Lamar County Court Records Search

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    Lamar County, Mississippi, is located in the southern part of the state with Purvis serving as the county seat. The county operates a multi-tiered court system that includes general and limited jurisdiction courts handling the full spectrum of legal matters — from felony criminal prosecutions to small claims, estate administration, and domestic relations. Records generated by these courts document case proceedings, judicial orders, and final judgments, and most are available for public inspection under Mississippi law.

    Researchers in Mississippi can begin locating case information through court clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and the state’s electronic case management system. MississippiCourts.us provides information about the state’s court structure and may help users identify the appropriate court for a particular type of record. The right access method in Lamar County depends on the court that handled the matter and whether the case has been entered into the state’s electronic filing system.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Lamar County?

    Lamar County maintains two general jurisdiction courts — the Circuit Court and the Chancery Court — along with the Justice Court, a County Court, and three municipal courts. Each court’s clerk maintains its own case records. Understanding which court handled a matter is the first step to locating the right record.

    Lamar County Circuit Court
    Address: 203 Main Street, P.O. Box 369, Purvis, MS 39475
    Phone: (601) 794-8504 | Fax: (601) 794-3905

    Lamar County Chancery Court
    Address: 403 Main Street, P.O. Box 247, Purvis, MS 39475
    Phone: (601) 794-8504

    Lamar County Justice Court
    Address: 205 Main Street, Suite A, P.O. Box 1010, Purvis, MS 39475
    Phone: (601) 794-2950

    Municipal Courts

    CourtMailing Address
    Lumberton Municipal CourtP.O. Box 211, Lumberton, MS 39455
    Purvis Municipal CourtP.O. Box 308, Purvis, MS 39475
    Sumrall Municipal CourtP.O. Box 247, Sumrall, MS 39482

    Online Search — Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC)

    Lamar County Circuit and Chancery Courts are part of the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system, the statewide platform for electronic filing and case management. Attorneys and registered users can log in and file documents or search case records through MEC. Members of the public can access court documents through the Public Access MEC (PAMEC) system at a rate of $0.20 per page. Registration is required; accounts can be created at the PAMEC registration portal. MEC Helpdesk: helpdesk@mec.ms.gov or (601) 576-4650.

    Chancery Records Online Portal

    The Chancery Clerk also maintains the Lamar County Chancery Records Online portal, which provides direct web-based access to official chancery records including land records and court filings. Users must create an account to search and view documents.

    In-Person Access

    Both the Circuit Clerk and the Chancery Clerk offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requesters should bring a case party name or case number to facilitate the search. Staff will locate the record and assess any applicable copy fees before providing documents.

    Mail Requests

    Written requests can be sent to the Circuit Clerk (P.O. Box 369, Purvis, MS 39475) or the Chancery Clerk (P.O. Box 247, Purvis, MS 39475). Include the names of all parties, the approximate date of filing, the type of case, and a daytime contact number. Note any preference for certified versus plain copies, as fees differ.

    Are Court Records Public in Lamar County?

    Mississippi’s framework for public access to court records rests on two foundations: the Mississippi Public Records Act (MPRA), codified at Title 25, Chapter 61 of the Mississippi Code, and the Mississippi Supreme Court’s Statement of Policy Regarding Openness and Availability of Public Records. Together, these establish that court records are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any person during regular business hours.

    The Clerk of Court will not release records that fall within defined confidentiality categories. Records restricted from public access include:

    • Adoption proceedings and related case files
    • Juvenile court records
    • Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
    • Security plans, procedures, or physical locations of court offices
    • Records that could reveal the identity of a confidential informant or witness
    • Documents whose disclosure would deprive a party of a fair trial or impartial adjudication
    • Personnel information including home addresses, Social Security numbers, personal telephone numbers, and family member details

    Redaction of certain personal identifiers is applied to public records before release where required by court rule or statute. When a specific record type is unclear, contacting the relevant clerk’s office before visiting in person can save time.

    Lamar County Criminal Court Records

    The Lamar County Circuit Court is the primary venue for felony criminal prosecutions in the county. The Justice Court handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, initial appearances, and bond hearings on felony cases. The Circuit Clerk’s Criminal Division maintains records for the following case types:

    • Criminal Felony (CF)
    • Criminal Misdemeanor (CM)
    • DUI (DT)
    • Traffic (TR)
    • Juvenile Abuse (JA)
    • Juvenile Delinquency (JD)
    • Juvenile (J)
    • Criminal Contempt (CC)

    Searching Criminal Case Records

    Criminal case records for Circuit Court matters are searchable through the MEC system. Registered PAMEC users can retrieve docket information and download documents for $0.20 per page. In-person searches at the Circuit Clerk’s office require a party name or case number; copy fees apply.

    Justice Court criminal case records are maintained at the Justice Court Clerk’s office at 205 Main Street, Suite A, Purvis. The court handles approximately 7,100 criminal cases annually, including misdemeanor pleas (heard Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.) and misdemeanor trials (heard Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m.).

    Sheriff’s Office Records

    The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office is located at 205 Main Street, Suite B, Purvis, MS 39475, and can be reached at (601) 794-1005. The Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail records. Requesters seeking records should appear in person with a valid photo ID and complete a records request form. Copy fees apply. An inmate search tool is available through the Sheriff’s department website.

    Statewide Criminal History Checks

    The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides name-based criminal history record checks through its online background check portal. Each request costs $32, payable by major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express). Processing takes up to 30 calendar days, and results are delivered by fax or mail. This service is primarily available to record subjects and authorized requesters.

