Mississippi Child Custody Laws

Mississippi Child Custody Issues & Resources

Mississippi Child Custody


Mississippi child custody may be awarded  based upon the "best interests" of the parties’ child.  A Mississippi court may make any one of the following awards of child custody: 

  • Joint physical custody to one or both parents, with legal custody to one or both parents; 

  • physical custody to both parents, with legal custody to one parent; 

  • physical custody to one parent, with legal custody to both parents;

  • custody to a third party if the parents have abandoned the child or are unfit. If the parents are both fit and the child is 12 or older, the child may choose the parent he or she wishes to live with.

If a Mississippi divorce is obtained based upon the ground of irreconcilable differences, a Mississippi Court may award joint custody if both parties request such a custodial arrangement. If joint custody is requested by the parties, the Court will presume that such an arrangement is in the child’s best interests.

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