Mississippi § 93-17-305 - Procedure for registration of foreign adoption decree; jurisdiction; restrictions; exceptions; forms.

§ 93-17-305. Procedure for registration of foreign adoption decree; jurisdiction; restrictions; exceptions; forms.

An adopting parent or parents may petition the chancery court in the county having jurisdiction to register a foreign adoption decree so that it will be given full and final effect in this state. The petition and order shall be in substantially the form set forth in Section 93-17-307 unless the Supreme Court promulgates by rule a different set of forms, in which case the petition and order shall be in substantially the form set forth by court rule. As part of the Petition to Register a Foreign Adoption, a child’s name may be changed from that appearing on the foreign adoption decree if all other requirements of law as to name change are met. A foreign adoption decree previously registered or otherwise finalized by a court of this or any other state may not be registered subsequently in any court of this state. If the chancellor, in termtime or vacation, determines that the foreign adoption can be registered, the chancellor shall sign the order and shall direct the chancery clerk to enter the date of the foreign adoption decree and identify the foreign court on the docket. A certified copy of the order, along with a copy of U.S. Government Form N-560, Certificate of Citizenship, or a copy of the child’s United States passport, or both, if either or both documents are a part of the court file, shall be provided to the petitioner by the chancery clerk. If the chancery court determines that the foreign adoption cannot be registered, the petitioner may proceed as applicable under the provisions of this chapter for adoptions generally. Reasons for which a foreign adoption cannot be registered include, without limitation, if the court determines that the foreign adoption is not a full and final adoption because the foreign-born child has been issued an IH-4 or IR-4 visa. Adopting parent(s) who are eligible to register a foreign adoption under this article may, for any reason, proceed under this chapter as for adoptions generally. The petition and accompanying documents, including the final decree, are confidential and are subject to rules of confidentiality as otherwise provided in this chapter for adoption records.