2010 Mississippi Code
TITLE 93 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 17 - Adoption, Change of Name, and Legitimation of Children.
93-17-209 - Search for birth parents by agency to obtain medical, social, or genetic information; fee.

§ 93-17-209. Search for birth parents by agency to obtain medical, social, or genetic information; fee.
 

(1)  Whenever any person specified under Section 93-17-207 wishes to obtain medical, social or genetic background information about an adoptee or nonidentifying information about the birth parents of such adoptee, and the information is not on file with the bureau and the birth parents have not filed affidavits prohibiting a search to be conducted for them under the provisions of Sections 93-17-201 through 93-17-223, the person may request a licensed adoption agency to locate the birth parents to obtain the information. 

(2)  Employees of any agency conducting a search under this section may not inform any person other than the birth parents of the purpose of the search. 

(3)  The agency may charge the requester a reasonable fee for the cost of the search. When the agency determines that the fee will exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for either birth parent, it shall notify the requester. No fee in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per birth parent may be charged unless the requester, after receiving notification under this paragraph, has given consent to proceed with the search. 

(4)  The agency conducting the search shall, upon locating a birth parent, notify him or her of the request and of the need for medical, social and genetic information. 

(5)  The agency shall release to the requester any medical or genetic information provided by a birth parent under this section without disclosing the birth parent's identity or location. 

(6)  If a birth parent is located but refuses to provide the information requested, the agency shall notify the requester, without disclosing the birth parent's identity or location, and the requester may petition the chancery court to order the birth parent to disclose the nonidentifying information. The court shall grant the motion for good cause shown. 

(7)  The Mississippi Department of Health and Human Services shall provide the bureau each year with a list of licensed adoption agencies in this state capable of performing the types of searches described in this section. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1992, ch. 306, § 5, eff from and after July 1, 1992.