Custody

Parental rights in Mississippi can be terminated for various reasons, some of which are related to domestic violence or sexual abuse. Parental rights could be terminated if the parent:

• is not meeting the needs of the child including food, clothing, shelter or medical care;
• is not communicating or visiting the child;
• has been abusive or neglectful and it has caused the child’s dislike towards that parent;
• is suffering from alcoholism or other drug addiction and has not been able to successfully complete an alcohol or drug treatment;
• has been abusive towards your child or another child, and having future contact with that parent is undesirable;
• has been convicted of any of the following offenses against any child:
  
  • rape;
  • sexual battery;
  • touching a child for lustful purposes;
  • exploitation of a child (as described under sections 97-5-31 through 97-5-37);
  • felonious abuse or battery of a child;
  • carnal knowledge of a step or adopted child or a child of a cohabitating partner; or
  • human trafficking of a child; or
• has been convicted of:
  
  • murder or voluntary manslaughter of his/her child;
  • aiding, abetting, attempting, or soliciting, or conspiring to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter of his/her child;
  • felony assault that resulted in “serious bodily injury” to his/her child.¹

¹ Miss. Code § 93-15-121