What Is The Deployed Parents Custody And Visitation Act?

Jan 16, 2024

Being a parent while in the military or National Guard can leave a lot of questions about custody and visitation. You may wonder what happens to your custody agreement if you’re deployed or mobilized. Thankfully, there are protections for deployed parents that allow them to maintain a relationship with their children even if they are deployed. 


The Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act (DPVCA) is a federal statute designed to protect military parents involved in custody or visitation proceedings. It grants certain provisions to protect a deployed parent’s rights while they are away from their child.


Custody and visitation while deployed or mobilized can be difficult for both parents. If you’re worried about how your service might impact your parental duties or how your co-parent’s deployment will affect your children, working with a custody attorney can help.


Contact Campbell Law
today to learn more about how we may be able to help you with any custody or visitation issues you may have.

Parental Deployment or Mobilization In Mississippi

The UDPCVA was enacted by the National Conference of Commissioners On Uniform State Laws in order to protect parents and their visitation and custody rights. The states aren’t required to enact the UDPCVA. If a state has not enacted its own laws to protect parental custody during deployment, there are no additional parental rights protections.


The
UDPCVA includes important provisions to protect parent’s rights:

  • Prohibits the courts from considering deployments when making a best-interest decision in custody proceedings
  • Sets the procedure for making out-of-court agreements about custody and visitation during deployment
  • Allows for expedited proceedings to ensure that a custody order is created before deployment
  • Prohibits permanent custody orders while a parent is deployed
  • Establishes procedure to end a temporary custody agreement


Mississippi has not adopted the UDPCVA or any similar laws at the time of writing, which means that this act does not protect Mississippi parents in the military or National Guard.

Mississippi Protection of Custody and Visitation During Parental Deployment or Mobilization

Mississippi currently does not have the UDPCVA or any similar legislation. This has been a recent topic of discussion, and the Mississippi legislature has been working on legislation to protect deployed or mobilized parents. 


If you are a parent currently serving in the military or National Guard and going through custody proceedings, you may think you have extra protections because of articles you’ve read online about deployment parental rights. However, in Mississippi, this is not yet the case. Working with a custody attorney who’s up-to-date on the most recent developments is a good idea. An attorney who knows what’s currently happening with the Mississippi laws protecting deployed and mobilized parents can help better represent you through your custody proceedings.

Contact a Custody Attorney

Being a servicemember who’s deployed or mobilized can make custody arrangements difficult. An attorney can help you with your custody agreement and any changes in the Mississippi law that apply to custody during deployment.


Contact Jason Campbell today
to learn more about how we may be able to help you through your custody battle.

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