Simpson County Court Records Search
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Simpson County, Mississippi operates a multi-court judicial system based in the county seat of Mendenhall. The Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and Justice Court together document criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, domestic matters, estate proceedings, and land transactions across the county. Each court's clerk maintains the official records for their respective proceedings, and most of those records are open to the public to varying degrees under Mississippi law.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Simpson County?
You can research many Simpson County cases without making a trip to the courthouse. Mississippi's Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system now covers all 82 circuit and chancery courts in the state and supports both e-filing and public case access online. The public access side of MEC, known as PAMEC, lets registered users search and view filings from Simpson County's Circuit and Chancery Courts by party name or case number. MississippiCourtRecords.us is another option for locating publicly available case information statewide.
If you'd rather search in person, visit the clerk's offices at the Simpson County Courthouse in Mendenhall. Public access terminals are available on-site for courthouse research.
Are Court Records Public in Simpson County?
Most court records in Mississippi are open to the public. While the Mississippi Public Records Act governs access to executive branch records, court records fall under court rules and administrative policies consistent with Section 25-61-11 of the Mississippi Code, which lists the categories exempt from public inspection.
The following record types are generally restricted or confidential in Simpson County courts:
- Juvenile records — case files involving minors are sealed from public view
- Adoption records — not accessible without a court order
- Sealed or expunged records — removed from public access by judicial order
- Mental health and medical records — protected from routine disclosure
- Victim, witness, and informant identities — withheld in criminal cases where disclosure could compromise safety
- Proprietary business information — shielded when submitted as part of a court proceeding
For records that don't fall into these restricted categories, you can inspect and copy documents at the relevant clerk's office during regular business hours. The Chancery Clerk allows in-office inspection of original property documents and charges $0.25 per page for self-service copies and $0.50 per page for staff-produced copies.
Simpson County Criminal Court Records
Felony cases and civil actions involving $2,500 or more are handled by the Simpson County Circuit Court. The Circuit Court also hears misdemeanor appeals from Justice Court. Circuit Court Clerk Witt Fortenberry maintains the official docket and all criminal case files.
Simpson County Circuit Court Clerk — Witt Fortenberry
| Physical Address | 100 Court Street, Suite 2, Mendenhall, MS 39114 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 307, Mendenhall, MS 39114 |
| Phone | (601) 847-2474 |
| Fax | (601) 847-4011 |
| wfortenberry@co.simpson.ms.us |
Arrest records and custody information are maintained separately by the Simpson County Sheriff's Office, the county's primary law enforcement agency under Sheriff Paul Mullins.
Simpson County Sheriff's Office — Paul Mullins
| Phone: (Admin) | (601) 847-2155 |
|---|---|
| Phone: (Dispatch) | (601) 847-2921 |
| Fax | (601) 847-2156 |
| pmullins@co.simpson.ms.us |
How to search criminal records:
- Online via MEC/PAMEC — Register at the MEC public access portal to search criminal dockets filed in Simpson County Circuit Court by party name or case number.
- In person at the Circuit Clerk's Office — Visit Suite 2, 100 Court Street during business hours to inspect files or request certified copies.
- Via the Sheriff's Office — Contact the Sheriff's Office at (601) 847-2155 for arrest records, booking information, and other law enforcement records not held by the court clerk.
Records involving juvenile defendants, active investigations, and cases sealed by court order are not accessible through standard public request procedures.
Simpson County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Simpson County is split between the Circuit Court and the Justice Court based on the dollar amount involved and the nature of the dispute. The Circuit Court takes civil cases involving $2,500 and above, covering contract disputes, tort claims, property matters, and civil rights lawsuits. The Justice Court handles small claims cases capped at $3,500 under Mississippi Code Ann. § 9-11-9, along with misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses.
