Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Mississippi
Mississippi handles divorce and custody in Chancery Court, the state's court of equity, rather than a separate family court system. A spouse who needs custody, support, or property arrangements decided before the case is final can file a motion asking the chancellor for temporary relief, which leads to a hearing on the request. That request is made while the case is still pending, and it does not wait for the final trial date. Mississippi is divided into 20 Chancery Court Districts, each covering a group of counties. A chancellor presiding over that district hears the divorce case from filing through resolution, including any request for temporary relief along the way. Chancery Court operates at the district and county level, not through one centralized statewide family court office. Exactly how a temporary relief request gets scheduled depends on the specific chancery district and county where the case is filed. Local practice can differ noticeably from one district to the next. Mississippi has 82 counties statewide, grouped into these 20 districts, and each district may have more than one chancellor assigned.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under Mississippi law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Mississippi paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Chancery Court handles divorce and custody
Mississippi's Chancery Court has jurisdiction over divorce, child custody, and related domestic relations matters statewide. The state is organized into 20 Chancery Court Districts, each covering a defined group of counties. Chancellors preside over the cases filed within their assigned district. Unlike states that separate family matters into a distinct family court division, Mississippi handles these cases within the general equity jurisdiction of Chancery Court. Some districts, particularly those covering the state's larger population centers, have more than one chancellor assigned to manage the caseload.
Requesting temporary relief
A party in a Mississippi divorce case can ask the chancellor to decide temporary issues while the case remains pending. That includes temporary custody, temporary child or spousal support, or use of the marital home. This gives the family a working arrangement without waiting for a final judgment, which can take considerably longer in a contested case. The temporary order applies only until the chancellor changes it or the case concludes. A motion touching on support is generally expected to include current income information for both spouses.
How a temporary relief hearing gets scheduled
After a motion for temporary relief is filed and served, the chancery clerk's office in the filing county sets the matter for hearing. It follows that district's own practice for scheduling family law motions. Mississippi's 20 Chancery Court Districts each cover different counties, and chancellors manage their own dockets. How quickly a temporary relief hearing is scheduled can vary by district. Anyone filing for temporary relief should confirm the specific scheduling process with the chancery clerk in the filing county. Some districts hold regular motion days set aside specifically for uncontested or time-sensitive matters.
Remote hearing availability
Like most state court systems, Mississippi's courts expanded remote hearing technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether a specific temporary relief hearing can be conducted remotely depends on the chancery district and the individual chancellor's practice. There is no one uniform statewide policy for family law matters. Parties who need a remote appearance should ask the chancery clerk's office or the chancellor's office handling the case. Availability of video technology can vary noticeably between the state's larger courthouses and smaller, rural ones.
What happens at a temporary relief hearing
A hearing on temporary relief is narrower than a trial. The chancellor decides what arrangement should apply while the case is pending, not final findings on custody, support, or property division. Depending on the district and whether the request is contested, the hearing may involve limited testimony. The chancellor may instead rule largely based on the motion, response, and any supporting affidavits. Common subjects are temporary custody and visitation, temporary support, and use of the marital home. The resulting order remains in effect only until the chancellor changes it or the case reaches a final judgment. Either spouse can later ask the chancellor to revisit the order if circumstances change. Bringing recent pay records or other proof of income to the hearing is generally expected when support is at issue.
Sources: Mississippi Judiciary, Chancery Courts (20 Chancery Court Districts by county), Mississippi Judiciary, official homepage
Not independently confirmed
- The specific statute governing temporary relief in a pending Mississippi divorce case (commonly cited as Miss. Code Ann. section 93-5-17) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the statute for this page.
- A statewide Mississippi courts self-help center or family-law-specific self-help page could not be located and verified; Mississippi's court website did not surface a dedicated self-help section.
- Confirm whether Mississippi courts have a statewide remote-hearing standing order; availability likely depends on local, district-level practice.
- Which specific Chancery Court Districts have more than one chancellor assigned was not confirmed district by district for this page.
Court Hearings in Mississippi: frequently asked questions
Which court handles divorce in Mississippi?+
Chancery Court, the state's court of equity. Mississippi is divided into 20 Chancery Court Districts, each covering a group of counties, and a chancellor in that district hears divorce, custody, and related matters.
How do I get temporary custody or support decided in a Mississippi divorce?+
You ask the chancellor to grant temporary relief on the specific issue, such as custody or support, while the case is pending. The order applies only until it is changed or the case reaches a final judgment.
How do I get a temporary relief hearing scheduled in Mississippi?+
After filing and serving the motion, the chancery clerk's office in the filing county sets the matter for hearing according to that district's practice. Scheduling varies by chancery district, so confirm the process with the chancery clerk.
Can I attend a Mississippi Chancery Court hearing remotely?+
It depends on the district and the individual chancellor. There is no single statewide policy guaranteeing remote hearings for family law matters, so confirm with the chancery clerk or the chancellor's office handling the case.
How long does temporary relief last in a Mississippi divorce?+
It applies only while the case is pending, unless the chancellor changes it earlier. Once the case reaches a final judgment, the temporary order is replaced by whatever the judgment provides for custody, support, and property.
What can a temporary relief order cover in Mississippi?+
It can address temporary custody and visitation, temporary child or spousal support, and use of the marital home while the case is pending. It is an interim arrangement, not the final resolution.
This page is general information about court hearings in Mississippi, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Mississippi's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Mississippi. Virdix does not prepare or file Mississippi divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Mississippi.
More Mississippi divorce guides
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