Mississippi divorce at a glance
Official source: Mississippi court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Mississippi: step by step
Mississippi’s no-fault divorce needs both spouses’ written consent and a 60-day wait. Here is the path to a Judgment of Divorce.
- Confirm you can file in Mississippi
One spouse must have lived in Mississippi for 6 months. The no-fault ground (irreconcilable differences) requires BOTH spouses’ written consent and a signed settlement agreement, and the complaint must be on file 60 days.Source: Miss. Code § 93-5-2 - Prepare your complaint and agreement
Prepare a Joint Complaint (or a Complaint with written consent) and your settlement agreement. Mississippi has no statewide forms — draft from the AOC how-to guide.Source: Mississippi AOC irreconcilable-differences guide - File with the Chancery Court
File with the Chancery Court and pay about $100–$160, or file an in forma pauperis affidavit.Source: In forma pauperis - Both spouses consent in writing
For an irreconcilable-differences divorce, both spouses must consent in writing — there is no contest.Source: Miss. Code § 93-5-2 - Set child support (if children)
Mississippi child support is a percentage of the paying parent’s adjusted income (14% for one child, 20% for two, and so on) — use the calculator above — with a Rule 8.05 financial statement.Source: Miss. Code § 43-19-101 - Finalize after 60 days
After the complaint has been on file 60 days, the Chancellor signs the Judgment of Divorce.Source: Judgment of Divorce
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Mississippi?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Mississippi you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Mississippi pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Mississippi
A percentage of the paying parent’s adjusted gross income (14% for one child, 20% for two, 22% for three, up to 26%). (Miss. Code § 43-19-101)
For example, a paying parent with $60,000 a year and two children (20%) would owe roughly $1,000 a month. Try your own numbers:
Note: of the paying parent’s adjusted gross income (Miss. Code § 43-19-101).
How long does a Mississippi divorce take?
The complaint must be on file at least 60 days before the divorce can be granted. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Mississippi divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. High. No statewide forms — draft your own pleadings from the AOC guide or a legal-aid template.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Mississippi document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Mississippi. In the meantime, the official Mississippi court forms are linked below.
Official Mississippi forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Mississippi divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Mississippi divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Mississippi to file for divorce?
6 months
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Mississippi?
~$100-$160, varies by county chancery clerk. Fee waiver: in forma pauperis affidavit possible but not a standardized statewide form (uncertain how uniformly granted in divorce). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.