Mississippi

Who may adopt?
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.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
Consent is executed no sooner than 72 hours after the child's birth.

Revocation of consent?
Case law suggests that consent is irrevocable absent fraud, duress, or undue influence, shown by clear and convincing evidence, and considering the best interests of the child.

Who may place a child for adoption?
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.

Advertising?
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Facilitators?
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Putative Father's Registry?
No. In the case of a child born out of wedlock, the father shall not have a right to object to an adoption unless he has demonstrated, within 30 days, a full commitment to being a parent.

Expenses?
Birth parent –
Not addressed in statutes reviewed.

Department/Agency –
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 Homestudy. Fee payment based on ability to pay.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton