Sunflower County Court Records Search
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Sunflower County, Mississippi sits in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, with its county seat in Indianola. The county's court system generates records through its Circuit Court, Chancery Court, Justice Courts, Youth Court, and several Municipal Courts. Those records cover criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, domestic and family proceedings, probate matters, and ordinance violations. Whether you're a party to a case, an attorney, a journalist, or a researcher, knowing which office holds the records you need — and how to request them — is where everything starts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Sunflower County?
Start online before making a trip to the courthouse. Mississippi's Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) system offers a public access portal — called PAMEC — where registered users can search case records from Sunflower County's Circuit and Chancery Courts. Both courts have completed mandatory e-filing enrollment, so recent filings are indexed through MEC. The Mississippi Courts website also links to court directories, clerk contact pages, and docket search tools. MississippiCourts.us is another useful resource for navigating the state's court system. If the records you need aren't available online, the Circuit Clerk's Office and Chancery Clerk's Office both accept in-person and mail-in requests during regular business hours.
Are Court Records Public in Sunflower County?
Mississippi's public access framework is grounded in the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, codified under Title 25, Chapter 61 of the Mississippi Code. The Act establishes a general right to inspect and copy government records — including most court documents — subject to specific statutory exemptions and court orders.
Custodians in Sunflower County are required to disclose records when a requester provides adequate case identifiers and meets applicable legal requirements. That said, certain categories are routinely withheld:
- Sealed records — documents sealed by statute or court order are not available for routine inspection
- Crime victim information — identifying details about crime victims are protected from public disclosure
- Juvenile and youth court records — proceedings before the Youth Court are confidential
- Adoption records — unavailable without a court order unsealing the file
- Grand jury records — protected from public disclosure under Mississippi law
- Mental health and commitment proceedings — shielded from routine access
- Records containing private personal identifiers — financial account information and similar data may be redacted
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt material, custodians must separate and release the non-exempt portions rather than withhold the entire document.
Sunflower County Criminal Court Records
Felony cases and serious misdemeanor prosecutions in Sunflower County are tried in the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains all case filings, docket entries, orders, and judgments from those proceedings. Arrest records and law enforcement incident reports are held separately by the Sunflower County Sheriff's Office.
Sunflower County Circuit Court — Circuit Clerk Carolyn P. Hamilton
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 880, Indianola, MS 38751 |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 200 Main Street, Indianola, MS 38751 |
| Phone | (662) 887-1252 |
| Fax | (662) 887-7077 |
| chamilton@suncirclerk.com |
Sunflower County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1300 Allen Road, Indianola, MS 38751
Phone: (662) 887-2121
How to access criminal court records:
- Online via MEC/PAMEC — Register at the MEC portal to search Circuit Court criminal dockets. Sunflower County Circuit Court completed mandatory e-filing in June 2025, meaning recent case records are indexed through MEC.
- In person at the Circuit Clerk's Office — Visit 200 Main Street, Indianola, during business hours with a written request identifying the case by name or case number.
- By mail — Send a written records request to P.O. Box 880, Indianola, MS 38751, along with sufficient identifying information and payment for any applicable copy fees.
- Arrest and incident records — Contact the Sheriff's Office at (662) 887-2121 for law enforcement records not held by the court clerk.
Youth Court matters in Sunflower County are handled by a dedicated division. Records from that court are confidential.
Sunflower County Youth Court
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 998, Indianola, MS 38751
Phone: (662) 887-7424 | Fax: (662) 887-2748
Sunflower County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Sunflower County is split between the Circuit Court and the Justice Courts based primarily on the amount in dispute. The Circuit Court handles larger civil claims, while the two Justice Court locations take small claims and minor civil disputes capped at $3,500 under Mississippi Code Ann. § 9-11-9. The Justice Courts also handle misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic offenses, and eviction proceedings.
Justice Courts — Contact Information:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Court — North | 119 North Chester Avenue, P.O. Box 52, Ruleville, MS 38771 | (662) 756-2835 | (662) 756-4175 |
| Justice Court — South | 202 Main Street, P.O. Box 487, Indianola, MS 38751 | (662) 887-6921 | (662) 887-2798 |
Civil equity matters — including injunctions, specific performance actions, and fraud claims — fall under the Chancery Court rather than the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains Circuit Court civil case files, while the Chancery Clerk holds equity and related civil records.
