In this answer · 3 sections
Yes. A biological parent with only supervised visitation has already had their parental rights significantly restricted by a Mississippi court. This situation can support a stepparent adoption.
How supervised visitation affects adoption:
- If the parent has not exercised their supervised visitation for 12+ months, abandonment under Miss. Code § 93-15-103 can be established
- If the parent exercises supervised visitation regularly, they have NOT abandoned the child — their consent would be needed
- The court order restricting visitation to supervised-only shows the court already has concerns about this parent
Common scenario:
The court ordered supervised visitation, but the parent never shows up or stopped coming after a few visits. This is abandonment — the court gave them a way to maintain the relationship, and they chose not to use it.
What you need:
- A copy of the existing visitation/custody order
- Documentation of whether the parent has exercised visits
- The standard adoption petition filed in Chancery Court
Our document package ($349) includes everything needed. Indicate the supervised visitation situation on the questionnaire and we prepare accordingly.
Timeline: 3-6 months | Call (855) 924-0450 with questions.
Stepparent adoption in Mississippi at a glance
- Court
- Chancery Court
- Residency before filing
- 6 months
- Typical timeline
- 3-6 months
- Court filing fee
- $150-$300
- Child must consent at age
- 14
- Home study
- Usually waived for stepparents
- Mississippi families we've helped
- 454
Adoption document specialists · 25+ years of experience · 34,000+ families helped.
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