Mississippi child support guidelines
Mississippi uses one of the simpler child-support models: a flat percentage of the paying parent’s adjusted gross income, rising with the number of children. This page explains the model and links to the official calculator — it doesn’t produce your figure.
The Mississippi percentages
Under state law (Miss. Code § 43-19-101), the guideline percentages of adjusted gross income are:
- 1 child — 14%
- 2 children — 20%
- 3 children — 22%
- 4 children — 24%
- 5+ children — 26%
The base is adjusted gross income — gross income from all sources minus required deductions like taxes, Social Security, and mandatory retirement — so it’s lower than your gross pay but not the same as take-home.
A presumption, plus a late age of majority
These percentages are a rebuttable presumption: a Mississippi court can order more or less if it makes written findings that the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate for the child. Other dependents you support, the child’s specific needs, and a particular shared-custody arrangement can all factor in. Mississippi is also unusual on duration — the age of majority is 21, so support typically runs until the child turns 21 (ending earlier on emancipation by marriage, full-time military service, or a two-year-plus felony sentence). A change producing about a 25% difference is treated as a material change for modification.
Get the real number officially
Because the adjusted-gross-income step and any adjustments matter, use the official MDHS calculator above for an actual estimate, and consult a Mississippi family-law attorney for advice on a real case.
Reviewed by Aqil Abbas Khan, Founder & Editor of ToolsNexus
This page is general information, not legal advice. Child support in Mississippi is set by Mississippi’s official guidelines, and the amount in any real case is determined by the court or the state child-support agency using the official worksheet — not by this page. Guideline figures, schedules, and adjustments change over time and depend on facts specific to your situation (each parent’s income, parenting time, health-insurance and childcare costs, and other factors a court may consider). Use the official Mississippi calculator for an actual estimate, and consult a licensed family-law attorney in Mississippi for advice about your circumstances. ToolsNexus is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
Sources
Last updated:
Frequently asked questions
- How is child support calculated in Mississippi?
- Mississippi uses a flat percentage-of-income model set in state law (Miss. Code § 43-19-101). It applies a percentage to the paying parent's adjusted gross income based on the number of children: 14% for one, 20% for two, 22% for three, 24% for four, and 26% for five or more.
- What is "adjusted gross income" in Mississippi?
- It starts from gross income from all sources, then subtracts required deductions (such as federal and state taxes, Social Security, and mandatory retirement) to reach adjusted gross income. The percentage is applied to that figure — not to your gross salary or your take-home pay directly.
- Is the percentage a strict rule?
- The percentages are a rebuttable presumption. A Mississippi court can order a different amount if it makes written findings that the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate, considering factors like the child’s needs, other dependents, a particular shared-custody arrangement, and each parent’s circumstances.
- Until what age is Mississippi child support paid?
- Longer than almost anywhere else: the age of majority in Mississippi is 21, so support generally continues until the child turns 21. It can end earlier on emancipation — marriage, full-time military service, or a felony sentence of two or more years. A 2024 law (SB 2131) added a rebuttable presumption that support continues past 21 for a child with a disability that arose during minority.
- Where do I get an actual figure?
- Use the official Mississippi Department of Human Services calculator linked on this page. It applies the current guideline to your adjusted gross income; a number estimated from gross salary alone will be off.