1. A formal judicial proceeding to determine whether a child is a child in need of assistance under this chapter shall be initiated by the filing of a petition alleging a child to be a child in need of assistance.

Ask a criminal law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 232.87

  • Child: includes but shall not be limited to a stepchild, foster child, or legally adopted child and means a child actually or apparently under eighteen years of age, and a dependent person eighteen years of age or over who is unable to maintain the person's self and is likely to become a public charge. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • Child: means any person under the age of eighteen years. See Iowa Code 232.68
  • Child in need of assistance: means a child who has been found to meet the grounds for adjudication pursuant to section 232. See Iowa Code 232.2
  • clerk: means clerk of the court in which the action or proceeding is brought or is pending; and the words "clerk's office" mean the office of that clerk. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Court: shall mean and include any court upon which jurisdiction has been conferred to determine the liability of persons for the support of dependents. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • Court: means the juvenile court established under section 602. See Iowa Code 232.2
  • Department: means the department of health and human services. See Iowa Code 249L.2
  • Department: means the department of health and human services and includes the local and county offices of the department. See Iowa Code 232.68
  • Judge: means the judge of a juvenile court. See Iowa Code 232.2
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Juvenile: means the same as "child". See Iowa Code 232.2
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Petition: means a pleading the filing of which initiates formal judicial proceedings in the juvenile court. See Iowa Code 232.2
 2. A petition may be filed by the department, juvenile court officer, or county attorney.
 3. The department, juvenile court officer, county attorney or judge may authorize the filing of a petition with the clerk of the court by any competent person having knowledge of the circumstances without the payment of a filing fee.
 4. The petition shall be submitted in the form specified in section 232.36.
 5. The petition shall contain the information specified in section 232.36 and a clear and concise summary of the facts which bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court under this subchapter.