Lee County, Mississippi Court Records
§ 9-1-51 of the Mississippi Code defines court records as comprising the information regarding a case docketed and filed by the court. The records include orders, indices, dockets, and other related court documents. The law also states that the court clerk is the official custodian of records produced and maintained by the court.
Access to court records is governed by the Mississippi Public Records Act. Other records that also fall under this law include arrest, criminal, and property records.
Are Lee County Court Records Public?
Yes, Lee County court records are public. Records produced by public agencies in Lee County and other counties in Mississippi are covered under the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act. Under this law, individuals can inspect or copy a court record as long as it is deemed public.
However, not all records or parts of a court record are accessible. For records that contain sensitive information whose release would compromise the integrity of an investigation, or that are sealed by a court order, public access is restricted. Some examples include medical reports, driver's license numbers, and details relating to protected minors, victims, or witnesses.
What Information is Available in Lee County Court Records?
The contents of a Lee County court record are contingent on several factors, including:
- The record type
- The type of case
- The documents filed in the course of the case
- Whether or not the case is public
Generally, Lee County court records include the case number, filing date, the court that handled the case, the names of the parties to the case and their roles, dockets, and filed documents, which may include motions, petitions, transcripts, orders, evidence, or minutes.
Lee County Court Records Search
The only way to find details of Lee County court proceedings is to conduct a court records search. A search would generally provide details about the case and the events that occurred during the proceedings. It may also uncover documents related to the case. Lee County court records can be retrieved online, in person, and by mail.
Online Access
Most court cases are provided through a case management system. The case management system one uses to search for a court record depends on the court that handled the case and the information needed.
|
Court Record |
Case Management System |
|---|---|
|
Chancery court records |
Available through the Lee County Chancery Records Portal |
|
Circuit, county, and youth court records |
To use either case management system, inquirers require a user account. While inspection of chancery records through the Lee County Record Portal is free, requesting records incurs a cost. The MEC database requires an annual fee for continuous use.
In-Person Access and Mail Requests
Apart from electronic court records, which are provided through case management systems, members of the public can stop by the Lee County Chancery Clerk's Office for chancery records or the county circuit clerk's office for records produced by other courts in the county.
Whether one is inspecting records in person or requesting a copy by mail, the inquirer must provide a name or case number and, in some instances, a filing date or other identifying details to help retrieve the record.
Requests for Lee County court records forwarded by mail must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a money order or check covering the cost of the requested copies, payable to the respective court clerk.
Fees for Court Records in Lee County
The provision of Mississippi Code § 25-61-7 permits public agencies, including the judiciary, to charge a fee to cover the cost of reproducing and processing a copy of a requested record. Consequently, some of the fees one may incur to inspect or obtain a Lee County court record are
Search Fees
- Searches through the MEC case database: Subscription fee
- Searches through the Chancery Court Record Portal: Free
- In-person inspection: Free
Copy Fees
- Copies of records made by the public: 25 cents
- Copies made by staff: 50 cents
- Certifying a copy of a document: $1
Payments for Lee County court records can be made using cash, check, money order, or a credit or debit card. Card payments incur an added 2.9% fee.
Lee County Courthouse Locations
There are several courts in Lee County, at different levels, with different jurisdictions. Most cases that occur in Lee County are handled by one of the courts.
- The Circuit Court has jurisdiction to hear civil cases without limit in damages and criminal felony cases.
- The Chancery Court oversees litigation such as probate, family law, and equity.
- The County Court in Lee County not only shares a location with the Circuit and the Chancery Court but also shares jurisdiction with both courts, handling juvenile cases, some misdemeanor cases, and civil cases with damages of up to $200,000.
- The Youth Court is the court division with jurisdiction over matters involving individuals under 18 years of age. The court handles traffic violations, child support, child abuse, and neglect.
- Municipal Courts, also known as City Courts, adjudicate matters involving violations of municipal ordinances, including code violations and speeding tickets.
