Lafayette County Court Records
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Lafayette County sits in northern Mississippi, with Oxford — home to the University of Mississippi — as the county seat. The county's courts operate within the Third Circuit Judicial District and include a Circuit Court for felonies and major civil litigation, a Chancery Court for equity and family law matters, a County Court with broad concurrent jurisdiction, a Justice Court for misdemeanors and small civil claims, and municipal courts in Oxford, Abbeville, and Taylor. Depending on the case type, records are kept either by the Circuit Clerk or the Chancery Clerk.
If you're researching Mississippi court filings, the state judiciary's Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system now supports electronic filing across all 82 counties. MEC is the main portal attorneys use to submit pleadings, and registered users can access case information for circuit, chancery, and county courts. You can also walk into the clerk offices in Oxford, use public-access terminals at the courthouses, or visit the MississippiCourts.us website to locate publicly available court case information across the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lafayette County?
Start by identifying which court handled the case, because the case type determines which office holds the records. Lafayette County has two primary custodial offices — the Circuit Clerk and the Chancery Clerk — plus a separate Justice Court clerk.
Lafayette County Circuit Clerk
Address: 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 101, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: (662) 234-4951
Fax: (662) 236-0238
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Circuit Clerk maintains all records for the Circuit Court and County Court, including criminal dockets, civil case files, and appeals from lower courts. The office accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. You can make a request four ways:
- In person at Suite 101 of the Lafayette County Courthouse on the Oxford Square. Public terminals may be available for self-service searches.
- By phone at (662) 234-4951. Staff can check case availability and walk you through the fees.
- By email to the civil division at cwells@lafayettecoms.com or the criminal division at bdunn@lafayettecoms.com.
- Through MEC. The Mississippi Electronic Courts system lets registered users search and view case records filed electronically. Both the Lafayette County Circuit Court and County Court are active on MEC.
Lafayette County Chancery Clerk
Address: 300 N. Lamar Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: (662) 234-2131
Fax: (662) 234-5038
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Chancery Clerk holds all Chancery Court records, public land records, and vital statistics filings. The office went live on MEC in June 2023, so all court documents are now filed electronically. Land records remain accessible through Delta Computer Systems, which also provides online access to deeds, judgment rolls, marriage licenses, and other recorded instruments.
Lafayette County Justice Court
Address: 72 F.D. Buddy East Parkway, Suite 201, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: (662) 234-1545
Fax: (662) 238-7990
Email: justicecourt@lafayettecoms.com
The Justice Court clerk keeps records for misdemeanor charges, felony preliminary hearings, traffic citations, and small civil cases involving amounts under $3,500.
For any record request, provide as much identifying information as you can: the full legal names of the parties, the case number if you have it, the approximate year it was filed, and the case type.
Are Court Records Public in Lafayette County?
Mississippi law starts from a strong presumption that government records are open. The Mississippi Public Records Act (Mississippi Code Title 25, Chapter 61) requires that any governmental body make its public records available for inspection and copying by any person, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Court records in Lafayette County follow this principle. Docket entries, orders, summons, transcripts, motions, and final judgments from Circuit, Chancery, County, and Justice Courts are generally open to the public. Anyone can visit the applicable clerk's office during business hours to inspect files or request copies.
Records that are restricted or confidential include:
- Juvenile court records (youth court matters handled by the County Court)
- Sealed or expunged records
- Records identifying victims of abuse
- Documents containing medical or mental health information
- Financial information such as Social Security numbers and bank account numbers
If a public records request is denied, you can file a complaint with the Mississippi Ethics Commission, which has authority to investigate, mediate, and hold hearings on alleged violations of the Public Records Act. A Public Records Complaint Form is available on the Commission's website.
Copy fees vary by office. Contact the specific clerk that holds the records for current per-page rates. The Chancery Clerk's office accepts debit and credit cards but no longer accepts personal checks.
Lafayette County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Lafayette County are split across several courts depending on the severity of the charge.
Circuit Court hears all felony cases, including those originating from Oxford, the University of Mississippi Police Department, and the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department. The Circuit Court sits within the Third Circuit Judicial District and conducts trials with 12-member juries. Criminal case records — indictments, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders — are filed with the Circuit Clerk and are searchable through MEC.
County Court has authority to issue search warrants, set bonds, and conduct preliminary hearings. The County Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over youth court matters (delinquency and abuse/neglect cases) and hears criminal appeals from Justice Court and Municipal Court. Filing fees for County Court cases are the same as Circuit Court fees.
Justice Court handles misdemeanors from unincorporated Lafayette County and the University of Mississippi, along with traffic tickets issued by the Sheriff's Department, University Police, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Municipal Courts adjudicate city ordinance violations:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford Municipal Court | 107 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655 | (662) 232-2320 |
| Abbeville Municipal Court | P.O. Box 19, Abbeville, MS 38601 | (662) 236-8588 |
| Taylor Municipal Court | 12 Main Street, P.O. Box 6, Taylor, MS 38676 | (662) 236-7551 |
Circuit court fines can be paid online through mycircuitcourtpayment.com.
