1. A family in need of assistance proceeding shall be initiated by the filing of a petition alleging that a child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian are a family in need of assistance.
2. Such a petition may be filed by the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, by the child, or on the court’s own motion as provided in section 232C.2. The judge, county attorney, or juvenile court officer may authorize such parent, guardian, custodian, or child to file a petition with the clerk of the court without the payment of a filing fee.
3. The petition and subsequent court documents shall be entitled “In re the family of ........................”.
4. The petition shall state the names and residences of the child, and the child’s living parents, guardian, custodian, and guardian ad litem, if any and the age of the child.
5. The petition shall allege that there has been a breakdown in the familial relationship and that the petitioner has sought services from public or private agencies to maintain and improve the familial relationship.
83 Acts, ch 186, §10055, 10201; 2009 Acts, ch 153, §1
Referred to in