Mississippi determines spousal support through a multi-factor statutory analysis under Miss. Code §93-5-23; Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993). Understand how the court evaluates eligibility, amount, and duration in your case.
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Spousal support in Mississippi is determined by a statutory multi-factor analysis under Miss. Code §93-5-23; Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993). The court weighs the following factors to arrive at a fair support amount and duration. Unlike the temporary formula, there is no mathematical calculation for permanent support — it is a discretionary determination by the judge based on the totality of the circumstances.
The types of spousal support available in Mississippi include: Periodic, Lump-sum, Rehabilitative. The type ordered depends on the length of the marriage, each spouse's financial situation, and the supported spouse's ability to become self-supporting.
Primary statute: Miss. Code §93-5-23; Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993)
The court considers these 12 statutory factors when determining the amount and duration of spousal support:
Income and expenses of each party
Earning ability/capacity of each party
Needs of each party
Obligations and assets of each party
Length of the marriage
Presence of minor children
Age of the parties
Standard of living during the marriage
Tax consequences
Fault or misconduct
Waste of assets
Any other factor just and equitable
No formula. No statutory factor list — court has pure judicial discretion. Armstrong v. Armstrong (1993) established 12 case-law factors.
Duration is one of the most heavily litigated aspects of spousal support. The length of the marriage is the single most important factor in most cases, but the court also considers the supported spouse's age, health, job skills, and the time needed to acquire education or training for appropriate employment.
Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993) established 12 case-law factors.
FAULT IS A FACTOR — adultery/misconduct can affect alimony award (Armstrong factor 10).
Terminates on remarriage or cohabitation.
Three types available: periodic, lump-sum, rehabilitative.
Find out if you qualify, how much you might receive (or pay), and for how long.
Residency Requirement
6-month bona fide residency required (§93-5-5)
Mandatory Waiting Period
60-day waiting period for irreconcilable differences divorce
No-Fault Ground
Irreconcilable differences (§93-5-2) — REQUIRES BOTH SPOUSES’ CONSENT
State Income Tax
4% flat (first $10,000 exempt) — Build-Up Mississippi Act phase-down
Mississippi Child Support Calculator
Percentage of obligor adjusted gross income under Miss. Code §43-19-101
Mississippi Property Division Calculator
No 50/50 presumption — equitable distribution based on 8 Ferguson factors
Mississippi Divorce Settlement Calculator
Complete 8-chapter divorce analysis for Mississippi
Mississippi does not use a fixed formula for spousal support. Instead, courts apply a multi-factor analysis under Miss. Code §93-5-23; Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993) to determine the amount and duration based on the specific circumstances of each case.
Mississippi recognizes the following types of spousal support: Periodic, Lump-sum, Rehabilitative. The type awarded depends on the length of the marriage, the financial needs of the requesting spouse, and the ability of the other spouse to pay.
No formula. No statutory factor list — court has pure judicial discretion. Armstrong v. Armstrong (1993) established 12 case-law factors.
Yes. Spousal support orders in Mississippi can generally be modified if there is a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either party's income, retirement, cohabitation of the supported spouse, or other qualifying events as defined by statute.
Get a personalized spousal support analysis based on Mississippi's actual statutory framework.
Start My Free MississippiEstimate →This tool provides educational estimates based on Mississippi family law and does not constitute legal advice. Spousal support calculations are estimates and may differ from court-ordered amounts. Consult a licensed Mississippi family law attorney before making decisions. Primary statute: Miss. Code §93-5-23; Armstrong v. Armstrong (Miss. 1993).