Mississippi Vital Records

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    Per the Mississippi Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events Rule 1.3.1(29), vital records are certificates and reports of various categories of vital events that occurred within the state. These vital events include births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and annulments. Mississippi vital records, specifically birth, death, and marriage records, are primarily maintained by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Bureau of Vital Records. Meanwhile, divorce records are preserved at the county level by the Chancery Clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted.

    Generally, Mississippi Code Section 41-57-2 regulates access to birth, death, and marriage records. Meanwhile, divorce records are subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act.

    Public Access to Mississippi Vital Records

    Under Mississippi Code Section 41-57-2, certain vital records, including birth, death, and marriage records, are confidential and accessible only to individuals with a legitimate and tangible interest in the record. Conversely, the Mississippi Public Records Act governs access to divorce records. As a result, these are the only types of vital records that are public.

    Nonetheless, birth and death records are also regulated by the statutes of limitations set forth in Rule 2.1.4(5) of the Mississippi Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events. After these records reach their respective statutory limits, they become available to genealogy researchers. Birth records are subject to a 100-year statutory limit, whereas death records are subject to a 50-year limit.

    Types of Vital Records Available in Mississippi

    There are four main types of vital records in Mississippi. These include:

    • Birth records
    • Death records
    • Marriage records
    • Divorce records

    Mississippi Birth Records

    A Mississippi birth certificate is a government-issued document that provides official information about a birth that occurred within the state. This record typically includes information about the child, such as their given name, sex, date and place of birth, as well as details about their parents. A birth certificate may be used to establish an individual for various legal and administrative purposes, including to facilitate the issuance of a Social Security Number (SSN), passport, and driver's license, among others.

    Interested persons may get a birth certificate in Mississippi through the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records. This agency maintains Mississippi birth records from November 1912 to the present. Meanwhile, birth records before 1912 are preserved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). Please note that Mississippi birth certificates less than 100 years old are confidential and released only to eligible individuals.

    Mississippi Death Records

    A Mississippi death certificate is an official document that details the death of an individual within the state. This record lists the decedent's full name, sex, age at death, cause of death, time, date, and place of death, e.t.c. A death certificate may be needed to close a decedent's estate, access their financial account or assets, claim pension or Medicaid benefits, and file life insurance claims.

    Mississippi death certificates are confidential for 50 years after recording, after which they become available for genealogical research. Confidential death certificates are only available to individuals who have a legitimate and tangible interest in the record. Record seekers may find death records in Mississippi (from November 1912 to the present) through the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records. Meanwhile, death records prior to November 1912 may be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH).

    Mississippi Marriage Records

    Mississippi marriage records are official documents that certify a couple's marital union is legally valid under state and federal law. The typical contents of these records include the spouses' names, the date of marriage, and the location of the marriage. Generally, there are two types of marriage records in Mississippi: marriage licenses and certificates. A marriage license is a legal document that permits a couple to get married within the state. It is issued by a County Circuit Clerk and is required before a wedding ceremony can take place. Meanwhile, a marriage certificate in Mississippi is an official document issued after a wedding ceremony, serving as legal proof that a couple has been married.

    Mississippi marriage records from January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and January 1, 1942, to the present are maintained by and available through the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records. Meanwhile, marriage records outside the stated timeframe are available through the county Circuit Clerk's office that issued the marriage license. Marriage records are generally not considered public per Mississippi Code Section 41-57-2. They are only accessible to individuals who have a legitimate and tangible interest in the record.

    Mississippi Divorce Records

    Mississippi divorce records provide information about the termination of a marriage. A Divorce decree in Mississippi is the primary type of divorce record issued in the state. It is a court-issued document that grants a divorce and includes information on the divorce terms, such as each spouse's rights and obligations.

    Divorce records are the only type of vital record that is entirely public in the state of Mississippi. Generally, these records are maintained and issued by the Chancery Courts. Therefore, record seekers may query a county Chancery Clerk's office to find and obtain divorce records in Mississippi.

    How to Order Vital Records in Mississippi

    Record seekers may order Mississippi vital records through the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records. The agency maintains most vital records, including birth, death, and marriage records, in Mississippi and offers two primary methods for requesting them: by mail or in person.

