guardianships of minor children without parental consent, yet we
would require a lesser standard of proof to show a guardianship should be
continued when the guardianship was established with the parent’s consent and
the parent has subsequently revoked that consent. In any of those situations,
the parent is not consenting to the guardianship. Like parents who have had
their minor children placed into guardianships without parental consent,
parents who have entered into consensual guardianships and later revoked that
consent are facing a serious deprivation of their fundamental liberty interests in
raising their children. Because of the liberty interests at stake, the clear and
convincing evidence standard is the appropriate one to apply in proceedings to
terminate guardianships of minor children established with parental consent.
We further note that most courts that have considered the issue place the burden
of proof on the guardian opposing termination of the voluntary guardianship
with clear and convincing evidence as the standard of proof. See, e.g., Boddie v.
Daniels, 702 S.E.2d 172, 175 (Ga. 2010); In re Guardianship of Reena D., 35 A.3d
at 514.
ignore. “We are not at liberty to rewrite the statute.” Marek v. Johnson, 958 N.W.2d 172, 177
(Iowa 2021).
28
Overall, when a parent who has never been adjudicated unfit files a motion
to terminate a guardianship established with parental consent under Iowa Code
section 232D.203, the juvenile court must start with the rebuttable presumption
that the child’s best interests are served by reuniting the minor child with their
parent. The guardian bears the burden of rebutting this presumption by clear
and convincing evidence that the guardianship should continue because
“termination of the guardianship would be harmful to the minor and the minor’s
interest in continuation of the guardianship outweighs the interest of a parent
of the minor in the termination of the guardianship.” Iowa Code § 232D.503(2).
3. What must the guardians prove by clear and convincing evidence? The
guardians ask the court to draw from child custody principles under Iowa Code
chapter 598. However, guardianship cases require a different legal analysis from
child custody cases involving two fit parents in which the child’s best interests
are the paramount consideration. “In such cases, a consideration of parental
rights is unnecessary because both parties are on equal footing in the eyes of the
law.” Shorty v. Scott, 535 P.2d 1341, 1344 (N.M. 1975). In guardianship disputes
between a parent and a third party, “the best interests of the child is the primary
inquiry, [but] this does not ‘automatically overcome the constitutional interest of
the parents.’ ” In re D.I.S., 249 P.3d at 782 (quoting In re M.G., 58 P.3d 1145,
1147 (Colo. App. 2002)). In summary, “While the best interests of the child
remain the lodestar of child custody disputes, a parent’s superior right to
custody must be given its due regard, and absent its negation, a parent retains
29
the right to custody over his or her child.” In re Guardianship of D.J., 682 N.W.2d
at 245.
Under the Guardianship Act, the guardian must prove by clear and
convincing evidence that (1) termination of the guardianship would be harmful
to the minor; and (2) the minor’s interest in continuation of the guardianship
outweighs the interest of a parent of the minor in the termination of the
guardianship. Iowa Code § 232D.503(2). To meet this standard, it is insufficient
for the guardians to show that they would provide superior care to the child. We
have said that “[e]conomic and cultural advantages in the [guardians’] home do
not tip the balance in their favor.” In re Burney, 259 N.W.2d at 324. Further,
because “guardianships are designed to temporarily relieve parents of the rigors
of raising a child,” it is “particularly inappropriate” to focus solely “on a parent’s
failure to discharge the duties of parental care and protection.” In re
Guardianship of Robert D., 696 N.W.2d 461, 470 (Neb. 2005); cf. In re
Guardianship of Ashleigh R., 55 P.3d 984, 992 (N.M. Ct. App. 2002) (“Evidence
that a parent left a child in the care of others is not necessarily sufficient to
establish neglect, as long as the parent continues to insure that the caretaker is
properly providing for the children’s needs.”). “A contrary rule would have the
unfortunate effect of discouraging parents from seeking assistance when they
find themselves unable to fully discharge the responsibilities of parenthood.”
In re Guardianship of Ashleigh R., 55 P.3d at 992.
Instead, we apply what the Georgia Supreme Court explained is a “rigorous
harm standard.” Boddie, 702 S.E.2d at 175. This requires the third party to show
30
“either physical harm or significant, long-term emotional harm,” not “merely
social or economic disadvantages” “to ensure that the temporary guardianship
will be continued only when a real threat of harm would result from termination.”
Id. (first and second quoting Wade v. Clark, 544 S.E.2d 99, 107 (Ga. 2001)).
Otherwise, we risk “the possibility that the desires of fit and suitable parents
may lose out to guardians who are able to provide the child a nicer home, a better
school district, or more extracurricular activities.” In re D.I.S., 249 P.3d at 787.
A child’s anxiety over the transition from one home to another does not
rise to the level of significant emotional harm that would rebut the parental
presumption in favor of reuniting the child with the parent. See, e.g., In re
Burney, 259 N.W.2d at 324 (“The most serious obstacle to [terminating the
guardianship] is the psychological trauma the transfer of custody may cause [the
child]. However, so far as the record discloses, [the child] is emotionally healthy,
knows [the parents] well, and has not been in the [guardians’] custody so long
that an extraordinary threat to his well-being is posed by the prospective
transfer.”); Hulbert v. Hines, 178 N.W.2d 354, 362 (Iowa 1970) (“No doubt [the
child] will experience some upset by being returned to her parents but we
conclude her best interest now and in the future will be served thereby.”). No
matter how cases like this one are resolved, there will likely be anxiety and stress
for the child for a period of time.
Evidence sufficient to rebut the presumption may, but need not
necessarily, consist of the parent’s present unfitness, or past
abandonment of the child such that the affections of the child and
third party have become so interwoven that to sever them would
seriously mar and endanger the future happiness of the child.
31
However, a general finding that it would be in the child’s “best
interest” to be placed in the third party’s custody is not sufficient to
rebut the presumption.
In re Guardianship of L.L., 745 N.E.2d 222, 230–31 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). This is
consistent with the due process clauses of the United States Constitution and
the Iowa Constitution, which “do[] not permit a State to infringe on the
fundamental right of parents to make childrearing decisions simply because a
state judge believes a ‘better’ decision could be made.” Santi, 633 N.W.2d at 321(quoting Troxel, 530 U.S. at 72–73).
B. Termination of the Guardianship in This Case. We find the juvenile
court erred in placing the burden of proof on Mom instead of the guardians. We
also find the juvenile court erred in applying a preponderance of the evidence
standard instead of a clear and convincing standard. But the juvenile court’s
conclusion to terminate the guardianship was correct. This case has been
working its way through our appellate court system for more than a year and the
court of appeals reached the opposite outcome in ruling the juvenile court should
not have terminated the guardianship. Needless to say, for a minor who already
struggles with confusion over her guardianship situation, L.Y.’s sense of stability
has been in limbo for too long. Cf. In re C.M., 652 N.W.2d 204, 211 (Iowa 2002)
(“We think the State’s interest in obtaining a permanent home for a child as soon
as possible is a compelling governmental interest.”).
Because we are vested with de novo review authority and the record before
us is complete, remand is not necessary in this case. Cf. State v. Brooks,
760 N.W.2d 197, 203–04 (Iowa 2009) (concluding remand was unnecessary in
32
an appeal challenging the validity of a search because “we g[a]ve the parties what
they ask[ed] for, namely, a de novo review of the validity of the search based
upon the entire record developed in the district court”). Where the juvenile court
already rejected the guardians’ claims that Mom is unfit and that termination
would be harmful to L.Y. despite improperly placing the burden on Mom, it would
necessarily make the same finding under the more stringent standard we adopt
today when imposed on the guardians. Therefore, we vacate the court of appeals
decision and affirm the judgment of the juvenile court but do so by applying the
analysis described above that comports with Mom’s fundamental liberty
interests. Cf. In re C.M., 652 N.W.2d at 211 (“[D]elays in the resolution of
termination cases [are] ‘decidedly antagonistic to the children’s best interest.”
(quoting In re A.C., 415 N.W.2d 609, 615 (Iowa 1987))).
Notably, the juvenile court did apply the requisite parental preference and
rebuttable presumption in concluding,
Any interest [L.Y.] may have in continuing the guardianship is
outweighed by her mother’s interest in parenting her daughter.
