Mississippi Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

Mississippi divorce records are official documents that provide information about a divorce case. They serve as legal proof that the marital bond between two individuals has been legally terminated. These records also offer valuable insights into the relationships and family histories of the involved parties, making them crucial resources for genealogical and historical research.

According to the CDC Divorce Rate Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Statistics, Mississippi recorded a divorce rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents (approximately 8,535 divorces) in 2023. Compared to 2022, when the state's reported divorce rate was 3.0 per 1,000 (approximately 8,826 divorces), this represents a 3.35% decrease. Overall, the state has experienced a gradual downward trend in divorce rates from 2021 through 2023.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in Mississippi

The following are the official types of divorce documentation in Mississippi:

• Divorce Indexes: These are records that identify the county where divorce cases, from January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present, were granted in Mississippi. They are available through the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Vital Records Office.
• Divorce Decree: This is a legal document issued by a court that formally ends a marriage. It outlines each party's rights and responsibilities following the finalization of the divorce case. These include setting forth the terms regarding alimony, child support, custody arrangements, and the equitable distribution of marital property.
• Divorce Case File: These are court documents that pertain to a divorce case. They include the divorce petition that initiates a case, as well as all other documents filed with or generated by the court in connection with a divorce proceeding.

The table below provides a breakdown of key characteristics of the official types of divorce documentation in Mississippi.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce indexes	MSDH Vital Records Office	Identifies the county where divorces between January 1, 1926, and June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present, where recorded	The name of the Mississippi county where divorces were recorded.
Divorce Decree	Chancery Court	Details the rights and responsibilities of each party to a divorce	Terms for alimony, child support, custody arrangements, and the division of marital property.

Public Access and Confidentiality of Mississippi Divorce Records

Mississippi's Public Records Act establishes the general public's right to access records of public bodies, including divorce records. As a result, there are no eligibility requirements or legal restrictions concerning who may access these records.

Nonetheless, parties to a divorce may petition a court of appropriate jurisdiction to have their entire divorce records or parts of them sealed. In such cases, the sealed record will be inaccessible to the public without a court order. Additionally, sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, names of minor children, home addresses, and dates of birth is usually redacted from public divorce records. Only parties to the divorce, their legal representative, and other authorized individuals are allowed access to the complete records.

In Mississippi, divorce records are maintained by the local county Chancery Clerk's offices and the MSDH Vital Records Office. The latter specifically preserves divorce indexes, and record seekers may request these records by contacting the office:

What Information Do Mississippi Divorce Records Include?

Common information found in Mississippi divorce records includes;

• Full names of parties involved (the spouses)
• The divorce date
• The name of the county and court where the divorce was recorded
• The cause of the divorce
• Case number

Divorce records may also contain other information, depending on the specifics of a case and the county where the divorce was recorded.

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in Mississippi

Record seekers may find divorce records in Mississippi through local Chancery Clerk offices or the MSDH Vital Records Office. The latter preserves divorce indexes that span specific years, while the former maintains divorce decrees and case files of divorce proceedings heard in their court.

Interested individuals may also use the Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) website to access and view information and public court documents of divorce cases statewide. However, they must log in to access the website search feature.

The table below outlines key information about the various avenues for obtaining Mississippi divorce records.

Record Source	Office or Platform	Years Covered	Access Type	Fees
Vital Records Office	Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH)	January 1, 1926, and June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present	Divorce indexes	$17
Judiciary Portal	Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC)	Varies	Case search	Free
County Court Clerks	Local Chancery Clerk's office	All years	Divorce decrees	$0.5 per page for regular copies and $1 for a certified copy

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in Mississippi

In Mississippi, certified copies of divorce records bear a court seal, indicating that they are official copies and may be used for legal purposes, such as changing one's name and legal proof of divorce when applying for a marriage license to remarry. Generally, only certified copies of a divorce decree may be requested in Mississippi. Other types of divorce records, like divorce indexes maintained by the MSDH Vital Records Office, are issued for informational purposes only and cannot be obtained in certified form.

The process of requesting certified copies of divorce decrees in Mississippi usually involves the following steps:

Step 1: Ascertain the Court where the divorce was recorded.

Divorce cases fall under the Jurisdiction of the Chancery Courts in Mississippi. The state is divided into 20 Chancery Court districts, and each court serves different counties within its district. The clerk's office of each court maintains certified decrees and case files for divorce cases handled by its specific court. Thus, record seekers must ascertain the court that handled the sought-after case to direct their record request appropriately.

Step 2: Gather details about the sought-after divorce record.

This is required to enable the clerk to identify the sought-after divorce record. They include the year of divorce and the full names of the case parties (spouses).

Step 3: Contact the appropriate Chancery Clerk's Office.

Record seekers can contact a Chancery Clerk's office to inquire about the method of requesting divorce records they accept, as well as relevant fees. Most clerks accept in-person requests during regular working hours. Some clerks also accept requests by phone or mail. Meanwhile, the typical costs for certified copies of a divorce decree are $1 per page. It is worth noting that the contact information of local Chancery Clerk's offices is available on the Mississippi Judiciary Chancery Court directory.

Step 4: Submit a request and pay the required fees

Depending on how a Chancery Clerk's office operates, this may involve visiting the office in person, calling to make a request, or submitting a written request by mail. Notwithstanding, requesters must provide sufficient information that identifies the sought-after case and pay the required fee.

Using the Pike County Chancery Clerk's office as an example, individuals can request a certified copy of a divorce record by calling or visiting the office at:

Pertinent information about requesting different types of certified divorce records in Mississippi is summarized in the table below:

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who Can Order	Legal Use
Certified Decree	Local Chancery Clerk's Office	Case parties, their legal representatives, and other authorized individuals	Official proof of divorce and enforcement of the terms of divorce

Why Search for Divorce Records in Mississippi?

Third parties may search for divorce records in Mississippi to verify details about a divorce, such as the names of the parties involved, the divorce terms, and the date of the divorce. On the other hand, those involved in the case may search for their divorce records to request and obtain certified copies of the record. Generally, they may be required to present certified copies of divorce records to conduct certain legal processes, such as changing their name and obtaining a marriage license to remarry. They may also need their divorce records to enforce or modify the terms of their divorce, such as alimony and child support payments.

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in Mississippi?

Mississippi's Local Government Records Retention Schedule does not address how long divorce records must be kept. As a result, divorce records are usually permanently retained in the state.