Family Law

Family law firm with personal touch in Gulfport

If you are facing a difficult divorce or child custody case, it is likely that this is one of the most challenging moments of your life. At the law office of M. Channing Powell, we keep the ship steady during this rocky period of divorce. We offer calm, compassionate legal counsel and advocate firmly on behalf of our clients from beginning to end.

We provide thoughtful legal guidance to clients in the following family law matters:

Divorce in Mississippi

No-Fault Based Grounds

• Irreconcilable Differences

Fault Based Grounds

Mississippi child custody

In Mississippi, the court will award sole or joint child custody with the best interest of the children in mind at any time it deems appropriate. If the parties are filing under the no-fault grounds, they may both agree to a joint custody arrangement and the court may acccept that this is what is best for the children. If the divorce is filed on fault grounds, either parent has the right to petition for joint custody. The court can consider the wishes of a child if he or she is 12 years or older. However, the court will use the Albright factors as stated by the Mississippi Supreme Court to determine custody if the parties cannot agree.

Mississippi division of property

Mississippi is referred to as an Equitable Division state. When the parties are unable to reach a settlement, the Chancery Court will take the following approach to dividing the marital assets; First, the court will determine what property is marital property.  Second, it will go through a discovery process to find out the value of the marital property.  Third, it will make an equitable division of the marital property using the Ferguson factors as stated by the Mississippi Supreme Court regardless of ownership.

Contact us today

If you are involved in a divorce or have a family legal matter, contact the law office of M. Channing Powell today.