How Mississippi calculates child support
- Support is a percentage of the paying parent’s adjusted gross income: 14% for one child, 20% for two, 22% for three, 24% for four and 26% for five or more.
- Adjusted gross income is gross income from all sources minus income taxes actually owed, Social Security contributions, mandatory retirement and disability contributions, and court-ordered support for other children, divided by 12 for a monthly figure.
- When adjusted gross income is above $100,000 or below $10,000 a year, the court must make a written finding on whether the guideline amount is reasonable.
- From July 1, 2026, with joint custody and equally shared parenting time, the amount is figured for each parent as if they were the payer and the parent with the higher adjusted gross income pays the difference.
What the calculator asks
- How many children is the support for?
- Who do the children live with?
- Your gross income for the year
- Federal, state and local income taxes you actually owe for the year
- Social Security contributions you pay for the year
- Mandatory retirement and disability contributions you pay for the year
- Court-ordered child support you pay for other children, for the year
- Do you have other children (not in this case) living in your home?
- The other parent’s gross income for the year
- Federal, state and local income taxes the other parent actually owes for the year
- Social Security contributions the other parent pays for the year
- Mandatory retirement and disability contributions the other parent pays for the year
- Court-ordered child support the other parent pays for other children, for the year
- Does the other parent have other children (not in this case) living in their home?
It never asks for names, Social Security numbers or account numbers, and your answers are not saved.
What the estimate leaves out
- Health insurance and medical support for the children (§ 43-19-101(7))
- An amount the court may subtract for other children living with the paying parent (§ 43-19-101(3)(d))
- Imputed income (§ 43-19-101(5))
- Deviations the court may make, for example for extraordinary expenses, child care, a child’s own income or shared time that is not equal (§ 43-19-103)
When a situation is outside what the calculator covers, it says so and points you to the official worksheet instead of guessing.
Official sources
- Miss. Code § 43-19-101 as amended by HB 1067 (2022 Regular Session), effective July 1, 2022
- Miss. Code § 93-5-24 as amended by HB 1662 (2026 Regular Session, Chapter 467), effective July 1, 2026: support with equally shared parenting time
- Mississippi Child Support Guidelines, §§ 43-19-101 and 43-19-103 (Department of Human Services)
Ready to estimate? The calculator shows each worksheet line so you can check it against the official form.
Open the Mississippi calculator →An estimate from the published guideline formula, not a prediction of a court order. The official court worksheet and the court’s decision control. General information, not legal advice. LawCat is not a law firm.