Mississippi calculates child support using statutory guidelines that consider both parents’ gross incomes, the number of children, and specific deductible items such as certain insurance costs or mandatory retirement contributions. Courts start with a guideline amount based on combined parental income and then allocate the obligation between parents. In Pearlington, local practice and the particular facts of a family’s custody arrangement, healthcare needs, and childcare expenses influence the final amount, and judges can explain deviations from the guidelines when justified. Factors that often affect support amounts include parenting time split, irregular or self-employment income, and extraordinary expenses like special medical or educational needs. Accurate documentation of income and expenses is essential to a fair calculation, so parents should present pay stubs, recent tax returns, and proof of recurring costs. Clear records and organized financial affidavits help the court produce an order that reflects both the child’s needs and each parent’s financial capacity.