What We Handle


      Strengthening Families and Children

      MVLP will only accept divorce matters which are based on the following grounds: irreconcilable differences; sentenced to penitentiary; and desertion.

      Parties with irreconcilable differences divorces will be required to execute a document which confirms their consent to the divorce and provisions related to property, child support and custody. Both parties must want to be divorced and agree to all terms of the divorce. The waiting period before the divorce can be final is sixty (60) days.

      Parties with divorces based on desertion will be required to provide the last known address of the spouse and, where the spouse is unknown, execute an affidavit which confirms that they have conducted a diligent search and reasonable inquiry into the whereabouts of the spouse for the purposes of service to the spouse by publication. To obtain a desertion divorce, a spouse must have left the marital home, been gone for one continuous year and not tried to return to the marriage. A witness is required to support claims of desertion.

      To obtain a sentenced to penitentiary divorce, a spouse must be or have been incarcerated in a state or federal prison. MVLP will only assist parties with divorces based on a spouse being sentenced to the penitentiary if the spouse is currently incarcerated and his/her release is not expected for at least one year after the party becomes a client of MVLP.

      A guardian other than the parents may be appointed over a minor child where either of the child's parents is deceased and/ or the minor's parents or a surviving parent is unable to fulfill the obligations of a parent. MVLP will accept uncontested guardianship matters only. In all instances, the parties will be required to provide MVLP with executed consent to guardianship documents from both of the child's biological parents. In the case of unknown fathers, the person seeking MVLP's assistance must execute an affidavit which confirms that s/he has conducted a diligent search and reasonable inquiry into the whereabouts of the father for the purposes of service to the unknown father by publication.

      A person may be adopted regardless of age. If the natural parents of the person to be adopted are still living, then the parents must either consent to the adoption or their parental rights must be terminated. MVLP will accept uncontested adoption matters only. In all instances the parties will be required to provide MVLP with executed consent to adoption and parental termination documents from both of the child's biological parents. In the case of unknown fathers, the person seeking MVLP's assistance must execute an affidavit which confirms that s/he has conducted a diligent search and reasonable inquiry into the whereabouts of the father for the purposes of service to the unknown father by publication.

      For the procurement of benefits, identification documents or other needs, Mississippi allows changes/alterations to birth certificates at the discretion of courts and the state's vital records agency. MVLP will accept birth certificate correction matters for the purpose of obtaining employment, public benefits, retirement and identification. In the case of birth certificate corrections due to changes in paternity, MVLP will handle changes to the minor's last name only.

      Conservatorships are granted when a person, by reason of advanced age, physical incapacity or mental weakness, is no longer able to properly care for his or herself. MVLP will accept conservatorship matters with the consent of the ward and other interested parties (spouses, siblings, etc.) and with the written and executed support of two of the ward's treating physicians.

      The age of majority in Mississippi is twenty-one (21). To become emancipated before twenty-one (21), a minor must file a petition in writing and join a "next friend" - typically a biological parent or next of kin. MVLP will only accept matters with the consent of the party's biological parents and if the party requesting assistance is seeking independent housing or employment and is currently employed and/or enrolled in a GED program or post-secondary education. In some instances, parties requesting assistance with emancipation matters may be required to provide proof of employment.

      MVLP will accept name change matters for the purpose of obtaining employment, public benefits retirement and identification. Due to MVLP's limited resources, MVLP will not provide services to individuals who are requesting assistance with a name change matter for vanity purposes only. 


      Stabilizing the Economy

      The effect of an expungement is to restore a person to the legal status the person held previous to any arrest or indictment. Once an expungement is received, the expunged offense is no longer viewable by the public. An expungement will remove a specific conviction from your public criminal record. MVLP will accept felony-only expungement matters. The individual must provide MVLP with a copy of his/her indictment, sentencing order and certification indicating the individual has completed his/her sentence.

      MVLP will accept misdemeanors expungement matters for clinics only. The individual must provide MVLP with a copy of his/her abstract/sentencing order.


      Foreclosure Prevention

      Foreclosure Prevention

      MVLP will assist individuals with loan modification papers from the individual’s mortgage servicer. In the event that loan modification is not available, MVLP will work with individuals to determine next steps available to the individual, including, but not limited to, representation for eviction matters, referral to bankruptcy attorney and any other remedy available to the individual.


      Protecting Vulnerable Populations

      An advanced healthcare directive, sometimes referred to as a “living will”, allows one to appoint an agent to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to do so for yourself as well as set forth your wishes as to end-of-life decisions. MVLP will accept Advance Healthcare Directive matters on behalf of the principal.  All income information accepted must be that of the principal.

      A power of attorney is a document by which one person appoints another as his or her agent and allows that agent in certain circumstances specified in the document to act on his or her behalf. Power of Attorney enables one to appoint an agent to act on your behalf in financial and/or economic matters. MVLP will accept Power of Attorney matters on behalf of the principal.  All income information accepted must be that of the principal.

      A will is a legal document that states one's desires concerning what will happen to assets after death. A will also contains other specific directions concerning who is to follow the instructions of the will and who will care for minor children that may be left behind. MVLP will accept simple will matters only where the party does not own significant property or expect to owe estate taxes at his/her death and where the party does not anticipate that anyone will contest his/her will.