Rankin County Court Records Search
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Rankin County is in central Mississippi, with its county seat in the City of Brandon. The county judicial system includes a Circuit Court, a County Court, a Chancery Court, a Justice Court, a Youth Court, and several municipal courts spread across Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Richland, Florence, Pelahatchie, and Puckett. Rankin County falls within Mississippi’s 20th Circuit Court District. The Circuit Clerk serves as clerk for both the Circuit and County Courts, while the Chancery Clerk maintains records for the Chancery Court and land records.
Mississippi court records can be located through clerk offices, courthouse public-access terminals, and online resources maintained by the state judiciary. MississippiCourts.us may also help users find publicly available court case data across the state’s counties, including Rankin.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Rankin County?
Rankin County court records can be accessed online, in person, or by mail, depending on the court and record type.
Online case search
The Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system is the statewide platform for electronic court filings. Both the Rankin County Circuit Court and the Rankin County Chancery Court participate in MEC. Accessing case documents through MEC requires a PAMEC login and password, which users can obtain by registering through the MEC registration portal. The system allows searches by party name, case number, and other parameters for Circuit, County, and Chancery Court records.
The Mississippi Judiciary website offers a general case search feature. Because this search does not filter by county or attorney, users should include as much identifying information as possible — full legal name including middle name — to narrow results.
For land and property records, the Chancery Clerk provides a free online land records database where records can be viewed at no charge, though printing incurs a fee.
In-person access
Visit the appropriate clerk’s office during regular business hours:
- Circuit Clerk’s Office — Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Chancery Clerk’s Office — Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail requests
Send a written request with the party name, case number (if known), case type, and applicable fees to the relevant clerk’s office at the addresses listed below.
Court locations and contact information
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court / County Court | 215 E. Government St., Brandon, MS 39042 (P.O. Box 1599, Brandon, MS 39043) | (601) 825-1466 | (601) 825-1465 |
| Chancery Court | 211 E. Government St., Suite D, Brandon, MS 39042 (P.O. Box 700, Brandon, MS 39043) | (601) 825-1469 | (601) 824-7116 |
| Justice Court | 201 North St., 1st Floor, Brandon, MS 39042 | (601) 824-2665 | (601) 824-2668 |
| Youth Court | 100 Court Cove, Pelahatchie, MS 39145 | (601) 824-2545 | (601) 591-4788 |
Circuit Clerk: Michelle Adcock (Email: michelle@rankincounty.org)
Chancery Clerk: Mark S. Scarborough
Are Court Records Public in Rankin County?
Court records in Rankin County are generally accessible to the public. The Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.) establishes that public records must be available for inspection by any person. However, the Mississippi judiciary operates as a separate and equal branch of government and is not technically subject to the Public Records Act. Instead, the Mississippi Supreme Court Statement of Policy Regarding Openness and Availability of Public Records governs access to judicial records.
Under this policy, records maintained by court clerks are open to the general public for inspection and copying during regular business hours. Written record requests must be responded to within 14 days of receipt. A records custodian may deny a request that would substantially and unreasonably impede the routine operation of the court.
The following categories of records are exempt from public access under state law, court policy, or federal statute:
- Adoption records
- Medical records contained in court files
- Scholastic records
- Information reflecting a person’s home address, telephone number, Social Security number, or income tax returns
- Records concerning security plans and procedures
- Records sealed by court order
- Juvenile records (accessible only by Youth Court order under Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261)
- Investigative reports beyond the scope of an incident report
Copy fees at the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office are $0.50 per page for regular copies, $2.00 per page for bound volumes, $5.00 for orders from the minute book, and $3.00 for a mandate copy. Individual county clerk offices may maintain their own fee schedules.
Rankin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Rankin County are prosecuted in the Circuit Court (felonies and certain misdemeanors), the County Court (misdemeanors), the Justice Court (lesser criminal offenses up to the statutory limit), and the various Municipal Courts (city ordinance violations and misdemeanors). The Circuit Clerk maintains records for both Circuit and County Court criminal proceedings.
Searching criminal case records
- Online — Search through the MEC system with a PAMEC account. The Mississippi Judiciary case search also provides basic case lookup capabilities.
- In person — Visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at 215 E. Government St., Brandon, or the Justice Court Clerk at 201 North St., 1st Floor, Brandon, during business hours.
- Municipal Courts — Each municipality maintains its own criminal records. Contact the specific court:
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon | 1455 W. Government St., Brandon, MS 39042 | (601) 825-7227 |
| Pearl | 2561 Old Brandon Rd., Pearl, MS 39208 | (601) 932-2262 |
| Flowood | 2101 Airport Rd., Suite B, Flowood, MS 39232 | (601) 420-3364 |
| Richland | 371 Scarbrough St., Richland, MS 39218 | (601) 420-1563 |
| Florence | 203 College St., P.O. Box 309, Florence, MS 39073 | (601) 845-1748 |
| Pelahatchie | P.O. Box 229, Pelahatchie, MS 39145 | (601) 854-5223 |
| Puckett | P.O. Box 130, Puckett, MS 39151 | (601) 825-8074 |
Arrest records and the Sheriff’s Office
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, booking reports, and related criminal documentation. To request records, complete the Public Information Request Form and submit it with the following:
- A $10.00 check payable to “Rankin County Sheriff’s Department” (covers processing and the first report; each additional document found costs $10.00)
- A copy of the requestor’s valid government-issued photo identification
- A self-addressed, stamped envelope for mail responses
Submit by hand delivery during business hours or by U.S. Mail to:
Rankin County Sheriff’s Department
Attn: Public Records Request Official
221 N. Timber St.
Brandon, MS 39042
Phone: (601) 825-1480
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Faxed and emailed requests are not accepted. Responses are provided within seven working days, with a maximum of 14 working days. Additional fees from the Sheriff’s fee schedule apply for items such as accident reports ($10.00 each), document copies ($0.25 per page), digital picture duplication ($1.00 per image), and certification of documents ($10.00).
Statewide criminal background checks
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety offers name-based criminal background checks through its online request system. Each request costs $32.00 and may take up to 30 days to process.
Rankin County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Rankin County are adjudicated based on the amount in controversy. The Circuit Court handles civil matters involving $200 or more. The County Court has concurrent jurisdiction in civil cases up to $200,000. The Justice Court processes civil actions not exceeding $3,500 under Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-11. The four Justice Court judges are elected by district but exercise countywide jurisdiction.
Searching civil case records
Civil records for Circuit and County Court cases can be searched through the MEC portal with a PAMEC account. In-person requests should be directed to the Circuit Clerk’s office at 215 E. Government St. Justice Court civil records are maintained at the Justice Court Clerk’s office at 201 North St., 1st Floor, Brandon.
For Municipal Court civil matters — such as those involving the City of Pearl Municipal Court — requesters must submit a Records Request form to the appropriate municipality. The City of Pearl charges $0.25 per page for copies and $17.50 per hour for research, copying, and scanning time.
Property records
The Chancery Clerk maintains all land and property records for Rankin County. These records are freely viewable through the online land records database; printing is subject to a fee. In-person requests may be directed to:
Rankin County Chancery Clerk — Land Records
211 E. Government St., Suite D
Brandon, MS 39042
Phone: (601) 825-1469
Rankin County Family Court Records
Rankin County does not have a separate family court. Family law matters — including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, adoption, paternity, and domestic violence protective orders — are heard by the Chancery Court. The Chancery Clerk maintains records for all family law proceedings. Contact the Chancery Clerk’s office at (601) 825-1469 for information on record availability, procedures, and fees.
Adoption records are strictly confidential under Mississippi law and are not available to the public without a court order.
Divorce records
The Chancery Court enters all divorce decrees in Rankin County. Copies may be obtained by contacting the Chancery Clerk:
Rankin County Chancery Clerk
P.O. Box 700
Brandon, MS 39043
Phone: (601) 825-1469
Fax: (601) 824-7116
The Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records office can also conduct a five-year search of divorce indexes for a fee of $17.00. However, Vital Records holds only index data — a certified copy of the actual divorce decree must still be obtained from the Chancery Clerk. The Vital Records office maintains divorce indexes from January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942 to the present.
Marriage records
Marriage licenses in Rankin County are issued by the Circuit Clerk. The license fee is $37.00 in cash or $38.50 by credit card (3% surcharge applies). Both applicants must appear in person with valid proof of age (driver’s license, birth certificate, or other government-issued document). Once issued, a marriage license does not expire. A marriage application form is available from the Circuit Clerk’s website. If either applicant is under 21, parental or guardian consent is required. Applicants previously married must provide the date the prior marriage ended.
Certified copies of marriage records may also be obtained from Mississippi Vital Records by submitting a Marriage Records Application form, a valid photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the $17.00 fee (plus $6.00 per additional copy) to:
Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
In-person requests can be made at 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Vital Records maintains marriage records from January 1, 1926 to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942 to the present, searchable in five-year increments.
Birth and death records
Birth and death certificates are available through the Mississippi Vital Records office at the same address and fees listed above ($17.00 per certificate, $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record). Application forms for birth and death records are available from the MSDH website. Online and telephone orders can also be placed through VitalChek at (601) 206-8200, though additional processing fees apply.
Rankin County Probate Court Records
Mississippi does not have a separate probate court. In Rankin County, all probate matters — including the administration of estates, probate of wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts — fall under the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. The Chancery Clerk maintains all probate case files.
Searching probate records
Probate case information can be searched through the MEC system with a registered PAMEC account. In-person requests should be directed to the Chancery Clerk’s office:
Rankin County Chancery Clerk
211 E. Government St., Suite D
Brandon, MS 39042
Phone: (601) 825-1469
Fax: (601) 824-7116
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail requests should be sent to P.O. Box 700, Brandon, MS 39043, with sufficient identifying information (decedent’s name, approximate date of death, case type) and applicable fees.
Probate records in Rankin County are generally public and available for inspection. Records involving guardianship of minors may have restricted elements, and any records sealed by court order are exempt from public access. The Chancery Clerk can advise on specific record availability and the current fee schedule for copies and certifications upon request.