To request civil records from the Circuit Clerk, submit a written request in person, by mail, or by email to chamilton@suncirclerk.com, identifying the case by name or case number. The Chancery Clerk's physical records are accessible in person at 200 Main Street, Indianola, with the online land and property index available through the Sunflower County Chancery Records Portal.
Municipal Courts handle city ordinance violations and Class C misdemeanor offenses within their respective jurisdictions:
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Drew | 120 West Shaw Avenue, Drew, MS 38737 | (662) 745-2200 |
| Indianola | 101 Front Street, P.O. Box 269, Indianola, MS 38751 | (662) 887-5583 |
| Inverness | 802 East Grand Avenue, P.O. Box 166, Inverness, MS 38753 | (662) 265-5741 |
| Moorhead | P.O. Box 578, Moorhead, MS 38761 | (662) 246-5461 |
| Ruleville | P.O. Box 428, Ruleville, MS 38771 | (662) 756-2793 |
| Sunflower | P.O. Box 127, Sunflower, MS 38778 | (662) 569-3388 |
Sunflower County Family Court Records
In Mississippi, family law proceedings — divorce, legal separation, child custody and support, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence matters — fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court. Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh maintains all family-related case files for Sunflower County.
Sunflower County Chancery Court — Chancery Clerk Gloria McIntosh
| Physical Address | 200 Main Street, Indianola, MS 38751 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 988, Indianola, MS 38751 |
| Phone | (662) 887-4703 |
| Fax | (662) 887-7054 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Divorce records are held by the Chancery Clerk and can be requested in person or by mail. When submitting a request, include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. The clerk charges copy fees for producing physical reproductions of the records.
Marriage records in Sunflower County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk, not the Chancery Clerk, since marriage licenses are issued through the Circuit Clerk's Office. To request a copy of a marriage license or certificate, contact the Circuit Clerk directly:
- In person — Visit 200 Main Street, Indianola, during business hours
- By mail — Write to P.O. Box 880, Indianola, MS 38751, including the names of both parties and the date of the marriage
- By email — Send requests to chamilton@suncirclerk.com
Birth and death records for Sunflower County are held at the state level by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Bureau of Vital Records. The MSDH maintains records from November 1912 to the present. A certified copy costs $17 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
To request a birth certificate by mail:
- Complete the birth record request form (English) or Spanish version
- Attach a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
- Include a check or money order for $17 payable to Mississippi Vital Records
- Mail to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700
To request a death certificate by mail:
- Complete the death record request form (English) or Spanish version
- Attach a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
- Include a check or money order for $17 payable to Mississippi Vital Records
- Mail to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700
In-person requests for both record types can be made at the MSDH Vital Records office at 222 Marketridge Drive, Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS. The customer service window is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunflower County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Sunflower County are handled by the Chancery Court, which holds original jurisdiction over estate administration, wills, intestate succession, guardianships, conservatorships, trust administration, name changes, and related proceedings. The Chancery Clerk maintains all official probate filings and case files.
Common probate matters before the Sunflower County Chancery Court:
- Administration of testate and intestate estates
- Admission of wills to probate
- Guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships and trust administration
- Name changes
- Mental health and drug/alcohol commitment proceedings
How to access probate records:
- Online via MEC — Sunflower County's Chancery Court completed mandatory e-filing for MEC in May 2023. Registered users can search probate case records through the MEC public access portal by party name, estate name, or case number.
- In person — Visit the Chancery Clerk's Office at 200 Main Street, Indianola, MS, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). Bring a valid photo ID and identifying case details — including the decedent's name, approximate year of filing, and any available case or estate number — to help staff locate the record promptly.
- By mail — Send a written request to: Post Office Box 850, Indianola, MS 38751-0850, including the full names of the parties involved and the nature of the proceeding sought.
For property records tied to estate transactions — including deeds, mortgages, mineral interests, and liens recorded following probate — the Chancery Clerk maintains a searchable online land records index through the Sunflower County Chancery Records Portal. Online access carries a 3.5% service fee (minimum $2.00) for document copies purchased by credit card. In-person inspection of original land documents is available at the Chancery Clerk's Office during regular business hours at no additional charge beyond standard copy fees. The Tax Collector's Office, also located at 200 Main Street, Indianola (Phone: (662) 887-1454), handles property tax records separately from the Chancery Clerk.