Under Mississippi law, "physical custody" refers to the right to have the children reside with or be under the physical care of the custodial parent. "Legal custody" refers to the decision-making rights, responsibilities and authority relating to the health, education and welfare of the children. The court may award physical and legal custody to the parents jointly, individually, or in combination. Joint physical custody allows each parent to have significant periods of physical custody. Joint legal custody requires the parents to share the decision-making rights, responsibilities and authority relating to the health, education and welfare of children.

An award of joint legal custody also obligates the parents to exchange information concerning the health, education and welfare of the minor children, and to confer with one another in the exercise of decision-making rights, responsibilities and authority. Regardless of how physical and legal custody is allocated, access to medical, dental and school records may not be denied to a parent on the basis that the parent is not the children's custodial parent if that parent's parental rights have not been terminated.