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One way to get a child support order is to file in court. If your child mostly lives with you, you can get child support as part of a court order in these types of cases:

• divorce;
• paternity;
• child custody;
• family support; or
•  inter-state child support.¹

You and the other parent can also make a written support agreement that you get notarized and file in court.²

A second way to get child support is to apply for child support services with the Mississippi Department of Human Services. They can help parents do the following:

• get a court order for child support and health insurance (medical support);
• find the other parent;
• establish paternity;
• enforce court orders for child support and medical support;
• change (modify) a support order;
• work with other states, countries, and tribal nations to establish and enforce support when one parent does not live in Mississippi or has assets in another state; and
• collect or make child support payments.³

If you get public benefits such as TANF, SNAP, or Medicaid, you will be referred automatically to the Mississippi Department of Human Services for child support services. Children in foster care are also referred automatically.³

Note: Unwed parents must take steps to establish legal paternity before the judge can order child support.⁴ However, the judge can give you a temporary child support order while the paternity case is going on.⁵

¹ Miss. Code §§ 93-5-23; 93-9-9; 93-11-65; 93-25-401
² Miss. Code § 43-19-33
³ Miss. Code § 43-19-31; see Understanding Child Support: A Handbook for Parents by the Mississippi Department of Human Services
⁴ See Miss. Code § 93-9-9
⁵ Miss. Code § 93-11-65