Iowa Code Title XV. Judicial Branch and Judicial Procedures [Chs. 595-686] § 600.12A. Death of person to be adopted--process for final adoption decree

1. If the person to be adopted dies following the filing of an adoption petition pursuant to section 600.3, but prior to issuance of a final adoption decree pursuant to section 600.13, the juvenile court or court may waive any investigations and reports required pursuant to section 600.8 that remain uncompleted, waive the minimum residence requirements pursuant to section 600.10, proceed to the adoption hearing, and issue a final adoption decree, unless any person to whom notice is to be provided pursuant to section 600.11 objects to the adoption.

2. If the person to be adopted dies following termination of the parental rights of the person's biological parents but prior to the filing of an adoption petition, the person who was the guardian or custodian of the person to be adopted prior to the person's death or the person who was in a parent-child relationship with the person to be adopted prior to the person's death may file an adoption petition and the juvenile court or court in the interest of justice may waive any other procedures or requirements related to the adoption, proceed to the adoption hearing, and issue a final adoption decree, unless any person to whom notice is to be provided pursuant to section 600.11 objects to the adoption.

3. A final adoption decree issued pursuant to this section terminates any parental rights existing prior to the time of its issuance and establishes the parent-child relationship between the adoption petitioner and the person adopted.  However, the final adoption decree does not confer any rights on the adoption petitioner to the estate of the adopted person and does not confer any rights on the adopted person to the estate of the adoption petitioner.