232.81 - COMPLAINT. - Iowa Statutes

232.81 COMPLAINT. 1. Any person having knowledge of the circumstances may file a complaint with the person or agency designated by the court to perform intake duties alleging that a child is a child in need of assistance. 2. Upon receipt of a complaint, the court may request the department of human services, juvenile probation office, or other authorized agency or individual to conduct a preliminary investigation of the complaint to determine if further action should be taken. 3. A petition alleging the child to be a child in need of assistance may be filed pursuant to section 232.87 provided the allegations of the complaint, if proven, are sufficient to establish the court's jurisdiction and the filing is in the best interests of the child. 4. A person or agency shall not maintain any records with regard to a complaint filed under division III of this chapter which is dismissed without the filing of a petition. This subsection does not apply to records maintained pursuant to chapter 235A.          Section History: Early Form [SS15, § 254-a15; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 3621; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, § 232.5; C71, 73, 75, 77, § 232.3; C79, 81, § 232.81]          Section History: Recent Form 83 Acts, ch 96, § 157, 159 Referred to in § 232.21, 232.83