Parenthood is a fundamental right. When a parent is safe and stable,
that right should be vindicated. . . . [Mom] is a safe, stable and
sincere mother. She has a safe and stable home for [L.Y.] [L.Y.]
should be returned to her mother’s care for placement in [Mom]’s
home pending modification of the parent’s decree of dissolution to
legally establish physical and legal custody.
Aside from incorrectly requiring Mom to prove the guardianship is no longer
necessary by a preponderance of the evidence, the juvenile court’s ruling is well
reasoned and thorough. On our de novo review, we agree with the juvenile court’s
findings.
33
Because there is little we can add to the juvenile court’s reasoning for
terminating the guardianship, we adopt the following reasoning from the juvenile
court as our own:
The continuation of the guardianship only creates further instability
for [L.Y.]
....
[L.Y.] would like a set schedule for visitation with her parents.
Such a schedule would result either in the diminution of time with
her parents who live separately and require separate weekends for
visitation in order to make time for [L.Y.]’s social engagements. This
is contrary to both the interests of [L.Y.] and her parents. She is
closely bonded to her mother and expresses obvious joy and
affection when visiting with [Mom]. Terminating the guardianship
would result in the permanent physical custody of [L.Y.] with her
mother and visitation to her father. This would permit [L.Y.] an
opportunity to have every other weekend set aside for social
engagements. Such engagements are important to a child entering
middle school and developing prosocial adolescent peer
relationships. The [guardians] would be free to visit [L.Y.] at other
times and during times when she is exercising visitation with her
father. This would create the stability desired by [L.Y.] in
maintaining relationships with important adults in her life.
....
Termination of the guardianship will not deprive [L.Y.] of the
benefits of a deep and healthy relationship with her extended family.
Placement of [L.Y.] with her mother will in fact continue to foster
those important extended familial relationships. . . .
....
The foregoing leads the court to conclude that termination of
the guardianship would not be harmful to [L.Y.] What is harmful to
[L.Y.] is the continued trauma she experiences by being caught in
the middle of three homes. She deserves a single home with a stable
parent in which her needs are met. It would be a home base for her
physically and emotionally. That home is with her mother.
Although the court recognizes that change is often difficult,
[L.Y.] has tremendous family support and has the support of her
individual therapist. She has been in therapy under the
34
guardianship and the guardians have not fully complied with
therapeutic recommendations. Continuation of the guardianship is
only likely to continue [L.Y.]’s confusion and anxiety. She deserves
to have a relationship with a primary physical custodian who is a
parent and one who will continue to foster the important extended
family relationships with the noncustodial parent and his extended
family . . . that person is [L.Y.’s mom].
Noticeably absent from the record are any red flags or concerns about
Mom’s parenting abilities. Throughout the guardianship, Mom continued to
maintain contact with L.Y. and ensure that the guardians were properly
providing for L.Y.’s needs. See In re Guardianship of Ashleigh R., 55 P.3d at 992(“Evidence that a parent left a child in the care of others is not necessarily
sufficient to establish neglect, as long as the parent continues to insure that the
caretaker is properly providing for the children’s needs.”). Thus, the
guardianship was successful because it allowed Mom to seek help in caring for
L.Y. when she needed it from loving grandparents who were temporarily able to
provide that care until Mom was once again able to parent L.Y. full time. Because
of that success, the juvenile court correctly terminated the guardianship and
placed L.Y. in Mom’s care pending modification of the parent’s dissolution decree
to legally establish physical and legal custody.
C. Appellate Attorney Fees. Mom requests appellate attorney fees. “The
general rule—subject to an exception for circumstances in which a losing party
has acted in bad faith, wantonly, or for oppressive reasons—is that a party has
no claim for attorney fees in the absence of a statute or contract allowing such
an award.” In re Guardianship of M.D., 797 N.W.2d 121 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011).
35
Because there is no evidence that the guardians acted oppressively or in bad
faith, we decline Mom’s request.
IV. Conclusion.
For these reasons, we vacate the decision of the court of appeals and affirm
the juvenile court’s order terminating the guardianship.
DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED; JUVENILE COURT
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.