Bolivar County Court Records Search
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Bolivar County, Mississippi, sits in the heart of the Mississippi Delta and maintains a multi-court judicial system reflecting the county’s division into two geographic districts — one centered in Rosedale (First Judicial District) and the other in Cleveland (Second Judicial District). Court records produced by these courts document civil disputes, criminal prosecutions, estate administrations, family law proceedings, and more. The Bolivar County government provides public information about its various departments, including those responsible for maintaining court records. Understanding which court holds which records — and how to request them — is the key to locating documents efficiently in this county.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bolivar County?
Locating court case information in Bolivar County generally requires knowing whether the matter was handled by the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, County Court, or Justice Court, since each maintains its own dockets and files. MississippiCourts.us is a useful starting point for understanding how Mississippi’s statewide court system is organized and identifying which court may hold a particular case type. For actual case lookups, the primary online tool for Bolivar County circuit and county court records is the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) platform, operated by the Mississippi Judiciary. MEC provides internet-based access to electronic case filings and documents for courts that have been onboarded to the system, including the Bolivar County Circuit Court.
Public access to MEC requires registering for a PAMEC (Public Access Mississippi Electronic Case Management) account. The registration fee is $10, with a $10 annual renewal fee. Viewing individual documents carries a per-page fee of $0.20. For those who prefer in-person research, each court clerk’s office maintains physical case files and allows walk-in inspection during regular business hours.
Are Court Records Public in Bolivar County?
Mississippi’s approach to public records access is rooted in the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, which declares that public records are the property of the people and generally available for inspection. Court records in Bolivar County fall under this framework and are presumptively open to inspection by any member of the public unless a specific legal exemption applies.
Several categories of court records are restricted or withheld entirely from public view:
- Sealed records — Case files sealed by court order are inaccessible without a subsequent court order authorizing disclosure.
- Expunged records — Records expunged under Mississippi law are removed from public access and treated as if no proceeding occurred.
- Adoption files — Adoption proceedings are confidential by statute and sealed unless a chancellor issues an order to the contrary.
- Mental health and commitment records — Involuntary commitment files are treated as sealed and are not accessible to the public.
- Juvenile records — Youth Court proceedings involving minors are confidential under Mississippi law.
- Attorney work product — Internal attorney documents submitted to the court as privileged materials are not public.
- Jury records containing identifying information — Juror data protected under applicable rules is not released to the public.
For Chancery Court records specifically, the Bolivar County Chancery Clerk’s Office has confirmed that all chancery court files are public records unless sealed by the chancellor. Adoptions and mental health files are categorically sealed. Requesters who believe a record has been improperly withheld may petition the court for review.
Bolivar County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Bolivar County are prosecuted in the Circuit Court, which is divided between two courthouses. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all felony indictments and jury trials. Non-capital felony cases may be transferred to the County Court for handling by the county court judge. Misdemeanor criminal offenses fall within the jurisdiction of the Justice Court, which also handles traffic violations. The County Court holds concurrent criminal jurisdiction with the Justice Court in all matters.
The Circuit Clerk — currently Judith D. Thompson — serves as the official custodian of all criminal case files in both the Circuit Court and the County Court. Her office receives and indexes all indictments, motions, and related criminal filings, and maintains a record of all judgments and executions.
Bolivar County Circuit Court — Criminal Records Contact Information
| Office | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk — 2nd District (Cleveland) | 200 South Court Street, P.O. Box 670, Cleveland, MS 38732 | (662) 843-2061 | (662) 846-2943 |
| Circuit Clerk — 1st District (Rosedale) | 801 Main Street, P.O. Box 205, Rosedale, MS 38769 | (662) 759-6521 | (662) 759-3717 |
To search criminal case records, requesters may use the MEC case search platform for electronically filed cases. In-person requests are accepted at either Circuit Clerk location during regular business hours. Requesters should bring case-identifying information such as the defendant’s name or case number to expedite the search.
For information on individuals currently held in the Bolivar County detention facility, the Bolivar County Regional Correctional Facility is located at 2792 Highway 8 West, Cleveland, MS 38732, and can be reached at (662) 843-7478. For those serving state sentences, the Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate search allows name-based lookups of state prisoners, probationers, and parolees.
Bolivar County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Bolivar County is distributed across three court levels depending on the amount at issue and the nature of the claim. The Justice Court handles small claims civil disputes involving amounts of $3,500 or less under Miss. Code § 9-11-9. The County Court has civil jurisdiction concurrent with both the Justice Court and the Circuit/Chancery Courts for matters not exceeding $200,000, and holds exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain proceedings, partition of personal property, and unlawful detainer actions. The Circuit Court handles larger civil claims and matters not assigned to other courts.
