Mississippi child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Mississippi guidelines effective July 1, 2026. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Mississippi's guideline amount is $812 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Mississippi uses the percentage of income model; its current guidelines took effect July 1, 2026.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
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Guideline child support
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Mississippi child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $301 | $479 | $692 | $886 |
| 2 children | $430 | $685 | $989 | $1,265 |
| 3 children | $473 | $753 | $1,088 | $1,392 |
| 4 children | $516 | $822 | $1,186 | $1,518 |
| 5 children | $559 | $890 | $1,285 | $1,645 |
How Mississippi calculates child support
Mississippi applies a percentage to the paying parent's monthly adjusted gross income: 14% for one child, 20% for two, 22% for three, 24% for four and 26% for five or more. The other parent's income isn't part of the calculation.
Adjusted gross income is gross income from all sources minus federal, state and local taxes, Social Security contributions and mandatory retirement and disability contributions. When you enter gross income, this estimate works out the taxes for a single filer with the standard deduction; your actual taxes may differ.
Mississippi has no parenting-time formula; a lot of time with the paying parent is a reason the court may deviate. With joint custody and equally shared parenting time, an award is worked out for each parent as if each were paying, and the parent with the higher adjusted gross income pays the difference.
Mississippi has no self-support reserve or minimum order. When adjusted gross income is under $10,000 a year, the court must state in writing whether the guideline amount is reasonable, taking into account the basic needs of a parent with a limited ability to pay.
Child care, health insurance and extraordinary medical or educational costs aren't added by formula. The court decides health coverage and may deviate from the guideline amount for these costs.
Court-ordered support the paying parent already owes for other children is subtracted from income. For other children living with the paying parent, the court may subtract an amount it considers appropriate.
When adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 a year, the court must state in writing whether the guideline amount is reasonable. This estimate keeps the same percentage.
Annual adjusted gross income is divided by twelve and the monthly award is worked to the cent.
Parenting time in Mississippi
Mississippi's guidelines don't adjust for parenting time; courts may deviate. Mississippi has no parenting-time formula; a lot of time with the paying parent is a reason the court may deviate. With joint custody and equally shared parenting time, an award is worked out for each parent as if each were paying, and the parent with the higher adjusted gross income pays the difference.
Low and high incomes in Mississippi
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $300 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,899 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
Mississippi has no self-support reserve or minimum order. When adjusted gross income is under $10,000 a year, the court must state in writing whether the guideline amount is reasonable, taking into account the basic needs of a parent with a limited ability to pay.
When adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 a year, the court must state in writing whether the guideline amount is reasonable. This estimate keeps the same percentage.
Child support by number of children in Mississippi
- 1 child$568 a month
- 2 children$812 a month
- 3 children$893 a month
- 4 children$974 a month
- 5 children$1,056 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 43-19-101, 43-19-103 and 93-5-24(2)(c)
- Mississippi child support guidelines
- MDHS Child Support Policy Manual, Guidelines for Setting Child Support Obligations (adjusted gross income computation)
- Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement
- Changing a Mississippi child support order
Guidelines effective July 1, 2026. Verified against the official Mississippi sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Mississippi?
Mississippi applies a percentage to the paying parent's monthly adjusted gross income: 14% for one child, 20% for two, 22% for three, 24% for four and 26% for five or more. The other parent's income isn't part of the calculation. Adjusted gross income is gross income from all sources minus federal, state and local taxes, Social Security contributions and mandatory retirement and disability contributions. When you enter gross income, this estimate works out the taxes for a single filer with the standard deduction; your actual taxes may differ.
What is the child support for one child in Mississippi on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Mississippi's guideline amount for one child is about $479 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Mississippi?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $255 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Mississippi has no parenting-time formula; a lot of time with the paying parent is a reason the court may deviate. With joint custody and equally shared parenting time, an award is worked out for each parent as if each were paying, and the parent with the higher adjusted gross income pays the difference.
What is the minimum child support in Mississippi?
Mississippi has no self-support reserve or minimum order. When adjusted gross income is under $10,000 a year, the court must state in writing whether the guideline amount is reasonable, taking into account the basic needs of a parent with a limited ability to pay.
When does child support end in Mississippi?
Support ends when the child turns 21, the age of majority in Mississippi, unless the order says otherwise. It also ends automatically if the child marries, joins the military full time, or is sentenced to two or more years for a felony. A court can find a child emancipated earlier, for example a child over 18 who stops attending school full time (unless disabled). Arrears can still be collected afterward.