Iowa Code § 235F.6 - Disposition

1. Upon a finding that the defendant has engaged in elder abuse, the court may, if requested by the plaintiff, order any of the following: a. That the defendant be required to move from the residence of the vulnerable elder if both the vulnerable elder and the defendant are titleholders or contract holders of record of the real property, are named as tenants in the rental agreement concerning the use and occupancy of the dwelling unit, are living in the same residence, or are married to each other. b. That the defendant provide suitable alternative housing for the vulnerable elder. c. That a peace officer accompany the party who is leaving or has left the party’s residence to remove essential personal effects of the party. d. That the defendant be restrained from abusing, harassing, intimidating, molesting, interfering with, or menacing the vulnerable elder, or attempting to abuse, harass, intimidate, molest, interfere with, or menace the vulnerable elder. e. That the defendant be restrained from entering or attempting to enter on any premises when it appears to the court that such restraint is necessary to prevent the defendant from abusing, harassing, intimidating, molesting, interfering with, or menacing the vulnerable elder. f. That the defendant be restrained from exercising any powers on behalf of the vulnerable elder through a court-appointed guardian, conservator, or guardian ad litem, an attorney in fact, or another third party. g. In addition to the relief provided in subsection 2, other relief that the court considers necessary to provide for the safety and welfare of the vulnerable elder. 2. If the court finds that the vulnerable elder has been the victim of financial exploitation, the court may order the relief the court considers necessary to prevent or remedy the financial exploitation, including but not limited to any of the following: a. Directing the defendant to refrain from exercising control over the funds, benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets of the vulnerable elder. b. Requiring the defendant to return custody or control of the funds, benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets to the vulnerable elder. c. Requiring the defendant to follow the instructions of the guardian, conservator, or attorney in fact of the vulnerable elder. d. Prohibiting the defendant from transferring the funds, benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets of the vulnerable elder to any person other than the vulnerable elder. 3. The court shall not issue an order under this section that does any of the following: a. Allows any person other than the vulnerable elder to assume responsibility for the funds, benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets of the vulnerable elder. b. Grants relief that is more appropriately obtained in a protective proceeding filed under chapter 633 including but not limited to giving control and management of the funds, benefits, property, resources, belongings, or assets of the vulnerable elder to a guardian, conservator, or attorney in fact for any purpose other than the relief granted under subsection 2. 4. The court may approve a consent agreement between the parties entered into to bring about the cessation of elder abuse. A consent agreement approved under this section shall not contain any of the following: a. A provision that prohibits any party to the action from contacting or cooperating with any government agency including the department of health and human services, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, the department of justice, law enforcement, and the office of long-term care ombudsman; a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over any license or certification held by the defendant; a protection and advocacy agency recognized in section 135C.2; or the defendant’s current employer if the defendant’s professional responsibilities include contact with vulnerable elders, dependent adults, or minors, if the party contacting or cooperating has a good-faith belief that the information is relevant to the duties or responsibilities of the entity. b. A provision that prohibits any party to the action from filing a complaint with or reporting a violation of law to any government agency including the department of health and human services, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, the department of justice, law enforcement, and the office of long-term care ombudsman; a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over any license or certification held by the defendant; a protection and advocacy agency recognized in section 135C.2; or the defendant’s current employer. c. A provision that requires any party to the action to withdraw a complaint filed with or a violation reported to any government agency including the department of health and human services, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, the department of justice, law enforcement, and the office of long-term care ombudsman; a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over any license or certification held by the defendant; a protection and advocacy agency recognized in section 135C.2; or the defendant’s current employer. 5. A protective order or approved consent agreement shall be for a fixed period of time not to exceed one year. The court may amend or extend its order or a consent agreement at any time upon a petition filed by either party and after notice and hearing. The court may extend the order if the court, after hearing at which the defendant has the opportunity to be heard, finds that the defendant continues to pose a threat to the safety of the vulnerable elder, persons residing with the vulnerable elder, or members of the vulnerable elder’s immediate family, or continues to present a risk of financial exploitation of the vulnerable elder. The number of extensions that may be granted by the court is not limited. 6. The order shall state whether a person is to be taken into custody by a peace officer for a violation of the terms stated in the order. 7. The court may order that the defendant pay the attorney fees and court costs of the vulnerable elder or substitute petitioner. 8. An order or approved consent agreement under this section shall not affect title to real property. 9. A copy of any order or approved consent agreement shall be issued to the plaintiff, the defendant, the county sheriff of the county in which the order or consent decree is initially entered, and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the county sheriff. Any subsequent amendment or revocation of an order or consent agreement shall be forwarded by the clerk to all individuals previously notified. 10. The clerk shall notify the county sheriff and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the county sheriff in writing so that the county sheriff and the county sheriff’s dispatcher receive written notice within six hours of filing the order, approved consent agreement, amendment, or revocation. The clerk may fulfill this requirement by sending the notice by facsimile or other electronic transmission which reproduces the notice in writing within six hours of filing the order. 11. The county sheriff’s dispatcher shall notify all law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over the matter and the twenty-four-hour dispatcher for the law enforcement agencies upon notification by the clerk. 2014 Acts, ch 1107, §6; 2015 Acts, ch 29, §37; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §83; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §725, 1949 Referred to in §235F.7, 331.424, 598.42, 664A.4, 915.22