    Lamar County Civil Court Records

    Civil jurisdiction in Lamar County is distributed across three courts depending on the claim amount and nature of the dispute:

    • Circuit Court Civil Division — Handles higher-value civil claims including law matters (L), eminent domain (ED), tax (TX), mental health (MH), orders of protection (OP), miscellaneous remedies (MR), municipal corporation matters (MC), and small claims (SC)
    • County Court — Has civil jurisdiction over cases with a maximum value of $200,000
    • Justice Court Civil Division — Handles small claims of $3,500 or less, evictions (dispossessories), replevins, and garnishments; processes approximately 6,000 civil cases per year

    Justice Court Civil Filing Fees

    Number of DefendantsFiling Fee
    One defendant$84.00
    Two defendants$99.00
    Post-judgment action$70.00

    All Justice Court civil filing fees are prepaid. Payments for traffic citations and civil filings can be made Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by cash, cashier’s check, money order, or credit card. Online citation payment is also available.

    Chancery Court Civil Records

    The Chancery Clerk’s office at 403 Main Street manages civil matters including land disputes, domestic relations, and equity proceedings. Copy fees for records searched and retrieved by the Chancery Clerk are $0.50 per page; copies made by members of the public from public terminals cost $0.25 per page; certified copies cost $1.00 per complete document. These same fee rates apply to property records and probate records handled by the Chancery Clerk.

    Civil filings in Circuit and Chancery Courts are processed through the MEC e-filing system. Attorneys practicing in these courts are required to file electronically; public access to filed documents is available through PAMEC.

    Lamar County Family Court Records

    Family-related proceedings in Lamar County are handled primarily by the Chancery Court, with the Justice Court and Circuit Court handling specific ancillary matters such as orders of protection and juvenile cases.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce proceedings are filed with the Lamar County Chancery Clerk of the Court. Divorce decrees are public records accessible at the Chancery Clerk’s office at 403 Main Street during regular business hours. Requesters may need to complete a form to initiate the search. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, with certified copies costing $1.00 per complete document. The Chancery Clerk can be reached at (601) 794-8504 to inquire about search options for those unable to visit in person.

    The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) also maintains a divorce index. A five-year search through MSDH can identify the county where the divorce was granted and the book and page number in the Chancery Clerk’s records. The MSDH divorce search fee is $17, which includes one copy if the record is found. This search does not produce a certified copy of the decree itself — the decree must be obtained from the Chancery Clerk.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s office and are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A party name or marriage date is needed to locate the record, and copy fees apply. Certified copies of marriage certificates are also available from the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records:

    • First certified copy: $17.00
    • Additional copies (same transaction): $6.00 each

    To request marriage records by mail from MSDH, complete the Application for Certified Copy of Record of Marriage — available in English or Spanish — and mail it with payment (check or money order) and a valid ID to:

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

    Online and phone orders can be placed through MSDH’s approved third-party vendor with an additional processing fee. In-person service is available at the MSDH Vital Records office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Child Custody, Support, and Paternity

    Custody, child support, and paternity cases are filed in Chancery Court and form part of the court’s “Family (F)” case type. These records are public unless sealed by court order. The Chancery Court convenes two weeks per month, beginning at 9:00 a.m., and all related case filings are maintained by the Chancery Clerk.

    Domestic Violence — Orders of Protection

    Orders of protection are handled in both the Justice Court (domestic orders of protection) and the Circuit Court (orders of protection as a civil case type). The Chancery Clerk also maintains domestic abuse protection order records. Contact the relevant clerk’s office to confirm which court issued a specific order before requesting the file.

    Birth and Death Records

    The MSDH Bureau of Vital Records maintains Lamar County birth and death records from 1912 to the present. Certified copies cost $17.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Eligible requesters include the record subject, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, legal guardians, legal representatives, and licensed adoption agencies for birth records; and immediate family, funeral homes, and those with a tangible legal interest for death records.

    Request forms:

    Mail requests require a completed form, payment by bank or postal money order, personal check, or bank cashier’s check, and a copy of a valid photo ID — sent to the Mississippi Vital Records address above. In-person requests at the Ridgeland office are fulfilled on the same day and can be paid by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. Mail orders are processed within 7 to 10 business days.

    Lamar County Probate Court Records

    Probate jurisdiction in Lamar County falls under the Chancery Court. The Lamar County Chancery Clerk maintains all probate case files, including the following record types:

    • Petitions for probate of wills and letters testamentary
    • Letters of administration for intestate estates
    • Conservatorship and guardianship petitions, inventories, and annual accountings
    • Adoption proceedings (sealed; not available for public inspection)
    • Trust-related filings
    • Minors’ settlements

    Most probate records held by the Chancery Clerk are public and open to any requester. The consistent fee structure applies: $0.50 per page for copies retrieved by staff, $0.25 per page for copies made by the requester from public terminals, and $1.00 per complete document for certified copies.

    Requesting Probate Records

    To obtain probate records in Lamar County:

    1. Contact or visit the Chancery Clerk’s office at 403 Main Street, Purvis, during hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    2. Provide the name of the decedent or subject, the approximate year the proceeding was opened, and any known case number.
    3. Staff will locate the file in the court’s docket and minute books, which are maintained as part of the Chancery Clerk’s official record-keeping responsibilities.
    4. Pay applicable copy fees before documents are released.

    For registered PAMEC users, probate case documents entered into the MEC system can be searched and downloaded remotely at $0.20 per page through the MEC portal. The Chancery Records Online portal at chancery.lamarcountyms.gov also provides web-based access to official Chancery records for registered account holders, which includes certain probate filings alongside land and lien records.