Pearl River County Court Records
MississippiCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on MississippiCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Pearl River County sits in southern Mississippi, with Poplarville as the county seat and Picayune serving as a second major hub. The county's court system includes the Circuit Court, Chancery Court, County Court, Justice Court, Youth Court, and two Municipal Courts — each handling distinct categories of cases. Serious felonies and complex civil litigation go to Circuit Court; family disputes, estate matters, and property cases go to Chancery Court; and minor traffic infractions and misdemeanors move through Justice Court or the municipal courts. The Circuit Clerk and the Chancery Clerk are the two principal record keepers, each responsible for preserving case files, docket entries, judgments, and other official documents.
Mississippi courts have transitioned to electronic filing through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system, which is now fully operational statewide. Civil and criminal filings in Pearl River County's Circuit, County, and Chancery Courts are all processed through MEC, and subscribers can view digital court documents through the PAMEC digital portal. MississippiCourts.us can also help you locate publicly accessible case information, court directories, and filing procedures. Beyond online tools, records are still available through in-person visits to clerk offices, by phone, and through written mail requests directed to the appropriate clerk.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Pearl River County?
The method for finding a court case in Pearl River County depends on which court heard the matter and what type of record you need.
Online Searches
The main electronic system for Pearl River County court filings is MEC. Registered users can search for and view case documents filed in the Circuit, County, and Chancery Courts. To register or get help, visit the MEC website or contact the MEC Help Desk at (601) 576-4650 or helpdesk@mec.ms.gov.
For land and property records specifically, the Chancery Clerk maintains a separate online land records portal with a searchable index of real property transactions dating back to the county's founding in 1890.
In-Person Searches
Both the Circuit Clerk and Chancery Clerk maintain public-access terminals at their offices where you can look up case information. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Circuit Clerk Offices
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Poplarville | 200 South Main Street, Poplarville, MS 39470 | (601) 403-2328 |
| Picayune | 917 Goodyear Boulevard, Picayune, MS 39466 | (601) 749-7728 |
The Poplarville Circuit Clerk Office also has direct lines for specific departments:
- Civil Court: (601) 403-2323
- Criminal Court: (601) 403-2324
- Judgment Roll: (601) 403-2326
- Marriage License: (601) 403-2329
- Youth Court: (601) 403-2322
Chancery Clerk Office
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 South Main Street, Poplarville, MS 39470 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 431, Poplarville, MS 39470 |
| Phone | (601) 403-2315 / (601) 749-7734 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Note that the Picayune Circuit Clerk Office closes from noon to 1:00 PM daily. All mail requests for court records should go to the Poplarville offices.
By Mail
Send written requests for court records to:
Pearl River County Circuit Clerk
P.O. Box 530
Poplarville, MS 39470
For overnight or express delivery, use the physical address at 200 South Main Street, Poplarville, MS 39470.
Are Court Records Public in Pearl River County?
Most court records in Pearl River County are public and available for inspection. The Mississippi Public Records Act (Mississippi Code 25-61-1 et seq.) establishes that records maintained by government bodies — including courts — must be accessible to any person, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
That said, several categories of records are not open for public inspection. Restricted records in Pearl River County include:
- Sealed records — Any case file or document sealed by court order is removed from public access for the duration specified in the order.
- Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related files are confidential under Mississippi law.
- Mental commitment records — Cases involving civil commitments for mental health crises or substance addiction are among the most sensitive matters handled by the Chancery Court and are protected from public disclosure.
- Juvenile records — Youth Court proceedings and records involving minors are not available to the general public.
- Guardianship records — Certain guardianship and conservatorship filings may be restricted depending on the circumstances of the case.
The Chancery Clerk's Office cannot provide legal advice about record access or help with document preparation. If you're unsure whether a specific record is available, contact the appropriate clerk's office directly or consult an attorney. The Chancery Clerk's website includes a list of free legal resources for low-income residents, including the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation.
Pearl River County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Pearl River County are divided among several courts based on the severity of the offense. The Circuit Court handles felony cases and is the highest trial court in the county. The County Court handles misdemeanors and certain preliminary matters. The Justice Court processes misdemeanor charges, felony preliminary hearings, and citations issued by agencies including the Pearl River County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Criminal case records maintained by the Circuit Clerk can be searched through the MEC system or at public terminals in the Poplarville and Picayune clerk offices. For direct telephone inquiries about criminal cases, call the Criminal Court line at (601) 403-2324.
Pearl River County Sheriff's Department
The Pearl River County Sheriff's Department is the county's chief law enforcement agency and maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail custody information.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 411 Wilkinson Road, Poplarville, MS 39470 |
| Administrative Phone | (601) 403-2340 |
| Non-Emergency Dispatch | (601) 749-5482 |
| Background Checks/Incident Reports | (601) 403-2510 |
The county jail — the Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center — provides a publicly accessible inmate listing online, searchable by name.
State Criminal Background Checks
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains statewide criminal history records. You can request your own criminal background information through the DPS Name-Based Background Check System. Alternatively, a completed Release Background Authorization Form can be mailed with a money order for $32 and a copy of valid identification to:
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Criminal Information Center/Background Checks
3891 Highway 468 West
Pearl, MS 39208
Justice Court Criminal Matters
The Justice Court at 153 Savannah-Millard Road, Suite A, Poplarville, MS 39470, handles misdemeanor charges and traffic citations and can be reached at (601) 403-2572. Fines for traffic and criminal violations can be paid by cash, money order, cashier's check, or personal check at the court, online, or by phone through Court Solutions at (877) 591-8768. A schedule of fines and ticket costs is published by the Justice Court. Note that all civil and criminal filings must be submitted before 4:00 PM.
