Iowa Code Title XV. Judicial Branch and Judicial Procedures [Chs. 595-686] § 633.563. Court-ordered professional evaluation

1. At or before a hearing on a petition for the appointment of a guardian or conservator or the modification or termination of a guardianship or conservatorship, the court shall order a professional evaluation of the respondent unless one of the following criteria is met:

2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, if the respondent has filed a professional evaluation and the court determines an additional professional evaluation will assist the court in understanding the decision-making capacity and functional abilities and limitations of the respondent, the court may order a professional evaluation of the respondent.

3. If the court orders an evaluation, the evaluation shall be conducted by a licensed physician, psychologist, social worker, or other individual who is qualified to conduct an evaluation appropriate for the respondent being assessed.

4. Unless otherwise directed by the court, the report must contain all of the following:

5. The cost of the professional evaluation shall be paid by the respondent unless the respondent is indigent as defined in section 633.561, subsection 3, in which case the costs shall be paid by the county in which the proceedings are pending or unless the court orders otherwise.

6. At the request of the respondent, the court shall seal the record of the results of the evaluation ordered by the court subject to the exceptions in subsection 7.

7. The results of the evaluation ordered by the court shall be filed with the court and made available to the following: