Home › Mississippi › How-To Guide
Mississippi · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Circuit Clerk (Circuit Court records) / Chancery Clerk (Chancery Court records - land, estates, divorce) (county level - each of Mississippi's 82 counties) / Mississippi Supreme Court (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine which court holds your record:
  2. CIRCUIT COURT (Circuit Clerk): criminal cases (felonies), major civil cases, jury trials
  3. CHANCERY COURT (Chancery Clerk): land records/deeds, estate/probate matters, divorce and domestic relations, equity cases, tax sales
  4. JUSTICE COURT: misdemeanors, small claims, traffic (Justice Court clerk handles)
  5. Search online:
  6. MISSISSIPPI ELECTRONIC COURTS (MEC): courts.ms.gov - Mississippi's e-filing and case management system; public access to case information available for some courts; search at courts.ms.gov/mcir (Mississippi Courts Internet Repository)
  7. INDIVIDUAL COUNTY WEBSITES: Each county's Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk maintain their own websites with varying levels of online access
  8. LAND RECORDS: Many counties participate in eGovServices or similar platforms for deed and land record searches; access varies by county
  9. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the appropriate clerk in the county where the case was filed
  10. In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online case information: free for basic access through MCIR; certified copies: varies by county; contact specific clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Varies by county; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Limited - Mississippi Courts Internet Repository (MCIR) at courts.ms.gov/mcir; individual county clerk websites
Where to Go
Circuit Clerk (criminal and civil cases); Chancery Clerk (land, estate, divorce records) - both at county courthouse
County-specific variations apply

Mississippi's 82 counties each have separate Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk offices. Online access varies significantly. Hinds County (Jackson), DeSoto County (Hernando), Harrison County (Gulfport), and Rankin County have better online systems. Rural north and east Mississippi counties may have very limited online access requiring in-person visits. Note that divorce records are held by the Chancery Clerk (NOT the Circuit Clerk) - a common source of confusion.

Mississippi Notes

Important state-specific details

  • CRITICAL DISTINCTION: Mississippi has two separate trial court systems with two separate clerks - Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk - each holding different types of records.
  • Divorce records: Chancery Clerk in the county where divorce was granted (MSDH Vital Records DOES NOT maintain divorce records; can perform a 5-year search of divorce index for $17).
  • Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions: courts.ms.gov.
  • Criminal history background checks: Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) - dps.ms.gov/background-check.
  • Mississippi Sex Offender Registry: dps.ms.gov/sor - searchable online.
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules apply.
  • Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code § 25-61-1 et seq.): agencies must respond promptly; reasonable time for compliance.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Mississippi Supreme Court / Administrative Office of Courts - courts.ms.gov | (601) 359-3694; DPS (criminal history) - dps.ms.gov | (601) 987-1212