2019 Mississippi Code
Title 93 - Domestic Relations
Chapter 31 - Supporting and Strengthening Families Act
§ 93-31-5. Statutory form of power of attorney to delegate parental or legal authority

• (1) The following statutory form of power of attorney to delegate parental or legal authority as authorized by Section 93-31-3 is legally sufficient:

  • • 1. “I certify that I am the parent or legal custodian of:

who is/are minor children.

2. I designate as the attorney-in-fact for each minor child named above: (Full name of attorney-in-fact) (Street address, city, state and zip code of attorney-in-fact) (Home phone, work phone and cell phone of attorney-in-fact) as the attorney-in-fact of each minor child named above.

3. [Complete either Section 3(a) or 3(b)].

(a) I delegate to the attorney-in-fact all of my power and authority regarding the care, custody and property of each minor child named above, including, but not limited to, the right to enroll the child in school, inspect and obtain copies of education records and other records concerning the child, the right to attend school activities and other functions concerning the child, and the right to give or withhold any consent or waiver with respect to school activities, medical and dental treatment, and any other activity, function or treatment that may concern the child. This delegation shall not include the power or authority to consent to marriage or adoption of the child, the performance or inducement of an abortion on or for the child, or the termination of parental rights to the child.

OR

(b) I delegate to the attorney-in-fact the following specific powers and responsibilities (write in):

____

[If Section 3(b) is completed, Section 3(a) does not apply.]

This delegation shall not include the power or authority to consent to: marriage or adoption of the child, performing or inducing an abortion on or for the child, or the termination of parental rights to the child.

(c) The reason or reasons for this transfer of custody is as follows:

____

[Complete either 4(a) or 4(b)]

4.

(a) This power of attorney is effective for a period not to exceed one (1) year, beginning ____, 20____, and ending____, 20____ I reserve the right to revoke this authority at any time.

OR

[Complete either 4(a) or 4(b)]

(b) I am a serving parent as defined in Section 93-31-3, Mississippi Code of 1972. My active-duty service is scheduled to begin on ____, 20____, and is estimated to end on ____, 20____. I reserve the right to revoke this authority at any time. I acknowledge that in no event may this delegation of power last more than one (1) year or the term of my active duty plus thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.

5. I hereby accept my designation as attorney-in-fact for the minor child/children specified in this power of attorney.

6. AFFIDAVIT OF FACILITATING AGENCY UNDER SECTION 93-31-3(1)(d), Mississippi Code of 1972

I, ____ of (Agency)____, do hereby certify that I have properly vetted the proposed designated attorney-in-fact as required under Section 93-31-3(1)(d), Mississippi Code of 1972, and find no criminal or child abuse or neglect history.

State of ____

County of ____

Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state on this day____ of ____, 20____, personally appeared (Name of facilitating agency and person signing as facilitator), (Name of Parent/Legal Custodian) and (Name of Attorney-in-fact), known to me to be the persons who executed this instrument and who acknowledged to me that each executed the same as his or her free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes set forth in the instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal the day and year above written.

(Seal, if any)

My commission expires:____”

7. If the custodial parent alleges that the noncustodial parent is absent, unknown, or that the location of the noncustodial parent is unknown, an affidavit must be completed and attached to the power of attorney. The following statutory form is sufficient:

Affidavit of Custodial Parent

STATE OF ____

COUNTY OF ____

I hereby certify that I am the custodial parent of the child(ren)_who are the subject of the power of attorney to which this affidavit is attached. I further certify that the location of the noncustodial parent, ____ is unknown to me or that the identity of the father is unknown to me (insert here if the father is unknown) ____ or that the noncustodial parent is unavailable (state here the reason unavailable): ____.

SO SWORN, this the ____ day of ____, 20____

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority in and for the aforementioned jurisdiction, the within named person who first presented proof of identity.

THIS, the ____ day of ____, 20____..

My commission expires: ____

• (2) A power of attorney, affidavit of facilitating agency, and affidavit of custodial parent that substantially conform to the forms set forth in this section are legally sufficient if properly completed and acknowledged.

• (3) A revocation of a power of attorney under this chapter must be filed with the youth court where the original power of attorney was filed, and the clerk of the youth court shall not impose or collect a filing fee. The following statutory form is sufficient to revoke a power of attorney to delegate parental or legal custodial powers that was granted under Section 93-31-3:

  • • 1. “I certify that I am the parent or legal custodian of:

who is/are minor children.

2. On the day____ of ____, 20____, I designated as the attorney-in-fact of each minor child named above:

(Full name of attorney-in-fact and DOB)

(Street address, city, state and zip code of attorney-in-fact)

3. I hereby certify that I am revoking said Power of Attorney to Delegate Parental or Legal Custodial Powers and am requesting that my child or children named above be immediately returned to my legal and physical care, custody and control and that I resume all legal rights and responsibilities associated with my child or children.

Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state on this day____ of ____, 20____, personally appeared (Name of Parent/Legal Custodian), known to me to be the person who executed this instrument and who acknowledged to me that he or she executed this instrument as his or her free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes set forth in the instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal the day and year above written.

(Seal, if any)

My commission expires:____”