Jackson Adoption Lawyer
The adoption lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC can help you and your family navigate the complicated and joyful process of adopting a child. The decision to adopt a child can be exciting, but it also involves formal procedures that can sometimes get complicated. Adopting a child will involve court procedures and will require quite a bit of paperwork. Whether you are getting married and want to formally adopt your stepchildren, are a grandparent seeking to formally adopt your grandchild, or are looking to adopt a child either through going through Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (which may require you to foster a child before he or she becomes eligible for adoption) or through another agency which may have children who are already eligible for adoption, the adoption lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC are here to help.
The adoption attorneys in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC can help you navigate Mississippi’s adoption requirements, and help you navigate the adoption process. Reach out to our adoption lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC today to learn more. We are here to help you grow your family.
What are Mississippi’s Adoption Requirements?
Individuals and couples who are looking to adopt might have many questions regarding adoption. Every family’s situation is unique and an adoption lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi can help you navigate specific answers. Here are some questions families typically have about adoption:
- Do I need to be married to adopt a child?
- Can same-sex couples adopt in Mississippi?
- Will the court consider my physical or mental health?
- How much money do I need to earn to adopt a child?
While you don’t need to legally be married to adopt a child in Mississippi, some adoption agencies only seek married couples for the children in their care. After recent Supreme Court rulings, same-sex couples are permitted to adopt in Mississippi, but each adoption agency may have its own requirements for couples seeking to adopt. To adopt a child, both you and your spouse, if you are adopting as a couple, will be required to submit medical records and complete a home study. In general, a home study provider will evaluate these records to see whether you are sufficiently healthy to care for a child. Situations where a parent has a disability or illness could raise disability rights questions, so having a Jackson, Mississippi adoption lawyer to assist you with these concerns could be beneficial. While there isn’t a specific income that’s required to adopt a child, the home study provider will want to see that you are financially stable. That said, certain career paths may involve a person having irregular work, or seasonal work, so if you are concerned about not meeting financial requirements, you may want to speak to an adoption lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi.
Additional requirements to adopt in Mississippi include completing all forms, submitting medical and health records, verification of your marriage or divorce, background checks, home study, reference checks, and meeting minimum income requirements showing that the family’s income can support the adults in the home as well as a child. If you want to adopt in Mississippi, you must also meet Mississippi’s residency requirements, which means you must have established residency in Mississippi for at least 6 months. If you are adopting as a married couple, both spouses must complete the adoption petition.
If you are thinking about adoption, an adoption lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC can help. Our attorneys can review your situation, help you prepare for your home study, and prepare documentation to present the strongest possible case. Adoption can be a long and stressful process, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Additional Considerations with Adoption in Mississippi
Adoption raises additional considerations for families. For example, what relationship, if any, will your adopted child have with his or her biological parents? If the child has a relationship with his or her biological parents, will you and the biological parents arrange for visitation or communication? Some families choose to put in place visitation agreements with a child’s biological parents and biological family so that expectations on both sides are clear. These agreements can also be useful especially if a stepparent is adopting a child or if a grandparent is adopting a child.
Preparing yourself for the highly emotional process of adopting a child is important. If you plan to adopt a baby or a very young child, thinking about when you will talk to the child about adoption is a good idea. Some agencies may help parents address these concerns with additional training and courses. If you need assistance with additional visitation agreements an adoption lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC may be able to help.
The Adoption Process in Mississippi
An adoption lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC can help you navigate all steps in the adoption process. Most adoptions follow a formal process. According to the American Bar Association, this process can include:
- The adoptive parent or parents petition the court where they live or where the child lives or was born.
- Adoption paperwork must disclose the child’s mental and physical health and if the child has medical or mental health conditions, adoptive parents must acknowledge their knowledge of these conditions.
- Consent from biological parents, or other guardians must be obtained.
- Once the paperwork is submitted, the adoptive parents may receive temporary custody of the child while the paperwork is finalized, and the adoption is formalized. Normally the adoption can be formalized within six months, but sometimes sooner.
Navigating the adoption process can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate the process alone. The adoption attorneys in Jackson, Mississippi at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC can help. We can help you prepare documentation, prepare for home studies, and present the strongest possible case for adoption. Reach out to our adoption attorneys in Jackson, Mississippi today at the Law Offices of Andrew Sorrentino, PLLC.
Do you have questions about the adoption process? Call our Jackson adoption lawyers today at (601) 695-7765 for more information about the adoption process in Mississippi.