Arrest records and criminal background checks. The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department maintains local arrest records and can be reached at:
Lafayette County Sheriff's Department
Address: 711 Jackson Avenue East, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: (662) 234-6421
Fax: (662) 236-0203
For a statewide criminal background check, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety offers a name-based background check for $32 per request. This search covers arrest and conviction data statewide, including Lafayette County records.
Lafayette County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Lafayette County are heard across several courts depending on the nature and dollar amount of the dispute.
Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil lawsuits with no maximum dollar cap, including personal injury, contract disputes, and workers' compensation appeals. Civil case files — complaints, answers, discovery materials, motions, and judgments — are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and filed through MEC.
County Court exercises concurrent civil jurisdiction over claims up to $200,000 and hears civil appeals from Justice and Municipal Courts. It also has exclusive jurisdiction over eminent domain proceedings.
Justice Court handles civil disputes involving less than $3,500, which work similarly to small claims. File these cases at the Justice Court clerk's office at 72 F.D. Buddy East Parkway, Suite 201, Oxford.
Chancery Court hears equity cases — property rights, contract rescission, injunctions, land disputes, and partition actions, among others. Civil records from Chancery Court are maintained by the Chancery Clerk at 300 N. Lamar Boulevard.
To request civil court records, contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed:
- Circuit/County Court civil records: Circuit Clerk's Office, (662) 234-4951 or email cwells@lafayettecoms.com
- Chancery Court civil records: Chancery Clerk's Office, (662) 234-2131
- Justice Court civil records: (662) 234-1545 or email justicecourt@lafayettecoms.com
Online civil record resources. The Delta Computer Systems portal for Lafayette County offers searchable access to land records, deeds and recorded instruments, and the judgment roll. This database is updated frequently but may lag behind actual courthouse activity. The Tri-State Consulting Services website also offers property appraisal maps and breakdowns used by the county.
Property records. The Lafayette County Tax Assessor/Collector keeps records of all taxable property in the county and can be reached at (662) 234-5562 (Assessor) or (662) 234-6006 (Tax Collector). Property tax payments can be made online through Delta Computer Systems.
Lafayette County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Lafayette County — including divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption — are heard by the Chancery Court. The Chancery Court also handles matters involving persons of unsound mind and related competency proceedings.
Accessing divorce and custody records. Divorce decrees, custody orders, child support modifications, and other family case documents are available from the Chancery Clerk's Office at 300 N. Lamar Boulevard, Oxford. Call (662) 234-2131 to ask about record availability and copy fees. All Chancery Court filings are now processed through MEC, so registered users can also search case information electronically.
The Chancery Clerk's office accepts debit and credit cards for all transactions. Personal checks are no longer accepted.
Domestic violence protective orders. Protection orders may be sought through the Chancery Court. The Drug Court, located at 101 Veterans Drive in Oxford, may also be involved where substance abuse intersects with family matters. Reach the Drug Court at (662) 236-3402.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Clerk's Office and filed with the State Board of Health. Locally, marriage license records can be searched online through Delta Computer Systems. Certified copies of marriage certificates are available from the Mississippi Vital Records Office of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). The fee is $17 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can make a request three ways:
- Online or by phone through VitalChek at (601) 206-8200 (additional processing fees apply)
- By mail using the Marriage Record Application Form, sent to Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order payable to Mississippi Vital Records.
- In person at the Mississippi Vital Records Office, 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Birth and death records. The MSDH maintains birth and death records for events in Mississippi from November 1912 onward. Certified copies cost $17 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. You can submit applications for a certified copy of a birth certificate or death certificate by mail, in person, or online through VitalChek. Both forms are also available in Spanish (birth) and Spanish (death).
Lafayette County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Lafayette County are handled exclusively by the Chancery Court. This covers the administration of decedents' estates (whether testate or intestate), probating wills, appointing executors and administrators, heirship determinations, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Where probate records are kept. All probate files — petitions, inventories, accountings, final distributions, and letters testamentary or of administration — are maintained by the Chancery Clerk at:
Lafayette County Chancery Clerk
Address: 300 N. Lamar Boulevard, Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: (662) 234-2131
Fax: (662) 234-5038
To request copies of probate records, visit the Chancery Clerk's office in person during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) or call to ask about a specific estate. Because the office now files all court documents through MEC, registered users may also be able to access probate case information electronically.
Filing fees. Lafayette County Chancery Court filing fees for probate matters are set by state law. A fee schedule (PDF) is available on the county website, though fees are subject to periodic adjustment. Heirship petitions, estate openings, and guardianship filings each carry separate fees that typically include a recording component for land records.
Guardianship and conservatorship. The Chancery Court appoints guardians for minors and incapacitated adults, and conservators for persons who cannot manage their own financial affairs. The County Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over certain youth court matters — including abuse and neglect proceedings — that may overlap with guardianship issues. For County Court youth matters, call (662) 234-4954, ext. 360.
Land records connected to estates. When real property passes through probate, the resulting instruments — deeds from estates, court orders affecting title, heirship affidavits — are recorded in the Chancery Clerk's land records. You can search them online through the Delta Computer Systems deeds and records portal or the virtual index books. The Chancery Clerk's office can also assist with in-person searches of recorded land instruments.