There are some questions you may have if you are living in Mississippi and have to decide on child custody arrangements. First, you want to know that you and your ex-spouse will share the care of your children together, even though you’re not still living together. You also want to know that your child custody orders will be held up between states, should anything happen.
To start with, it’s a wise choice to talk to your attorney about custody laws that have recently changed or that could affect your case specifically. However, there are some basic rules of custody in Mississippi that you can learn more about. For example, did you know that Mississippi has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)? Thanks to this, you know any custody arrangements will be held up in the state and in any other state with the UCCJEA.
Another thing to know is that your child’s wishes won’t be considered in court. Judges are aware that a child can be manipulated, so Mississippi courts turn to evidence to decide on the best arrangements for children involved in custody cases. Both parents have the right to bring evidence to support their cases for custody during a hearing.
Keep in mind that grandparents may also have visitation rights in Mississippi, so you may have to make time for your child’s grandparents to spend time with them as well. This is something that will be addressed in your custody orders if the grandparents seek additional visitation time outside what you’d give them independent of the court.
