George County Court Records Search

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    George County, Mississippi encompasses the small city of Lucedale and surrounding communities in the southern part of the state. Like all Mississippi counties, George County maintains a network of courts, each responsible for specific categories of legal proceedings and each generating records that may be available for public inspection. Whether you're researching a civil judgment, verifying a criminal case, or tracing family legal history, knowing which court handled the matter — and how its clerk maintains records — is the essential first step.

    Court records for George County cases can be located through several channels, including in-person visits to the relevant clerk's office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online resources. Mississippi's MississippiCourts.us offers a statewide entry point to publicly available court case information, court locations, and judicial resources that can help users identify the appropriate court and access case data across the state.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in George County?

    The process for locating a George County court record depends on which court handled the case. The county's Circuit, Chancery, and Justice Courts each maintain their own records through their respective clerks. For most civil and criminal matters adjudicated in Circuit or Chancery Court, records are now part of the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system, which allows registered users to e-file and access trial court documents remotely. MEC covers Chancery and Circuit Courts across all 82 Mississippi counties, making it a practical first stop for locating case filings online.

    For in-person searches, identify the correct court and contact or visit its clerk during regular business hours:

    George County Circuit/Chancery Courthouse
    Address: 355 Cox Street, Lucedale, MS 39452
    Circuit Clerk Phone: (601) 947-4881
    Chancery Clerk Phone: (601) 947-4801
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    George County Justice Court
    Address: 368 Cox Street, Lucedale, MS 39452
    Phone: (601) 947-4834
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    City of Lucedale Municipal Court
    Address: 545 Oak Street, Lucedale, MS 39452
    Phone: (601) 766-3336

    When visiting or contacting a clerk's office, bring either the full name of a party involved in the case or the case number. Certified copies carry a fee, with standard copy charges starting at $0.50 per page consistent with Mississippi Supreme Court Clerk fee schedules. Copies made from bound volumes may cost $2.00 per page. Land and property-related records maintained by the Chancery Clerk can also be searched and purchased online through the George County Records Portal, where a 3.5% service fee (minimum $2.00) applies to credit card purchases.

    Are Court Records Public in George County?

    Court records in George County are generally open to public inspection, though the legal framework differs from that governing other government documents. Mississippi's state judiciary operates under the Mississippi Supreme Court's Public Records Policy rather than the Mississippi Public Records Act, which applies to executive branch agencies. The Supreme Court's policy reflects the principle that open courts serve the public interest, establishing that judicial records are presumptively available unless sealed by court order or restricted by statute.

    Several categories of records are confidential under Mississippi law and court rules:

    • Youth Court records — All proceedings involving juveniles are confidential and may not be disclosed except as authorized by the Mississippi Youth Court Act.
    • Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related filings are sealed from public view.
    • Mental health commitment records — Records pertaining to commitments of mentally disabled persons are restricted.
    • Expunged criminal records — Cases that have been expunged are removed from public access.
    • Sealed filings — Any record sealed by judicial order is not publicly accessible.
    • Sensitive personal information — Certain identifying data, such as Social Security numbers and financial account details, may be redacted from publicly accessible copies.

    All other records — including most civil, criminal, and probate filings — are accessible by any member of the public upon request to the appropriate clerk's office.

    George County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal matters in George County are handled at multiple levels depending on the severity of the offense. The George County Circuit Court is the primary venue for felony prosecutions and bastardy proceedings, as well as appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Court also handles misdemeanor matters and civil actions of any dollar amount. Judges Keith Miller, Kathy Jackson, and Calvin Taylor currently preside over the Circuit Court, with terms running through 2026. The 2026 Circuit Court Calendar is available online for those tracking scheduled proceedings.

    The George County Justice Court, presided over by Judges Mike Bullock (District 1) and Marty Davis (District 2), handles misdemeanor criminal charges, felony preliminary hearings, and traffic citations issued by the Sheriff's Department, highway patrol, constables, and state agencies including Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources. The Justice Court also conducts bond hearings and can issue search warrants.

    The City of Lucedale Municipal Court handles misdemeanor offenses, city ordinance violations, and municipal traffic matters occurring within Lucedale city limits.

    To request criminal court records, contact the Circuit Clerk's office at (601) 947-4881 or visit 355 Cox Street during business hours. You'll need to supply a party name or case number to initiate a search. Case information accessible through the MEC system may help you identify case numbers before making an in-person request.

    For criminal history background checks — as opposed to court case records — the Mississippi Department of Public Safety administers a name-based background check process. These criminal history records are maintained separately from court filings and are not classified as public records; access is governed by specific eligibility criteria.