The Circuit Clerk’s Office maintains civil case files for Circuit Court and County Court proceedings. Requests for civil records may be submitted in person at either courthouse location. For the Justice Court, the Bolivar County Justice Court is located at:
Bolivar County Justice Court
Address: 404 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, P.O. Box 1507, Cleveland, MS 38732
Phone: (662) 843-4008
Fax: (662) 846-6783
Civil case records accessible through the MEC platform include complaints, summonses, motions, orders, and judgments for cases electronically filed in the Circuit and County Courts. Older paper case files that predate MEC’s integration require in-person visits to the relevant clerk’s office. Copies of civil court documents obtained from the Circuit Clerk’s office may carry a per-page fee.
Bolivar County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Bolivar County are primarily the domain of the Chancery Court, which is part of the 7th Chancery Court District of Mississippi. The Chancery Court handles divorce proceedings, child custody and support determinations, adoptions, domestic violence matters in equity, and related family issues. The Chancery Clerk serves as the official record custodian for all chancery proceedings, including those involving family law.
Divorce Records
Both contested and uncontested divorce actions are filed with the Bolivar County Chancery Clerk. The filing fee for an uncontested divorce is $30.00, while a contested divorce carries a filing fee of $75.00. Additional assessment fees apply to all chancery filings. Copies of divorce file documents are available at $0.50 per page. Divorce decree requests require in-person attendance at one of the two Chancery Clerk locations.
| Chancery Clerk Office | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st District (Rosedale) | P.O. Box 238, Rosedale, MS 38769 | (662) 759-3762 | (662) 759-3467 |
| 2nd District (Cleveland) | P.O. Box 789, Cleveland, MS 38732 | (662) 843-2071 | (662) 846-2940 |
Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Child Custody and Support
Custody and support petitions are filed in Chancery Court. The filing fee for a child support petition is $15.00, while contempt actions in child support matters carry a $75.00 fee. Modifications to existing custody and support orders are also handled by the Chancery Court. The County Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Chancery Court in some family-related civil matters up to the $200,000 jurisdictional threshold.
Marriage Records
Marriage records for Bolivar County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s Office, which has issued marriage licenses and kept records of marriages since 1866. Requests for certified copies of marriage records can be submitted in person at either Circuit Clerk location. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) also maintains marriage records and accepts mail-in requests. MSDH charges $17 for the first certified copy of a marriage certificate and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Vital Records — Birth and Death Certificates
Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Bolivar County are maintained by MSDH. Mail-in requests require a completed application form, a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, and a money order or check payable to Mississippi Vital Records.
- Birth certificate application: Available in English or Spanish
- Death certificate application: Available in English or Spanish
- Fee: $17 for the first certified copy; $6 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously
- Mail requests to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700
- In-person requests: MSDH Customer Service, 222 Marketridge Drive, Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS (8:00 AM–4:00 PM, weekdays)
Online orders can also be placed through VitalChek, the authorized vendor for remote orders, though a processing fee applies in addition to the state’s $17 certificate fee.
Bolivar County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Bolivar County belongs to the Chancery Court, which oversees the administration of decedents’ estates, the probate of wills, guardianship and conservatorship appointments, and related proceedings. The Bolivar County Chancery Court sits within the 7th Chancery Court District and serves both judicial districts of the county from the Rosedale and Cleveland court locations.
The following filing fees apply to common probate matters handled by the Chancery Clerk:
| Probate Matter | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate of deceased (intestate) | $75.00 |
| Guardianship / Conservatorship | $75.00 |
| Adoption | $75.00 |
| Partition suit | $75.00 |
| Injunction | $75.00 |
| Settlement of small claims | $30.00 |
| Alteration of birth / marriage record | $25.00 |
| Copies of file documents | $0.50 per page |
| Issuance of Sheriff’s summons | $35.00 per summons |
Additional assessment fees — covering the Law Library ($2.50), Court Administrator ($2.00), Judicial Training ($2.50), CLAF ($5.00), CECSF ($10.00), and Judicial Pay ($40.00) — are added to each probate filing.
All Chancery Court files are public records unless sealed by a chancellor. Adoption files and mental health commitment files are categorically sealed. As of the time of this writing, Chancery Court files in Bolivar County are not fully accessible via the internet and generally require in-person visits to the Chancery Clerk’s office to review physical case files. Requesters should contact the applicable district office directly to confirm current availability and to arrange record access. Both Chancery Clerk offices can be reached at the phone numbers listed in the Family Court Records section above.
For those researching estate matters involving Bolivar County real property, the Chancery Clerk also serves as the County Recorder and maintains deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, federal tax liens, and other land records at the 801 Main Street location in Rosedale — all of which may intersect with estate administration proceedings.