Flag of the State of Mississippi

The Guide to Mississippi Courts


The Mississippi trial court system consists of Circuit Courts, Chancery Courts, County Courts, Municipal Courts, and Justice Courts.
 
Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases and typically handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Chancery Courts have limited jurisdiction over domestic relations, probate and juvenile cases, and share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over certain types of cases. County Courts and Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of criminal cases and traffic violations.

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Please select a Mississippi county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Mississippi court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.
 


 

Mississippi Circuit Courts

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases, mostly handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Criminal cases heard by Circuit Courts include felonies and lesser-included offenses.

Civil cases heard by Circuit Courts include general civil claims for more than $200,000 and certain matters related to real estate. In addition, Circuit Courts share jurisdiction with Chancery Courts over certain types of cases.

Mississippi Chancery Courts

Chancery Courts have limited jurisdiction to hear certain types of cases, including equity, domestic relations, probate matters, juvenile matters, mental health, guardianship and some matters relating to real estate. A Chancery Court may have a Youth Court division for certain juvenile matters.

Cases generally heard by Chancery Courts include divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, alimony, the probate of wills, the administration of estates and involuntary commitment.

Chancery Courts share some jurisdiction over certain types of cases with Circuit Courts.

Mississippi County Courts

County Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. County Courts share jurisdiction with Justice Courts for civil and criminal cases within Justice Court jurisdiction, including petty misdemeanors.

County Courts handle most general civil claims for less than $200,000, exclusive of costs and interest. County Courts can hear counterclaims for more than $200,000, unless all parties agree to transfer the case to Circuit Court.

County Courts also have jurisdiction over cases involving eminent domain, the partition of personal property and some actions for unlawful entry and detainer.

Mississippi Municipal Courts

Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by Municipal Courts include misdemeanor criminal cases and municipal ordinance violations, including traffic offenses.

Mississippi Justice Courts

Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by Justice Courts include criminal offenses punishable by a fine or time in county jail and petty misdemeanors. Justice Courts share criminal jurisdiction with Circuit Courts and County Courts, and some Justice Courts may exercise exclusive jurisdiction over petty misdemeanor cases.

Civil cases heard by Justice Courts include most general civil claims for less than $2,500. Justice Courts share civil jurisdiction with County Courts.

Where to find court cases in Mississippi

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Mississippi.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the County Courts
 
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Small Claims  
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the County Courts
 
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Civil Equity
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
Some Civil Equity cases can be found in the County Courts
  
Complex Commercial
Some Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the County Courts
 
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Landlord / Tenant 
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the County Courts
  
Ordinance Violations  
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the County Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
CriminalCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
    
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the County Courts
  
Misdemeanors
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the County Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Ordinance Violations  
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the County Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Juvenile
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
    
Traffic and Infractions  
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the County Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Domestic RelationsCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
Divorce
Some Divorce cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Child Custody and Visitation
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Child Support
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Paternity
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
JuvenileCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
Adoptions
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Juvenile Delinquency 
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Child Abuse and Neglect 
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Termination of Parental Rights 
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Children in Need of Supervision 
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Mental HealthCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
Involuntary Commitments 
Most or all Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Other Mental Health Cases 
Most or all Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
ProbateCircuit CourtsChancery CourtsCounty CourtsMunicipal CourtsJustice Courts
Wills & Estates 
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Name Changes
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Trusts 
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   
Guardianships and Conservatorships 
Most or all Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Chancery Courts
   


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