West, MS Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for West, MS Consumers

Mississippi Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Mississippi PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Holmes County: Key information about your local probate court (Chancery Court in Mississippi) for Holmes County.
• How Probate Works in Mississippi: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Holmes County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Mississippi probate forms from the Mississippi probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Mississippi: Learn how to use Mississippi's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Mississippi, you can use an Affidavit if the estate is worth less than $12,500 and consists only of bank account and if there is no Will. Person claiming money must sign a bond guaranteeing to pay any lawful debts of the deceased up to the amount withdrawn.

    Miss. Code Ann 81-14-383.

    There is a summary probate procedure for estates worth less than $500.

    Miss. Code Ann 91-7-147.

• Mississippi Estate Taxes:

  • Mississippi, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in Mississippi. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

---

Mississippi Wage & Hour Law

• Mississippi Minimum Wage:  

  • Mississippi does not have its own minimum wage law. Therefore, employees in The Magnolia State are entitled to earn at least the federal minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. 

  • To learn more about the federal minimum wage, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Mississippi and whether they apply to you.

  • Mississippi has adopted the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime rate of 1-1/2 times your regular wage for every hour you work over 40 hours in a given workweek.

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Mississippi. 

  • You can find information and resources on filing a federal minimum wage claim with the Wage and Hour division at the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Mississippi.

  • In Mississippi, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Mississippi law from the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. 866-487-9243

---

Mississippi Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Mississippi: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Mississippi, unemployment benefits range from $30 per week to $235 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Mississippi, your weekly benefit amount is your wages during the highest paid quarter of the base period divided by 26. 

  • Duration:

    In Mississippi, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Mississippi.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

---

Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Mississippi MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Holmes County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Mississippi BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Mississippi law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Mississippi BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

---

Child Custody & Family Courts in Mississippi 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Mississippi Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Holmes County: Holmes County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

---

Mississippi Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Mississippi!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Mississippi? Learn about whether Mississippi imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Holmes County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

---

Democracy In Mississippi, Holmes County, West 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in West, MS.
• Gerrymandering in Mississippi: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

---

Find a Lawyer in West, MS

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration

---