How do I adopt an adult in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, you adopt an adult by filing a petition for adoption in Chancery Court, with the adult's consent, in the county where you or the adoptee lives. Mississippi has 82 counties, and each has its own Chancery Court clerk's office. Under Miss. Code § 93-17-3, the word "child" is read to mean the person being adopted, even if that person is an adult.

Who can be adopted: The statute says any person may be adopted, and the current text has no relationship or disability requirement. The person adopting must be an adult. For the exact minimum age, ask the Chancery Court clerk in your county.

Consent: The adoptee's consent is central. If the adoptee is over 14, a sworn or acknowledged consent is required, or the adoptee is served personally as an adult would be (Miss. Code § 93-17-5). If you are married, your spouse generally joins the petition. The exceptions are a spouse who does not live with you, or situations the court decides. Miss. Code § 93-17-5 makes the birth parents parties to an adoption, either by being served or by filing a consent. How that applies when the adoptee is an adult depends on the facts, so ask the clerk or an attorney about your situation.

Home study: A home study is usually required in Mississippi adoptions (Miss. Code § 93-17-11). For a consenting adult adoptee, however, the chancellor may waive many petition and procedural requirements, including the home study. The decision belongs to the chancellor, so ask the clerk how your county handles the request.

Residency: The 6-month residence rule in Miss. Code § 93-17-3 is written for minors. For an adult adoption, confirm with the Chancery Court clerk how residency is treated.

Hearing and decree: Miss. Code § 93-17-11 describes an interlocutory decree and a final decree. The clerk can tell you how the hearing and decrees work for an adult adoption in your county. Adoptions are docketed as priority cases, so they are handled on an expedited schedule.

Typical steps:

• Prepare the petition for adoption and the adoptee's sworn or acknowledged consent.
• Add your spouse's joinder if it applies, along with a request asking the chancellor to waive the home study and other procedural requirements.
• File in the Chancery Court of the correct county and pay the filing fee.
• Attend any hearing the court sets, and receive the decree.

After the decree: For questions about updating a birth certificate, contact the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records.

Timeline and cost: An adult adoption in Mississippi typically takes about 4-8 weeks. Court filing fees run about $150-$300, and the total cost is typically under $1,000 when you file without an attorney. Attorney-handled adoptions often cost $3,000-$5,000+.

Contested or unclear situations: If a parent objects, or if something about your situation is unusual, talk to the Chancery Court clerk or an attorney about that specific issue.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for one adult adoptee, and you receive court-ready documents within 24-48 hours after the questions are finished. We back every package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee, and we have helped 454 Mississippi families.