Child Support in Mississippi: The Basics

Under Mississippi law, child support must be set for minor children at the time of divorce. For parents who have never married, child support may be set through an independent court action as well as through a paternity action. As a non-custodial parent paying child support in Mississippi, you should keep in mind that our state considers the age of majority to be twenty-one years old. For this reason, child support in Mississippi must be paid until the child reaches the age of twenty-one and is no longer considered a minor.

            Child support is based on the non-custodial parent’s adjusted gross yearly income. The statutory guidelines for setting child support in Mississippi are as follows: 14% for one child, 20% for two children, 22% for three children, 24% for four children and 26% for four or more children. Chancellors may deviate from these guidelines when setting support only if they provide written findings as to why the deviation was necessary.