Official § 93-11-65 Percentage-of-Income Estimate
Mississippi uses a Percentage of Income model as defined in Mississippi Code Ann. § 93-11-65. The law provides specific rebuttable guidelines for calculating child support based on the non-custodial parent's (the obligor's) Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Adjusted Gross Income is calculated by taking total gross income and subtracting mandatory deductions such as federal and state taxes, Social Security, and mandatory retirement contributions.
(Numbers below are illustrative only, not official figures)
Mississippi uses "Adjusted Gross Income." To find this number, you start with total annual income from all sources and subtract legally required taxes (federal, state, and local), Social Security, and any mandatory retirement payments. The remaining "adjusted" amount is what the guideline percentage is applied to.
The Mississippi statutory guidelines are: 14% for one child, 18% for two, 20% for three, 22% for four, and 24% for five or more children.
Yes. The percentages are considered "rebuttable presumptions." A judge can deviate from these percentages if they find the amount is unjust or inappropriate based on factors like the child's special needs, extraordinary medical expenses, or the parents' relative financial positions.
In Mississippi, child support generally continues until the child is "emancipated." This typically happens when the child turns 21, but it can happen earlier if the child marries, joins the military full-time, or is convicted of a felony and incarcerated.
Estimate only. This page is an educational tool. For a binding order, consult the Mississippi Department of Human Services or a family-law attorney.