Pearl River County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Pearl River County cover non-criminal legal disputes heard across multiple courts. The Circuit Court handles civil actions with higher monetary values. The Justice Court has jurisdiction over civil claims under $3,500. The Chancery Court adjudicates property disputes exceeding $50,000, land title issues, property contracts, and other equity matters.
Where Civil Records Are Maintained
The Circuit Clerk maintains records of civil cases filed in the Circuit and County Courts. The Chancery Clerk maintains records of Chancery Court cases, along with land records and other property-related filings.
Obtaining Copies
Copies of civil court documents from the Chancery Clerk's Office cost $0.50 per page, with an additional $1.00 fee for certification. Requests can be submitted:
- In person at the Chancery Clerk's Office at 100 South Main Street, Poplarville
- By mail to P.O. Box 431, Poplarville, MS 39470 — include a description of the records needed, a check or money order covering the applicable fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope
- By phone at (601) 403-2315
For copies purchased through the online land records portal, a service fee of 3.5% (with a $2.00 minimum) applies to credit card transactions. This service fee is non-refundable, and all online purchases are final.
Circuit Court civil records can be requested at the Circuit Clerk's offices in Poplarville or Picayune during regular business hours. Physical copies are processed through the Poplarville office. Electronic filing is mandatory for civil cases in both Circuit and County Courts through the MEC system.
Property Records
The Chancery Clerk is the official recorder for Pearl River County and maintains indexes and records of all real property transactions, including deeds, mortgages, construction liens, federal tax liens, lis pendens, and military discharge papers (DD214s). A digitization project completed in late 2018 uploaded all land deed records dating back to the county's 1890 founding into a searchable online database. You can access this index through the online land records search. The county's parcel viewer and Tax Assessor & Collector Office provide additional property tax and ownership information.
Pearl River County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Pearl River County fall primarily under the Chancery Court, which hears cases involving divorce, child custody, property division, alimony, adoption, emancipation of minors, insurance settlements for minors, and other domestic relations disputes. The Chancery Clerk's court department manages these cases through the MEC system.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees, petitions, and related filings are maintained by the Chancery Clerk and are generally accessible to the public. To get copies, visit the Chancery Clerk's Office in Poplarville, call (601) 403-2315, or submit a written request by mail. Copy fees are $0.50 per page plus $1.00 for certification. Mail requests should include enough identifying information about the case, a check or money order covering applicable fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody, visitation, and child support matters are heard in Chancery Court. The Chancery Clerk's Office handles child support payments and maintains related case files. For questions about child support records or payments, contact the Chancery Clerk's Office directly.
Orders of Protection
Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may petition the courts for a protective order. If you need help navigating these proceedings without an attorney, two resources are available: the Mississippi Free Legal Answers website, and the Northcutt Legal Clinic, which specifically assists victims of domestic abuse with divorce, custody, and protection matters at no charge.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Pearl River County are issued by the Circuit Clerk by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (601) 403-2329 for the Poplarville office or (601) 749-7728 for the Picayune office. The license fee is $37, payable in exact cash, money order, cashier's check, or credit card. Both parties must appear together with proof of age (driver's license, birth certificate, passport, or other official document). Both parties must be at least 21 years old; applicants under 21 require the presence of both parents or legal guardians with photo ID and a certified birth certificate or guardianship court order.
Certified copies of marriage records can also be obtained from the Mississippi State Department of Health by mailing a completed Marriage Record Application with a check or money order for $17 (plus $6 for each additional copy), a copy of valid photo ID, and a self-addressed envelope to:
Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Walk-in requests are accepted at the Vital Records office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS. Orders can also be placed by phone at (601) 206-8200 or online through the department-approved vendor (additional fees apply for phone and online orders). Marriage records from the Department of Health are available only to the spouses listed on the certificate, their parents, siblings, grandparents, adult children, legal representatives, or persons with a court order.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Mississippi State Department of Health and are not public records. Birth certificates are available to the individual named on the record, their spouse, parents, siblings, grandparents, children, legal guardians, authorized legal representatives, licensed adoption agencies (birth records only), and funeral homes (death records only). Certified copies cost $17 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Requests can be submitted by mail using the Application for Certified Birth Certificate or Application for Certified Death Certificate, along with applicable fees and a copy of photo identification, mailed to the Vital Records address above.
Pearl River County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Pearl River County are heard by the Chancery Court, which has jurisdiction over the administration of decedents' estates, will contests, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, and adoptions. The Chancery Clerk maintains all probate case files and related documents.
Types of Probate Cases
The Chancery Court handles a broad range of probate and estate proceedings, including probate of wills, appointment of administrators and executors, accounting of estate assets, distribution of property to heirs and beneficiaries, guardianship and conservatorship appointments for incapacitated adults and minors, and disputes over the validity of testamentary instruments.
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case documents can be accessed through the MEC system by registered users. In-person searches are available at the Chancery Clerk's Office at 100 South Main Street, Poplarville, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM). You can also submit requests by phone at (601) 403-2315 or by mail to P.O. Box 431, Poplarville, MS 39470.
Copy fees follow the standard Chancery Clerk schedule of $0.50 per page, plus $1.00 for certification. Written mail requests should include the case number or sufficient identifying details (such as the decedent's name and approximate filing date), a check or money order for the estimated fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Restricted Probate Records
Certain probate-related records carry access restrictions. Adoption files are confidential and closed to public inspection. Records involving civil commitments for mental health or substance abuse — which the Chancery Court also handles — are among the most tightly restricted documents in the clerk's custody. Individuals seeking access to restricted probate records may need to demonstrate an authorized relationship to the case or obtain a court order permitting disclosure.