Custody; create rebuttable presumption of joint custody with equal parenting time.

SB 2688 would establish a default rule in Mississippi custody cases that joint custody with equal parenting time is presumed to be in the child’s best interest, unless a court finds evidence showing it would be harmful. This presumption can be overridden by a showing of safety risks (like domestic abuse), and courts must document reasons for deviating unless both parents agree. The bill also requires courts to adjust child support calculations for equal parenting time and clarifies that domestic abuse protection orders against a parent automatically block the presumption. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.