Mississippi's Adoption Laws
Mississippi
Statute: §§ 43-21-257(1),(3),(4);
43-21-259; 43-21-261(5)(b)(c), (6)-(7), (14)-(19)
Records Confidential: Yes
Persons with access to records
CPS/State Agencies
Courts/Judges
Law Enforcement
Attorneys General/Prosecutors
Attorneys, GAL's
Physicians
Reporters of Abuse
Parents/Guardians
Treatment Providers
Public/Any Person
Persons without access to records
Agencies From Other States
Grand Juries
Researchers
Employers
Coroners
Review Teams
Subject of Reports
Other School personnel Foster
Care Review Board Interagency Child Abuse Task Force Ministers Public disclosure
of child fatality or near fatality cases
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
The consent may be signed 72 hours following the birth. Pre-consents are not allowed in the state of Mississippi. Revocation Time Frame in MississippiThe consent is irrevocable upon signing.
Mississippi
Who May Adopt
Statute: § 93-17-3
An unmarried
adult
A married
person jointly with his spouse
State
resident for a least 90 days, except in an agency adoption
Adoption by persons of the same gender is
prohibited.
Who May Be Adopted
Statute: § 93-17-3
Any person
Who May Place a Child for Adoption
Statute: §§ 93-17-5; 93-17-9
The parent(s)
Any two
adult kin of the child if both parents are deceased
A guardian ad
litem of an abandoned child
A
child-placing agency to whom the child has been surrendered
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Mississippi
Birth Parent Expenses Allowed Statute: §§ 43-15-23(4);
43-15-117
-
Legal fees that have been
approved by the court
-
Reasonable and actual medical
fees or hospital charges connected with the birth or medical treatment of the
child
-
Counseling
Birth Parent Expenses Not Allowed
Not addressed
in statutes reviewed
Allowable Payments for Arranging Adoption Statute: §
43-15-23(2)
Only a licensed
agency may receive compensation for placing a child for adoption.
Allowable Payments for Relinquishing Child
Not addressed in
statutes reviewed
Allowable Fees Charged by Department/Agency Statute: §§
93-17-19; 93-17-12
- A reasonable fee may be charged for each investigation that may be
required.
- The court could require either or both parties to pay a fee of not
less than $350 for the home study.
- The fee may be waived by the court if a party is unable to pay.
Accounting of Expenses Required by Court The statutes do not
specifically require an accounting, but judges may, at their discretion, ask for
one.
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
No information currently available.
Mississippi
Agency or Person Gathering Information
or Preparing Report Statute: § 93-17-11 Any
person, officer, or home as the court designates
Contents of Report About Person to be Adopted Statute: §
93-17-3
- Doctor's certificate showing mental and
physical condition of the child
- Sworn statement of all property owned by child
Contents of Report About Birth Parents Statute: § 93-17-205
- Medical and social history
- Genetic information
- Prenatal care
- Medical condition of mother at birth of child
and prior to petition for adoption
Contents of Report About Adoptive Parents Statute: § 93-17-11
- Suitability
- Any other relevant information
© This information is from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
If you are an adoption professional and have updated information for this portion of our site let us know by contacting us at 1-800-ADOPTION or e-mail us at editors@americanadoptions.com.
American Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
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