{"id":374347,"date":"2016-04-11T01:23:07","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-child-support-guidelines.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:33","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:33","slug":"mississippi-child-support-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-child-support-guidelines.html","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Child Support Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mississippi Child Support Guidelines<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

When a child only lives with one of his or her parents (the custodial parent), the parent that the child doesn’t live with (the non-custodial parent) will often be required to pay child support<\/a> to the custodial parent. The idea is that both parents are obligated to financially provide for their children. <\/p>\n

But how much child support is the non-custodial parent required to pay? Family courts determine how much child support a parent is required to pay by using the state’s child support guidelines<\/a>. The following chart highlights Mississippi’s main child support guidelines.<\/p>\n\n

Code Section <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Mississippi Code section 43-19-101<\/a>: Child Support Award Guidelines<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>

How to Calculate "Adjusted Gross Income"<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Step 1<\/u>: Determine gross income from all potential sources that are reasonably expected to be available to the non-custodial parent.<\/p>\n

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  • For example: wage and salary income, income from investments, interest income, workers’ compensation, disability benefits, alimony, unemployment benefits, and any other form of earned income.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Step 2<\/u>: Subtract the following deductions:<\/p>\n

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    • Federal, state, and local taxes<\/li>\n
    • Social security contributions<\/li>\n
    • Retirement and disability contributions (except for voluntary contributions)<\/li>\n
    • Any pre-existing child support orders<\/li>\n
    • If the non-custodial parent is also the parent of a child that lives with him, then the court may subtract an appropriate amount to account for the needs of that child<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Step 3<\/u>: Divide this amount by 12 in order to obtain the monthly amount of adjusted gross income. Use this amount to calculate the standard monthly child support award by using the chart below.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Standard Support Awards <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Number Of Children Due Support<\/b><\/td>\n

% Of Adjusted Gross Income that Should Be Awarded For Support<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

14%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

20%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

24%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

5 or more<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

26%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Deviations from the Standard<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

The standard support awards outlined above are applicable unless: