Mississippi Child Support Calculator

Estimate Mississippi child support for 2026 using the Percentage of Income (Flat) guideline model under Miss. Code § 43-19-101. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.

Mississippi uses a flat Percentage of Income model under Miss. Code § 43-19-101. Support is calculated as a fixed percentage of the non-custodial parent's adjusted income, 14% of adjusted gross income for one child, 20% for two, 22% for three, 24% for four, and 26% for five or more. The custodial parent's income is generally not factored into the base obligation.

Mississippi uses a flat Percentage of Income model, so the base obligation is a fixed percentage of the paying parent's adjusted income and is not built around an overnight count. Parenting time and shared custody are handled as a possible deviation, not through a separate formula. A chancery court judge can adjust the guideline number when the parents split time in a way that changes each parent's actual costs. The calculator on this page is an estimate only, so ask the court or an attorney how your specific schedule may affect support.

Under Miss. Code 43-19-101, the cost of the child's health insurance is treated as a factor that can support a deviation from the flat percentage rather than a line item baked into the base formula. A chancery court can consider who pays the premium and adjust the obligation up or down to account for it. The same goes for extraordinary or uninsured medical expenses. Because the on-page calculator gives a base estimate, confirm how your child's insurance premium will be handled on the official worksheet or with a Mississippi attorney.

Work-related child care and daycare costs are not automatically added on top of the guideline percentage in Mississippi. Instead, under Miss. Code 43-19-101 child care expense is one of the factors a chancery court can use to justify deviating from the flat percentage of adjusted income. The judge decides whether to raise the support amount to reflect daycare and how to allocate it. This page's calculator estimates the base obligation only, so raise child care costs directly with the court or your attorney so they can be addressed in the order.

Mississippi's guideline percentage is presumed correct, but a chancery court judge may deviate from it after making written findings that applying the flat percentage would be unjust or inappropriate. Factors that can support a deviation include the child's health insurance, child care, extraordinary medical or educational expenses, and shared-custody arrangements. The parent asking the court to depart from the guideline number generally carries the burden of showing why a different amount is justified. Because deviation is fact-specific, treat the calculator here as an estimate and rely on the official worksheet and a licensed attorney.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Mississippi?

Mississippi uses a flat Percentage of Income model under Miss. Code 43-19-101. The court starts with the non-custodial parent's adjusted gross income, then applies a fixed percentage based on how many children are supported: 14 percent for one child, 20 percent for two, 22 percent for three, 24 percent for four, and 26 percent for five or more. The custodial parent's income is generally not part of the base obligation. The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement administers these orders. The calculator on this page gives an estimate only, and the official worksheet and a licensed attorney control the final number.

What income counts when figuring out my Mississippi child support obligation?

Mississippi bases support on adjusted gross income, not raw gross pay. Under Miss. Code 43-19-101, you start with gross income from all sources and subtract federal and state taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement contributions, and any existing court-ordered child support or alimony you already pay. The percentage is then applied to that adjusted figure. Income from all sources can include wages, overtime, bonuses, and self-employment earnings, so be ready to document everything. The custodial parent's income generally does not change the base obligation. This page's estimate uses these rules, but the official worksheet and a Mississippi attorney determine your actual adjusted income.

Is there an official Mississippi child support worksheet I should use?

Yes. While this page gives a quick estimate, the controlling calculation comes from the official Mississippi child support guideline worksheet that applies the percentages set out in Miss. Code 43-19-101 to your adjusted gross income. The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement, oversees orders and can be reached through its child support pages. The chancery court uses the worksheet to confirm the presumptive amount before deciding whether any deviation applies. Always treat the calculator here as informational, not legal advice, and rely on the official worksheet and a licensed Mississippi attorney for the number that goes into your order.

Does Mississippi count overtime, bonuses, and self-employment income?

Generally yes. Mississippi defines income broadly as gross income from all sources before allowable deductions, so overtime, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment earnings can be included in the adjusted gross income used under Miss. Code 43-19-101. For self-employed parents, the court looks at actual earnings and may scrutinize business deductions to find true income. After identifying gross income from every source, the court subtracts taxes, FICA, mandatory retirement, and existing court-ordered support before applying the percentage. Because how irregular or self-employment income is counted can be disputed, the estimate here is only a starting point, and the official worksheet and an attorney control the result.

Can a judge order a different amount than the Mississippi guideline percentage?

Yes. The percentages in Miss. Code 43-19-101 are presumed correct, but a chancery court judge can deviate after making written findings that the flat percentage would be unjust or inappropriate in your case. Factors that can justify a deviation include the child's health insurance, work-related child care, extraordinary medical or educational expenses, and shared-custody arrangements, which Mississippi handles through deviation rather than a separate shared-time formula. The parent asking for a departure from the guideline number usually has to prove why it is warranted. Since this is fact-specific, use the calculator here only as an estimate and confirm any deviation with the official worksheet and a licensed attorney.

When does child support end in Mississippi?

Mississippi has one of the highest emancipation ages in the country. Child support generally continues until the child turns 21, rather than ending at 18 as in many states. Support can end sooner if the child is emancipated earlier by marriage, joining the military, or becoming self-supporting. Because the duration is longer here, parents should plan for a support obligation that may run for several years past high school. Termination is not always automatic, so you may need to address it through the chancery court or the Mississippi Department of Human Services. This page's calculator estimates the amount, not the end date, so confirm timing with a licensed attorney.

How do I change or enforce a Mississippi child support order?

To change support, you file a petition in chancery court or request a review through the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement. Mississippi requires a material or substantial change in circumstances to modify, with no fixed percentage threshold, so things like a significant change in income or the child's needs can support a request. For enforcement, Mississippi DHS can use immediate income withholding, tax refund intercepts, driver's and professional license suspension, credit reporting, liens, and contempt referrals to chancery court. The estimate on this page does not change any existing order, so use the official process and a licensed attorney to modify or enforce support.