Mississippi Court Records

Major Mississippi courts that kept records of genealogical value were as follows:

• Justice of the peace courts are countywide courts that have records of minor civil and criminal cases.
• County courts have jurisdiction with the circuit courts over misdemeanors, appeals from other courts, and some law and equity cases.
• Chancery courts are countywide courts that keep records of cases involving equity, divorce, land grants, probate, and guardianship.
• Circuit courts are countywide courts that have records of minor civil cases, bastardy, felonies, and appeals from justices of the peace, and municipality and county courts. This court has had exclusive jurisdiction over felonies.

The Family History Library has copies of many of the county, chancery, and circuit court records. For example, the library has Hinds County court records from about 1850 to 1910. From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History the library has territorial land and court records for 1798 to 1817 (Family History Library films 904447-51).

For more information about court procedures and records see:

Survey of Records in Mississippi Court Houses. Jackson, Mississippi: Mississippi Genealogical Society, 1967. (Family History Library book 976.2 P2m; fiche 6100939.)

Hendrix, Mary L. Mississippi Court Records: From the Files of the High Court of Errors and Appeals, 1799-1859. Jackson, Mississippi: N.p. 1950. (Family History Library book 976.2 P2h.)

McBee, May Wilson. The Natchez Court Records . . . 1767-1805. Greenwood, Mississippi: M. W. McBee, 1953Family History Library. (FHL book 976.2 P2mm.)

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)