| STATE PROCEDURES | ||
| How do I serve my spouse with the divorce papers in Mississippi? | ||
| Formal service is not required in a divorce in Mississippi when both parties agree to all terms of the divorce. Each spouse signs the Joint Complaint for Divorce in front of a Notary Public, which is then filed with the Court as proof of service. | ||
| Where do I file my divorce papers in Mississippi? | ||
| Mississippi divorces are filed at the Clerk of the Chancery Court's office in the county where either spouse lives, if both spouses are residents. If only one spouse is a resident, the divorce is filed at the Clerk of the Chancery Court's office in the county where the resident spouse resides. Your self-prepared DivorceWriter package includes detailed procedures on filing for divorce in the county you selected, including the address and telephone number of the Clerk of the Chancery Court. | ||
| How long does it usually take to finalize a divorce in Mississippi? | ||
| Complaints for divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences must have been on file for sixty (60) days before the Judgment is entered. | ||
| How much is the filing fee in Mississippi? | ||
| The DivorceWriter price does NOT include the filing fee charged by the circuit court clerk when you file for divorce. Fees can vary from county to county, but typically range from $50 to $75. | ||
| What is considered to be the date of separation in Mississippi? | ||
| The term "separation date" refers to the date when the spouses stopped living at the same residence. However, there is no requirement that a couple be separated for any period of time in order to file for divorce in Mississippi. | ||
| What documents are included in the self-prepared Mississippi DivorceWriter package? | ||
Your self-prepared Mississippi DivorceWriter package will include:
Note: You may receive additional documents depending on your answers to our online interview. In the same regard, you may not receive some of the documents in the above list, depending on your answers to our online interview. | ||
| What are the grounds for filing for divorce in Mississippi? | ||
|
Mississippi is a no-fault divorce state. Divorce may be granted on the no-fault ground of irreconcilable differences. Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-2. | ||
| Can I change my name in Mississippi divorce proceedings? | ||
| When filing for a divorce, each spouse has the right to petition the court for a name change. | ||
| Do we have to be separated to get a divorce in Mississippi? | ||
|
There is no requirement that a couple be separated for any period of time in order to file for divorce in Mississippi. Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-4 | ||
| Does Mississippi require divorcing spouses and/or their child(ren) to attend a class or seminar on coping with divorce? | ||
| When the parties to a divorce action have minor children residing with one (1) or both parents, the court may require parties to complete at least two (2) hours of classes concerning parenting issues faced by divorced parents. | ||
| What are the basic steps to getting a divorce in Mississippi? | ||
|
1) Both spouses sign and date the Joint Complaint for Divorce in front of a Notary Public. 2) The Plaintiff files the Joint Complaint and Cover Sheet with the Clerk of the Chancery Court. 3) The spouses exchange completed financial documents and file the Certificate of Compliance with the court. 4) Plaintiff obtains a hearing date and provides the Co-Plaintiff with a Notice of Hearing. 5) Both spouses attend a final hearing, at which time Plaintiff gives testimony and the Chancellor signs the Final Judgment. | ||
| What are the Mississippi residency requirements for filing for divorce? | ||
| One of the parties must have been a resident of Mississippi AND a resident in the county where you will be filing for divorce for six (6) months immediately prior to filing for divorce. | ||
| Will either of us be required to attend a court hearing? | ||
| Yes, in Mississippi, both spouses are required to attend a court hearing. However, if the Co-Plaintiff/Defendant is unable to attend the hearing, it is best to contact the court clerk and find out what options are available. | ||
|
||
| CUSTODY, VISITATION, SUPPORT | ||
| When can a child support order be modified in Mississippi? | ||
|
The party requesting modification of a child support order must show that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate, as determined according to the following criteria: 1) Extraordinary medical, psychological, educational, or dental expenses 2) Independent income of the child 3) The payment of both child support and spousal support 4) Seasonal variations in one or both parents' incomes or expenses 5) The age of the child, taking into account the greater needs of older children 6) Special needs that have traditionally been met within the family budget even though the fulfilling of those needs will cause the support to exceed the proposed guidelines 7) The particular shared parental arrangement, such as where the noncustodial parent spends a great deal of time with the children thereby reducing the financial expenditures incurred by the custodial parent, or the refusal of the noncustodial parent to become involved in the activities of the child, or giving due consideration to the custodial parent's homemaking services 8) Total available assets of the custodial parent, noncustodial parent, and the child 9) Any other adjustment which is needed to achieve an equitable result which may include, but not be limited to, a reasonable and necessary existing expense or debt. | ||
| What if my spouse and I have agreed to use a child support amount that is different from the standard amount set by the Child Support Guidelines? | ||
|
DivorceWriter shows the child support calculation under the guidelines using the Mississippi child support award guidelines. The customer chooses whether to use the guideline calculation or to deviate from that calculation by entering a different child support amount. If the amount is a deviation from the basic support obligation, the customer will explain the reasons for the deviation in the Marital Settlement Agreement. The court may grant less or more support if the evidence shows that the needs of the dependent(s) require a different level of support. | ||
| How is child support calculated in Mississippi? | ||
| Mississippi courts calculate child support using a percentage of income formula based on the number of children receiving support. For more information on the Mississippi child support award guidelines, see Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-101(1). | ||
| What are the different types of custody in Mississippi? | ||
|
1) Physical custody - those periods of time in which a child resides with or is under the care and supervision of one (1) of the parents. 2) Legal custody - the decision-making rights, the responsibilities and the authority relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child belongs to one (1) of the parents. 3) Joint physical and legal custody- each of the parents shall have significant periods of physical custody and shall be shared by the parents in a way so as to assure a child of frequent and continuing contact with both parents. The parties also share the decision-making rights, the responsibilities and the authority relating to the health, education and welfare of a child. Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-24 | ||
| If my county requires the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), where do I find a list of certified GAL's? | ||
| Whenever parties seeking a divorce have children, and no attorney is involved, the Chancery Court in Bolivar County, Coahoma County, Leflore County, Quitman County, Tallahatchie County, and Tunica County requires that the parties hire a guardian ad litem to represent the children's best interest. You may find a list of all certified guardian ad litems here. | ||
| We already have a child support order issued by a judge. Will we be able to keep the same amount? | ||
| DivorceWriter provides the option to enter information regarding an existing child support order including the amount of support ordered and other identifying case information. Generally, you will also be expected to staple one copy of the prior child support order to each copy of the Martial Settlement Agreement you will file with the Court. | ||
|
||
| PROPERTY AND DEBTS | ||
| Why do I have to complete financial disclosures in an uncontested divorce? | ||
| More than half of the states require one or both spouses to complete a document listing th... more | ||
|
| © 2024 Pro Se Planning, Inc. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | 100% Guarantee | Privacy | Help Center - Contact | Sitemap |