Lincoln County Court Records Search
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Lincoln County, Mississippi sits within the 14th Circuit and 15th Chancery judicial districts, with the county seat of Brookhaven serving as the hub for all local court activity. Court records generated here — from criminal indictments and civil judgments to probate filings and divorce decrees — form the official documentary backbone of the county’s justice system. These documents include pleadings, motions, trial transcripts, evidentiary exhibits, subpoenas, court orders, and final judgments. Whether you are conducting legal research, verifying someone’s legal history, handling an estate, or pursuing a civil claim, understanding how these records are organized, where they are held, and how they can be accessed is essential to any productive search.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lincoln County?
Locating a court case in Lincoln County begins with identifying which court handled the matter, since different courts maintain their own records through separate clerks. For most purposes, searches can be initiated online before making any in-person visits. Mississippi’s judiciary makes a significant portion of court case information available through Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC), the statewide electronic filing and case management system used by all Chancery, Circuit, and County Courts across Mississippi’s 82 counties. Users must register for a MEC account to access case documents and docket entries through the portal.
For Lincoln County Circuit Court civil and criminal cases specifically, the Delta Computer Systems case search portal provides online lookup by party name, case number, or filing date. The Lincoln County Circuit Clerk’s page maintained through Delta Computer Systems also hosts online forms and additional clerk resources. For Chancery Court property records, deeds, and related instruments, the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk’s online search through Delta Computer Systems allows users to query recorded documents.
The Mississippi Courts official website offers broader statewide resources, including Supreme Court dockets and appellate opinions. MississippiCourts.us also serves as a resource for locating publicly available court case information across the state.
For records not available online — particularly older cases, certified copies, or sealed document inquiries — direct contact with the appropriate clerk’s office is necessary. In-person access is available at the Lincoln County Government Complex in Brookhaven during regular business hours.
Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?
The Mississippi Public Records Act (MPRA), codified at Mississippi Code § 25-61-1 et seq., establishes that public records are available for inspection by any person unless expressly exempted by law. Court records fall within this framework as government-generated documents, meaning the general public has a statutory right to inspect and obtain copies of most court filings and case documents maintained by Lincoln County’s courts and clerk offices.
That said, several categories of records are restricted or sealed under state law and are not released to the public:
- Juvenile court proceedings: Records involving minors are confidential under Mississippi Code § 43-21-261. Intentional disclosure may carry criminal penalties.
- Adoption records: Sealed pursuant to Mississippi Code § 93-17-25 and only accessible by court order.
- Confidential medical and mental health records: These are protected when submitted as part of litigation.
- Attorney-client privileged communications: Exempt from disclosure under both statute and court rule.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are subject to redaction in publicly released documents under court privacy rules.
Requests for records that fall outside online access must be submitted in person or by mail to the relevant clerk’s office. The applicable clerk will review the request for any exempt content before responding, typically within seven working days as required by the MPRA.
Lincoln County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Lincoln County originate in two venues depending on the severity of the offense. Felony charges and serious criminal proceedings are handled by the 14th Circuit Court, which holds original jurisdiction over all major criminal cases not assigned exclusively to another court. Misdemeanor matters, traffic violations, DUI hearings, and county ordinance violations fall to the Lincoln County Justice Court. All felony cases also pass through Justice Court at the initial appearance stage, where judges hold sessions at the county jail three times weekly to ensure each arrested person receives an appearance within three days.
Lincoln County Circuit Court — Criminal Division
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 S First Street, Room 205, Brookhaven, MS 39601 |
| Phone | (601) 835-3435 |
| Fax | (601) 835-3482 |
| Circuit Clerk | Christy Sheppard |
| csheppard@co.lincoln.ms.us | |
| Presiding Judges | Hon. Michael M. Taylor; Hon. David Strong |
Lincoln County Justice Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 308 S 2nd Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601 |
| Phone | (601) 835-3475 |
| Fax | (601) 835-3494 |
| Presiding Judges | Hon. Ian Smith (Post 1); Hon. Roger Martin (Post 2) |
Criminal records maintained by the Circuit Clerk include indictments, case dockets, plea entries, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. These can be searched through the Delta Computer Systems circuit court case portal or requested directly from the Circuit Clerk’s office.
For arrest history and law enforcement records, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is the primary local resource. Sheriff Steve Rushing’s office provides an inmate roster, sex offender registry, and most wanted information through its website. The Sheriff’s Office is located at:
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 215 Justice Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
Phone: (601) 833-5231
Fax: (601) 833-4492
Email: sheriff@co.lincoln.ms.us
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Information Center conducts name-based checks. Requests are submitted through the DPS background check portal at a fee of $32.00 per request, payable by major credit or debit card. Turnaround time may be up to 30 days. Note that criminal history records are not classified as public records under Mississippi law — they are only released to authorized parties and the subject of the record.