Circuit Court
Lee County Justice Center
200 West Jefferson Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662) 841-9024
Fax: (662) 680-6079
Chancery Court
Lee County Justice Center
200 West Jefferson Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662) 841-9100
Fax: (662) 680-6091
County Court
Lee County Justice Center
200 West Jefferson Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662) 841-9024
Fax: (662) 680-6079
Youth Court
200 West Jefferson Street
3rd Floor,
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662) 841-9730
Fax: (662) 841-9732
Justice Court
331 North Broadway Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662)841-9014
Municipal Courts
Baldwyn Municipal Court
202 South 2nd Street
Baldwyn, MS 38824
Phone: (662) 365-1041
Fax: (662) 365-1046
Guntown Municipal Court
1589 Main Street
Guntown, MS 38849
Phone: (662) 348-5353
Fax: (662) 348-2319
Nettleton Municipal Court
124 Short Avenue
Nettleton, MS 38858
Phone: (662) 963-2605
Fax: (662) 963-2168
Plantersville Municipal Court
2587 Main Street
Plantersville, MS 38862
Phone: (662) 844-2012
Fax: (662) 840-9565
Saltillo Municipal Court
395 Mobile Street in Saltillo
Saltillo, MS 38866
Phone: (662) 869-5454
Fax: (662) 869-5689
Shannon Municipal Court
225 Broad Street
Shannon, MS 38868
Phone: (662) 767-9747
Fax: (662) 767-3206
316 Court Street
Tupelo, MS 38802
Phone: (662) 841-6516
Fax: (662) 841-6410
Verona Municipal Court
194 Main Street
Verona, MS 38879
Phone: (662) 566-2211
Fax: (662) 566-2209
Criminal Records Access in Lee County.
Criminal records are maintained by different agencies and contain different details. An official criminal history check conducted at the state level is not the same as a county-level criminal history record. The table lists the types of court records and the agencies that handle them.
|
Record Type |
Where to Find the Record |
Method of Access |
Accessibility |
Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Criminal records (local background check) |
|
Open for public inspection under the Mississippi Public Records Act |
Inspections are free, while requesting a copy attracts a charge | |
|
Criminal case records |
Clerk's Office |
|
Open for public inspection pursuant to the Mississippi Public Records Act |
Depends on the channel: Searches through the MEC case management system, mail requests, and obtaining a copy of a record result in a fee |
|
Criminal history check (state-wide background check) |
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Criminal Information Center |
Access is restricted in accordance with the Mississippi Justice Information Center laws |
$32 |
Lee County Probate Records
If an individual who lived in or owned property in Lee County passes without a will, has no beneficiaries, or leaves a will that is contested, probate may be necessary. As with most cases in Lee County, once a probate case begins, a file is opened, a case number is assigned, information is gathered, and documents submitted are added to the case file. This file is kept as a probate record. Some of the cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court include testate and intestate estates, guardianships, conservatorships, muniments of title, and commitment proceedings.
With the exception of records that are sealed or deemed confidential, most Lee County probate records are public and can be requested through the clerk's office or online.
Lee County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Lee County are generally accessible to the public. However, as long as information is sensitive, contains the details of a minor, is sealed, or is confidential, such a record or detail would be inaccessible. Inquirers may inspect family court records designated as publicly accessible. This means that a case management search may return a family case record, and that public family case records not available online can be accessed in person or by mail. Under family law, the Chancery Court handles paternity, adoption, divorce, child visitation, child custody, and child support.
Federal Court Records in Lee County
Federal court records are maintained and disseminated by the clerk of the court in accordance with federal statutes. Lee County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Mississippi. Case information not redacted, sealed, or confidential is available to the public through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).
Beyond electronic systems, the public may also obtain court details by visiting the respective clerk in person or by submitting a written request via mail. Such inquiries typically require a name, case number, or filing date to facilitate retrieval. While on-site inspection of records is generally free, using the PACER system or requesting document copies will incur fees for search and reproduction services.