    George County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in George County is distributed among three courts based on the dollar amount and nature of the dispute. The Circuit Court has unlimited civil jurisdiction and handles lawsuits of any monetary value, as well as appeals from lower courts and administrative bodies such as the Workers' Compensation Commission. The Chancery Court exercises jurisdiction over equity matters, land title disputes, and contract issues involving real property. For smaller disputes, the Justice Court handles civil claims under $3,500 — making it the venue for small claims matters under Miss. Code § 9-11-9.

    Civil case records maintained by the Circuit Clerk include filings, judgments, and the judgment roll, which tracks monetary judgments entered by the court. Accessing civil or criminal case records through the MEC system requires user registration, and all civil and criminal cases — including the judgment roll — must be accessed through MEC by registered users. For those who prefer in-person access, visiting the Circuit Clerk's office at 355 Cox Street remains a straightforward option.

    The Chancery Clerk at the same address separately maintains all land and court records under its jurisdiction. The office has completed a full digital scanning of 31 years of land records, making the county one of the earlier adopters of the MEC system in its district. Chancery-related civil documents — including deeds, trust documents, wills, and cancellations — can be searched through the George County Records Portal.

    Standard fees for civil record copies start at $0.50 per page for standard documents. Certified copies carry additional fees. Contact the appropriate clerk's office in advance if you need a certified copy or exemplification, as timelines and costs may vary.

    George County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in George County fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the George County Chancery Court, which is the designated court for all domestic and family proceedings in Mississippi counties that do not have a separate County Court. The Chancery Court handles divorce, child custody, child support, property division, alimony, and adoption. Proceedings are typically held at the historic George County Courthouse at 355 Cox Street, Lucedale, on the second floor — though parties should confirm hearing schedules with the Chancery Clerk's office at (601) 947-4801.

    Divorce Records: When a divorce petition is filed in Chancery Court, it becomes a record maintained by the Chancery Clerk. Once proceedings have concluded, the divorce record is generally accessible to the public. You can visit the Chancery Clerk's office to inspect the record or obtain a copy for a fee. A non-certified copy starts at $0.50 per page, while certified copies cost more. Marriage licenses — which precede divorce proceedings — are issued and maintained by the George County Circuit Clerk. Anyone wishing to verify or obtain a record of a marriage licensed in the county may visit the Circuit Clerk's office and provide the names of both spouses and, if available, the approximate date of the marriage.

    Adoption Records: While adoption proceedings are heard in Chancery Court, these records are sealed from public inspection under Mississippi law and are not available to the general public.

    Domestic Violence and Child Custody: Protection order proceedings and child custody determinations are also handled through the Chancery Court. Records from concluded custody proceedings are generally accessible, though certain sensitive filings may be redacted or restricted by court order.

    For birth and death records related to family matters — such as verifying parentage or confirming a death in an estate context — these documents are maintained by the Mississippi Department of Health's Vital Records Office. Birth certificates cost $17, with additional copies of the same record costing $6 each. The same fee schedule applies to death certificates. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail using the Birth Certificate Application Form or Death Record Application Form, or online through the department's vendor. Mail requests should be directed to:

    Mississippi Vital Records
    P.O. Box 1700
    Jackson, MS 39215-1700

    Birth records are restricted to the registrant, immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized representatives. Death records carry similar restrictions, though records more than 50 years old become available to the general public.

    George County Probate Court Records

    Probate and estate matters in George County are handled by the Chancery Court and administered through the Chancery Clerk's office, which is the official record keeper for all probate proceedings in the county. The Chancery Clerk, Cammie Byrd, and her staff process a wide range of probate-related matters on a routine basis — including the administration of decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, wills, name changes, and mental health commitments.

    Under Mississippi law, the Chancery Court has jurisdiction over wills and estates, sanity hearings, and guardianships. When a person dies with a will (testate) or without one (intestate), the estate is opened in Chancery Court, and the resulting case file becomes a record of the Chancery Clerk. These probate case files generally include the petition for probate, inventory of assets, creditor notices, accountings, and the final decree of distribution.

    To access probate records, visit the Chancery Clerk's office at 355 Cox Street, Lucedale, MS 39452, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), or call (601) 947-4801. Bring a party name or case number to help staff locate the correct file. Copies of probate documents can also be purchased through the George County Records Portal, which may reduce or eliminate the need for an in-person visit.

    It's worth noting that certain probate-adjacent records carry confidentiality protections. Guardianship records involving minors and mental health commitment proceedings are restricted, meaning not all documents within a probate-related case file will be available for public inspection. If you have a specific legal interest in restricted records, consult an attorney about the procedures for petitioning the court for access.

      George County Court Records Search - MississippiCourts.us