Mississippi Adoption Law
Permits single LGBT individuals to petition to adopt? Yes.
Any unmarried person or married person with spouse may adopt a minor. MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-3.
Permits a same-sex couple to jointly petition to adopt? No.
Couples of the same gender may not adopt. MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-3.
Permits a same-sex partner to petition to adopt partner’s child or child of the relationship? Probably not.
MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-3 likely prevents a same-sex partner from petitioning to adopt a partner’s child or child of the relationship, although it is not 100% clear that the statutory language is aimed at this scenario; it could be argued that this is not an adoption by a “couple of the same gender” since only one partner is seeking to adopt.
Details: Mississippi law allows an unmarried adult or married couple to petition to adopt. However, in 2000 the law was amended to prohibit “couples of the same gender” from petitioning to adopt. MISS. CODE ANN. § 93-17-3.
The legal information provided on this page is provided as a courtesy to the public. It is not designed to serve as legal advice. HRC does not warrant that this information is current or comprehensive.
Last Updated: 12/9/2009