Simpson County Justice Court
| Address | 1498 Simpson Hwy 149, Mendenhall, MS 39114 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (601) 847-5848 |
| Fax | (601) 847-5856 |
| jhicks@co.simpson.ms.us | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
For civil equity matters — including injunctions, specific performance claims, and fraud cases — jurisdiction falls under the Chancery Court rather than the Circuit Court. Keep that in mind when deciding where to direct your request.
Key points for civil record requests:
- Circuit Court civil case dockets are searchable through the MEC online portal
- Certified copies of civil judgments and court orders require a visit or written request to the Circuit Clerk
- Small claims filings and Justice Court civil records are held at the Justice Court office at 1498 Simpson Hwy 149
Simpson County Family Court Records
In Mississippi, family law matters — including divorces, legal separations, child custody, child support, adoptions, and paternity actions — fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. Chancery Clerk Tim Gray maintains all records from domestic proceedings filed in the county.
Simpson County Chancery Court Clerk — Tim Gray
| Physical Address | 100 Court Avenue, Mendenhall, MS 39114 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 367, Mendenhall, MS 39114 |
| Phone | (601) 847-2626 |
| Fax | (601) 847-7016 |
| tgray@co.simpson.ms.us |
If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the Chancery Clerk's Office directly. When making your request, have the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the divorce ready — the office typically conducts a five-year search to identify the county where the divorce was recorded and locate the corresponding document and page number in the official record.
Marriage records are issued and filed by the Simpson County Circuit Clerk, with a filing fee of $37 per record. The Circuit Clerk also files a statistical record of each marriage with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), so certain marriage information is accessible at the state level as well. Certified copies from MSDH cost $17 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy requested at the same time. You can submit requests online through VitalChek (an additional service fee applies), by phone, or by completing the Marriage Record Application Form and mailing it to the Vital Records office.
MSDH Vital Records Office
Address: 222 Marketridge Drive, Ridgeland, MS
Customer Service Window Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Birth and death records for Simpson County are managed at the state level. The MSDH Bureau of Vital Records holds records of births and deaths in Mississippi from November 1912 to the present. Certified copies of birth or death certificates each cost $17, with $6 per additional copy ordered at the same time. You can request records by visiting the MSDH office in Ridgeland, ordering online or by phone through VitalChek, or mailing the completed Death Record Application Form to the Vital Records office. Mail-in orders are typically processed and returned within 7 to 10 business days of receipt.
Simpson County Probate Court Records
All probate and estate matters in Simpson County — including estate administration, will contests, intestate succession, guardianships, conservatorships, and related proceedings — fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Simpson County Chancery Court. The Chancery Clerk holds the official records for every probate case filed in the county.
The Chancery Clerk's responsibilities in this area include maintaining records of:
- Probate of wills and intestate estate administration
- Guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships (also referred to as estates with conservators)
- Adoptions
- Youth court proceedings
- Mental health and drug/alcohol commitment proceedings
How to access probate records in Simpson County:
- Online via MEC/PAMEC — Search probate case filings through the Mississippi Electronic Courts portal using the decedent's or ward's name or the assigned case number.
- In person at the Chancery Clerk's Office — Bring a valid photo ID. Having the name of the deceased, the date of death, the case number, and the year the estate was filed will significantly speed up the search. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- By written request — Mail your request to the Chancery Clerk at P.O. Box 367, Mendenhall, MS 39114, and include identifying information about the case.
Property records tied to estate transactions — including deeds, mortgages, mineral interests, oil leases, and liens recorded following probate — are also maintained by the Chancery Clerk. The Delta Computer Systems platform provides online access to Simpson County land records on a subscription or pay-per-document basis, with the following pricing:
| Access Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $30.00 |
| Annual subscription | $330.00 |
| Per-page access | $0.50 per page |
In-person inspection of original land records is available at the Chancery Clerk's Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have questions about the status of an active felony case, you can also contact the Simpson County District Attorney's Office, located at 100 Court Avenue, Suite 4, Mendenhall, MS 39114, Phone: (601) 847-1342