WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Mississippi

Custody

Updated: 
December 19, 2023

What custody options are there?

After considering the best interest of the child, the judge can order any of the following custody arrangements or a combination thereof:

  1. joint physical custody, where each parent has regular and continuing contact with the child and a significant period of time when the child is in his/her care;1
  2. joint legal custody, where both parents share decision-making rights and responsibilities regarding the health, education, and welfare of the child; Note: A joint legal custody order also requires that you and the other parent consult before making decisions regarding the health, education, and welfare of the child;2
  3. joint physical and legal custody, where parents share both the care of the child as well as decision-making rights;3
  4. sole physical custody, where the child lives the majority of the time with one parent but can have visitation with the other; and
  5. sole legal custody, where only one parent has decision-making rights and responsibilities regarding the health, education, and welfare of the child.4

1Miss. Code § 93-5-24(5)(c), (1)(b)
2Miss. Code § 93-5-24(5)(e), (1)(c)
3Miss. Code § 93-5-24(1)(a)
4Miss. Code § 93-5-24(1)(d)

Legal Information

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.