By John S. Grant IV on November 10, 2013
In Mississippi, the process for a foster-care adoption is not that different from other types of adoptions. The main difference is that for foster-care children, the Mississippi Attorney General’s office must file to terminate the biological parents’ rights. But once the biological parents’ rights are terminated, the foster parents then hire their own private lawyer to finalize the adoption.
Our attorneys are approved by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services to handle foster-care adoptions. We are experienced with foster-care adoptions and can guide you through every step of the process.
With foster-care adoptions, a representative from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services must sign a consent form agreeing for the adoption to proceed.
Also, the same requirements for other adoptions apply: (1) a petition must be signed by the foster parents requesting the court to grant the adoption; (2) the foster parents must sign an affidavit stating any property of substantial value the child owns (generally the answer is none); (3) the foster parents must obtain an affidavit from a physician or nurse practitioner certifying the child is in good health, (4) a hearing must take place before a judge, and (5) a final judgment or decree must be signed by the judge approving the adoption. Our attorneys draft all the paperwork involved in this process, including the petition, the affidavits, and the decree to present to the judge to sign.
Further, it is common for the foster parents to want to change the child’s name so that the child shares their last name. This can be done as part of the adoption process.
Our attorneys are experienced with foster-care adoptions. Let us hep you today by calling (601) 827-3031.