Mississippi divorce records are held by the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted, and that office is where you request a certified copy. If you don’t know which county issued the decree, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will search its statewide index for $17 and tell you the county, book, and page number. MSDH itself does not issue copies of the decree.1Mississippi State Department of Health. Divorce Records
Who Holds Mississippi Divorce Records
Divorces in Mississippi are heard in chancery court, and the original case file and final decree stay with the Chancery Clerk’s office in the county that granted them.2Harrison County, Mississippi Chancery Clerk. Chancery Court If you need the full terms of the settlement, including property division, custody, or support, the chancery clerk is the only source.
MSDH’s role is narrower than many people assume. It does not keep divorce decrees. It keeps a statewide index that points you to the right county. The index covers January 1, 1926 through June 30, 1938, and January 1, 1942 through the present.1Mississippi State Department of Health. Divorce Records Divorces granted between July 1938 and December 1941, or before 1926, won’t appear in that index.
What You Need Before You Start
Have these details ready whether you’re calling a chancery clerk or submitting an MSDH index request:
- Both parties’ full legal names as they appeared on the filing, including any maiden names.
- The year or an approximate date range when the divorce was granted. MSDH searches a five-year window.
- The county where the divorce was granted, if you know it. If you don’t, that’s what the MSDH index is for.
The county isn’t always obvious, especially for older cases or where one spouse moved before filing. A narrower date range speeds things up at the county level.
Getting a Certified Copy From the Chancery Clerk
Contact the Chancery Clerk’s office in the county of issuance, request the specific record, pay the fee, and show identification.3USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Divorce Decree or Certificate Each county sets its own procedures, so call ahead or check the county website before making a trip.
Copy fees at the county level are generally modest. They typically run around 50 cents per page with a small additional charge for certification, though exact amounts vary. Payment methods vary too. Many offices take cash, personal checks, or money orders in person; counties that accept credit cards often add a processing fee.
For in-person requests, bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you don’t have a photo ID, some offices accept two alternative forms such as a Social Security card paired with a utility bill, though this reflects MSDH policy and individual counties may handle ID differently.4Mississippi State Department of Health. Questions and Answers About Vital Records Confirm requirements with the specific clerk’s office.
Turnaround for in-person requests is often same day. Mail requests take longer, and the wait depends on the county’s volume.
Using the MSDH Index to Find the County
If you don’t know which county granted the divorce, start with MSDH. For $17, the office will search its statewide index across a five-year span and return the county along with the book and page where the record was filed.1Mississippi State Department of Health. Divorce Records This is a search service only. You still have to contact the chancery clerk afterward to get the decree itself.
The MSDH Vital Records office is at 222 Marketridge Drive in Ridgeland. The customer service window is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and payment is accepted by money order or personal check.5Mississippi State Department of Health. Vital Records Requests can be submitted by mail or in person.
Remember the coverage gaps. If the divorce was granted between July 1938 and December 1941, MSDH’s index can’t help you locate the county. In that case, contact the chancery clerk directly if you have any idea where the case was filed, or check with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Records Before 1926
For divorces granted after 1859, the records remain with the chancery court in the county that heard the case. For divorces before 1859, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is the repository.6Library of Congress. Mississippi: Local History and Genealogy Resource Guide – Vital Records MDAH holds historical government records at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building; search their online catalog first, since not all government records are housed on-site.7Mississippi Department of Archives & History. Government Records Management
Who Can Access a Divorce Record
Mississippi’s Public Records Act treats public records as public property and gives any person the right to inspect or obtain copies.8Mississippi Ethics Commission. Mississippi Code 25-61 – Public Access to Public Records Divorce filings generally fall within that framework, so you don’t have to be one of the parties or explain why you want the record.
Not every detail is open, though. Mississippi Code § 25-61-11 preserves other laws that make specific records confidential or privileged and cross-references § 9-1-38 on judicial records.9Justia. Mississippi Code 25-61-11 – Records Exempted or Privileged A chancellor may seal portions of a file involving minor children’s identifying information or sensitive financial disclosures. When that happens, the basic facts stay accessible and the sealed portions do not.
Correcting an Error on a Mississippi Divorce Decree
Errors on a decree, whether a misspelled name, a wrong date, or a transposed property description, have to be fixed by the court that issued the decree. The Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure provide two main paths. Rule 59 governs motions to amend judgments and must be filed relatively soon after entry. Rule 60 provides broader relief, including the correction of clerical mistakes, and allows more time for certain errors.10Mississippi Judiciary. Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure A plain typo is usually fixable through a simple motion; substantive changes may require more.
File the motion with the chancery clerk in the same county that issued the decree. An attorney familiar with Mississippi family law can advise on which rule applies. MSDH cannot change the record because it does not hold divorce records, and the chancery clerk cannot alter a decree without a court order.
Apostille for Use Outside the United States
If you need your Mississippi divorce decree accepted in another country, you’ll likely need an apostille from the Mississippi Secretary of State. The office charges $5 per document. The document must be notarized by a Mississippi notary public or bear the signature of a Mississippi public official. Send the original along with a completed Apostille Certification Request Form and payment by check or money order to the Secretary of State at 660 North Street, Jackson, MS 39202, Attention: Notary/Apostille/Authentication.11Mississippi Secretary of State. Apostilles and Authentications
If you ship via FedEx or UPS and want your documents returned the same way, include a prepaid return envelope from the same carrier. Otherwise, they come back by regular mail. The Notary Division can answer document questions at 601-359-1615.