Child custody and support in Mississippi

Custody of the Children In Mississippi

The court may award joint or sole custody, based on what is in the best interest of the child. Joint legal custody gives birth parents the ability to contribute to decision-making regarding the child’s well-being. Joint legal custody is not awarding both parents 50-50 time spent with the child, however. If the parents have come together and created an agreement on their own that keeps the best interests of the child in mind, the court will usually be agreeable to such a plan, and allow it to go through, with no problems.

Mississippi Child Support Guidelines

The Mississippi state child support guidelines will apply in nearly every case, unless there are exceptional circumstances present. Both parents’ adjusted gross income, as well as individual child-rearing expenses, are taken into account when calculating child support obligations. Child support in the state of Mississippi continues until the child reaches age 18, and it may continue until the child completes secondary education.