Mississippi · MS

Mississippi Parenting Plan Guide

What you need to file a parenting plan in Mississippi — the state's terminology, required forms, education requirements, and a free template to build from.

Informational only. This is not legal advice. Confirm every requirement with a Mississippi family-law attorney before filing.

Standard term used

Visitation Schedule

Parent education class

Not statewide required

Filing note

Mississippi chancery courts handle all custody matters.

Official state courts site

courts.ms.gov

What a Mississippi parenting plan should cover

Legal custody: who makes decisions about school, healthcare, and religion.
Physical custody: the residential schedule for weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
A specific weekly or two-week custody schedule (2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/off, etc.).
Holiday and school-break rotation, usually alternating odd/even years.
Transportation and exchange rules — who drives, where, and at what time.
Communication rules between parents and between each parent and the child.
How future disputes will be handled (mediation, parenting coordinator, or court).

A simple Mississippi parenting plan template

Copy this outline into a document, fill in the specifics, and review with an attorney before filing with the Mississippi courts.

MISSISSIPPI PARENTING PLAN

1. PARTIES
   Parent A: __________________________
   Parent B: __________________________
   Child(ren):
     Name / DOB: ______________________

2. LEGAL DECISION-MAKING
   [ ] Joint    [ ] Sole (Parent A)    [ ] Sole (Parent B)
   Notes: ____________________________

3. RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE (Visitation Schedule)
   Regular schedule (specify pattern):
   ____________________________________
   Start date of cycle: _______________

4. HOLIDAYS & SCHOOL BREAKS
   Alternating odd/even years:
     Thanksgiving:   A odd / B even
     Winter break:   ______________
     Spring break:   ______________
     Summer:         ______________
     Birthdays:      ______________

5. EXCHANGES
   Location: __________________________
   Time: ______________________________
   Transportation responsibility: _____

6. COMMUNICATION
   Between parents: [ ] app  [ ] email  [ ] text
   Parent-child while at other home:
     Frequency: ______  Method: ______

7. DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR DISPUTES
   Step 1: Direct discussion (written)
   Step 2: Mediation
   Step 3: Court

8. SIGNATURES
   Parent A: _______________  Date: ___
   Parent B: _______________  Date: ___

Child support in Mississippi

Mississippi uses the Percentage of Obligor Income model: support is calculated as a straight percentage of the paying parent's income, without combining both incomes. The worksheet starts from net monthly income.

Shared-time credit

No automatic overnight credit — deviations are at the judge's discretion.

Self-support reserve

About $900/month of the paying parent's income is protected.

Statutory percentage of the obligor's adjusted gross income (14/20/22/24/26%). Mississippi has no shared-parenting credit in the statute.

Estimate Mississippi child support

Mississippi parenting plan FAQ

How is child support calculated in Mississippi?

Mississippi uses the Percentage of Obligor Income model, which means support is calculated as a straight percentage of the paying parent's income, without combining both incomes. The worksheet starts from net monthly income. At typical middle incomes the guideline devotes roughly 14% of the relevant income to one child and about 20% to two children.

Does parenting time reduce child support in Mississippi?

Mississippi has no automatic overnight credit built into its guideline. A judge can deviate from the guideline for substantially shared time, but it is discretionary rather than formulaic.

Is there a minimum income protection in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi protects roughly $900 of the paying parent's monthly income as a self-support reserve before support is ordered.

Does a Mississippi parenting plan have to be in writing?

Mississippi chancery courts handle all custody matters. Courts in Mississippi expect the residential schedule (what the state calls a Visitation Schedule), holiday rotation, exchange logistics, and a dispute-resolution step to be spelled out in writing.

Put your Mississippi parenting plan into practice

CustodyTrac keeps both parents on the same custody calendar, logs every exchange and message, and produces court-ready PDFs — free forever.

Create your free account

Other states

Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York

See all 50 states + DC

Next steps after your state's rules

Estimate support under this state's guideline, pick a schedule, and keep the record your court will ask for.

Parenting plan guides by state
Filing venue, required classes, and the terminology each state's courts use.
State-by-state child support estimator
Applies your state's own guideline model to your numbers.
Custody schedule patterns explained
2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/week-off, and every other common rotation.
Custody and family law glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms in your order.
Court-ready PDF legal exports
One-click evidence packets for your attorney or a hearing — unlimited and free.
Free co-parenting app for both parents
Shared calendar, messaging, expenses, and court-ready exports at no cost to either household.

Draft your plan with free tools

Everything below is free, printable, and court-ready in format.

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