Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families - Mississippi

Agency or Person Preparing the Report

Citation: Ann. Code § 93-17-205

The Bureau of Vital Records of the Mississippi State Board of Health shall maintain a centralized adoption records file for all adoptions performed in this State after July 1, 2005.

Contents of Report About the Adopted Person

Citation: Ann. Code § 93-17-3

The adoption petition shall be accompanied by a doctor's or nurse practitioner's certificate showing the physical and mental condition of the child to be adopted and a sworn statement of all property, if any, owned by the child.

If the doctor's or nurse practitioner's certificate indicates any abnormal mental or physical condition or defect, the condition or defect shall not, in the discretion of the chancellor, bar the adoption of the child if the adopting parent or parents file an affidavit stating full and complete knowledge of the condition or defect and stating a desire to adopt the child, notwithstanding the condition or defect.

Contents of Report About the Birth Family

Citation: Ann. Code § 93-17-205

The adoptive parents may access nonidentifying information about the child's birth family from the centralized adoption records file. Available information may include the following:

• The medical and social histories of the birth parents, including information regarding genetically inheritable diseases or illnesses and any similar information furnished by the birth parents about the adopted person's grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters, if known
• A report of any medical examination that either birth parent had within 1 year before the date of the petition for adoption, if available and known
• A report describing the adoptee's prenatal care and medical condition at birth, if available and known
• The medical and social histories of the adopted person, including information regarding genetically inheritable diseases or illnesses, and any other relevant medical, social, and genetic information, if available

When the Report Is Made

Citation: Ann. Code § 93-17-3

The report on the child's condition must be filed with the adoption petition. Information about the birth family may be accessed at any time from the centralized adoption records file.

Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions

Citation: Ann. Code § 93-17-205

Compliance with the provisions of this section may be waived by the court, in its discretion, in any proceeding in which one or more of the petitioners for adoption is the natural mother or father of the adoptee.