Lincoln County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Lincoln County is divided between two courts based on the size and nature of the claim. Significant civil cases — including tort actions, breach of contract disputes, and property claims exceeding $50,000 — are heard in the Circuit Court. Smaller civil disputes and small claims cases with recovery amounts of $3,500 or less are resolved in Justice Court.
The Circuit Clerk maintains the docket for all civil cases filed in Circuit Court, including case filings, motions, judgments, and execution records. Parties and researchers can search civil case records through the online portal or visit the clerk’s office directly. When requesting records in person or by mail, you will need to provide as much identifying detail as possible — including the case number, party names, and approximate filing date — to help staff conduct an efficient search.
Steps to request civil court records from the Circuit Clerk:
- Identify the case number or party names involved.
- Determine whether the case is in Circuit Court or Justice Court.
- Visit the Delta Computer Systems circuit court case search to locate case information online.
- For certified copies or full case files, contact the Circuit Clerk’s office directly by phone at (601) 835-3435 or visit Room 205 of the Lincoln County Government Complex.
- Pay any applicable copy or certification fees at the time of pickup or include a money order with mail-in requests.
Property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats, are maintained separately by the Chancery Clerk’s Office and searchable through the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk online record search. These records document ownership history, encumbrances, and real property transactions throughout the county.
Lincoln County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Lincoln County are primarily under the jurisdiction of the 15th Chancery District Court, which handles divorce proceedings, child custody determinations, child support orders, property division, adoptions, emancipation, alimony, and commitments of mentally disabled individuals. The Chancery Court also handles land title disputes and insurance settlements involving minors.
Lincoln County Chancery Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 S First Street, Room 111, Brookhaven, MS 39601 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 555, Brookhaven, MS 39602 |
| Phone | (601) 835-3411 |
| Fax | (601) 835-3423 |
| Chancery Clerk | Alisha McGehee |
| amcgehee@co.lincoln.ms.us | |
| Presiding Judge | Hon. Joseph Durr |
Divorce records are maintained by the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk. To obtain copies of divorce decrees or related filings, contact the Chancery Clerk’s office and provide the names of both parties along with the approximate date of the divorce. Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from the Chancery Clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was filed; a statewide index search through MSDH is available for divorces within specific date ranges but does not yield certified copies of court orders.
Marriage licenses in Lincoln County are issued by the Circuit Clerk’s office. Both applicants must appear in person together and provide valid government-issued photo identification. Both parties must be at least 21 years of age, or meet applicable statutory exceptions. For specific fee amounts and current requirements, contact the Circuit Clerk directly at (601) 835-3435 or visit the Circuit Clerk’s online forms page.
Vital records — meaning birth and death certificates — are not maintained at the county level in Mississippi. These documents are held exclusively by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Vital Records Division. Certified copies cost $17.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Eligible requesters include the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal guardians, and those holding a court order. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail to:
MSDH Vital Records Division
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: (601) 206-8200
or ordered online through MSDH’s online ordering service.
Juvenile court matters — including cases involving delinquent children, children in need of supervision, and neglect and abuse proceedings — are handled by the Lincoln County Youth Court under the authority of the Chancery Court. These records are strictly confidential.
Lincoln County Youth Court
Address: 301 S First Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601
Phone: (601) 835-3445
Presiding Judge: Hon. Bradley R. Boerner
Lincoln County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Mississippi rests with the Chancery Court, meaning all estate administration, will probation, guardianships, and conservatorships in Lincoln County are processed through the 15th Chancery District Court and maintained by the Chancery Clerk. There is no separate probate court. The Chancery Courts of Mississippi are constitutionally vested with authority over these matters, and Lincoln County follows this structure uniformly.
Probate records that are part of the public court file — including petitions to open an estate, inventories, accountings, and orders of distribution — are generally accessible to the public in the same manner as other Chancery Court records. To locate probate records:
- Provide the name of the decedent or ward and the approximate year the proceeding was opened.
- Contact the Chancery Clerk’s office at (601) 835-3411 to request a case index search.
- Visit the Chancery Clerk’s office in person at Room 111 of the Lincoln County Government Complex during regular business hours.
- Use the Delta Computer Systems Chancery Clerk search for recorded instruments related to estate property.
Common filings found in Lincoln County probate records include:
- Wills filed for probate or safekeeping
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration issued to estate representatives
- Inventories and appraisements of estate assets
- Guardianship petitions for minors or incapacitated adults
- Conservatorship appointments and related accountings
- Final settlement orders closing the estate
Because the same Chancery Court handles both family and probate matters, the Chancery Clerk’s office is the single point of contact for records across both of these legal domains. Parties seeking certified copies of probate documents should expect to pay applicable clerk copy fees, which vary depending on document length and certification requirements. Contact the office directly to confirm current fee amounts before submitting a written request or arriving in person.