    Eligible individuals may complete and sign any of the following appropriate request applications:

    Note that requesters must provide a valid photo ID when requesting vital records. Acceptable forms of identification include:

    One of the following

    • Tribal ID
    • U.S. passport
    • US Military ID
    • Employment ID
    • Photo driver's license
    • State-issued photo ID
    • Temporary resident card
    • School, college, or university ID
    • Alien registration/Permanent residence card

    Or any of the two of the following

    • Medicaid Card
    • Work Identification
    • Social Security Card
    • Utility Bill (showing address)
    • Snap/EBT card (showing address)
    • Veteran Universal Access ID Card

    The completed application, a copy of an acceptable form(s) of identification, and the required fees payment may be submitted to:

    By mail

    Mississippi Vital Records

    P.O. Box 1700

    Jackson, MS 39215-1700

    Or in person at

    222 Marketridge Dr., Ridgeland, MS (between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday)

    On the other hand, the process for ordering divorce records is entirely different. The MSDH's Vital Records office does not maintain divorce records. However, a five-year search of county divorce indexes (spanning January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and January 1, 1942, to the present) may be conducted through the agency for a fee to locate the county where a divorce was granted. Records seekers must contact the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted to order a final divorce decree. They may also use the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) to search divorce case records online.

    Who Can Request Mississippi Vital Records?

    Generally, Mississippi birth, death, and marriage records are not public per Mississippi Code Section 41-57-2. They are only released to eligible individuals who have a legitimate and tangible interest in the record. However, birth records (after 100 years) and death records (after 50 years) become available to genealogy researchers. Meanwhile, divorce records are usually public and available to anyone who requests them.

    Record Type

    Eligible Requestors

    Required Documents

    Official Source Link

    Birth Certificate
    • Registrant (the child named on the record), provided they are of legal age.
    • Parent(s) listed on the birth record provided their parental rights have not been terminated
    • The registrant's spouse, sibling(s), or grandparent(s), or child(ren)
    • The registrant's legal guardian.
    • Legal representative of an eligible requester.
    • Licensed adoption agencies working within the statutory authority of §93-17-205.
    • Other individual(s) by court order.

    May require ID, proof of relationship, or court documents

    MSDH Bureau of Vital Records

    222 Marketridge Drive,

    Ridgeland, MS 39157

    Phone: (601) 206-8200.

    Death Certificate
    • The decedent's parent(s) listed on the death record.
    • The decedent's spouse, sibling(s), or grandparent(s), child(ren)
    • Informant listed on death record.
    • The decedent's legal Guardian, guardianship papers must be provided.
    • Legal representative, an eligible requester.
    • Other person(s) by court order.
    • The funeral home on record that took possession of the decedent's body

    Marriage Record
    • The registrant(s) (persons listed on the record)
    • The registrant's parent(s).
    • The registrant's spouse, sibling(s), grandparent(s)/child(ren)
    • Legal representative of an eligible requester
    • Other person(s), by court order.

    Marriages are governed by Mississippi Code §§ 93-1-1 to 93-1-25

    Divorce Record
    • Anyone (if unrestricted)
    • Otherwise, parties named in the record or their legal representatives

    Certified copies often require a photo ID or a court request

    Divorces are governed by Mississippi Code §§ 93-5-1 to 93-4-35

    Processing Times for Mississippi Vital Records Requests

    Mississippi vital record processing time varies depending on the type of vital record and the method of request. Generally, in-person requests for vital records made through the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records may be processed the same day if a search is not required. Meanwhile, requests submitted by mail are usually processed within seven (7) and 10 business days. On the other hand, a Chancery Court Clerk's office may process requests for divorce records within a couple of business days for newer records or several weeks for older records

    Record Type

    Factors That Influence Processing Time

    Considerations

    Birth Certificate
    • Method of request (mail or in-person)
    • Verification of eligibility
    • Volume of requests
    • Whether a search is required
    • In-person requests may be faster
    • Additional documentation may be required
    • Requests for older records may be subject to longer processing times

    Death Certificate

    Marriage Record

    Divorce Record
    • Court retrieval procedures
    • Complexity of the case
    • Request method
    • Timelines vary by court and county
    • Expedited processing may be available
    • Requests for older records may be subject to longer processing times

    Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Mississippi

    Vital records fees in Mississippi for a birth, death, and marriage record ordered from the MSDH Bureau of Vital Records are $17 for a certified copy and $6 each for additional copies requested at the same time. On the other hand, the fee for ordering a divorce record from a county Chancery Clerk may cost 50 cents per page for regular copies and $1 for a certified copy, according to the Pearl River County Chancery Clerk.

    How to Search Vital Records Online in Mississippi

    There are no government-provided resources that record seekers can use to search for Mississippi birth, death, or marriage records online. However, some third-party websites offer these services. However, divorce records may be searched online through the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC).